We live in a biodiversity hotspot – the globally rare Coastal Pine Barrens of Southeastern Massachusetts. This unique ecosystem has evolved over the last fourteen thousand years to create a unique mixture of plants, animals, forests, soils, and freshwater resources found in only three places on earth – Southeastern Massachusetts, Southern New Jersey, and Long Island, New York. Home to over 200 state-listed rare, threatened and endangered species, the Coastal Pine Barrens of Southeastern Massachusetts is full of precious resoures that need to be protected for generations to come. Unfortunately, we are losing them fast.
At Community Land & Water Coalition, we advocate for proactive protection of our forests and biodiversity, as outlined in:
We advocate for strong implementation fo our laws which exist to protect our forests and biodiversity, including:
- The Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA)
- Local zoning bylaws and wetlands protective bylaws
We educate residents on how to take action to protect their forests and where to find information:
Resources
- The Nature Conservancy’s report, The Pine Barrens of Southeastern Massachusetts
- Global Forest Watch
- BioMap: The Future of Conservation in Massachusetts
- BioMap Town Reports
- NHESP Natural Communities Fact Sheets: Pitch Pine – Scrub Oak Community
- NHESP Natural Communities Fact Sheets: Coastal Plain Pondshore Community
