Innovative Conservation Finance and Legislation
Our focus has been on gathering statewide support for conservation finance innovations that may advance forestland protection in Massachusetts and help implement Wildlands and Woodlands (W&W). Progress has occurred in two areas:
- W&W Conservation Finance Roundtable in 2006.
- A Study Commission on Forest Conservation Finance Innovation. Ongoing efforts to pass legislation (Senate Bill 477) that would form a State Study Commission on Forest Conservation Finance Innovation.
W&W Conservation Finance Roundtable
A roundtable discussion was held in April 2006 at the Harvard University Center for the Environment, with conservation finance experts from across the United States, to identify and explain the most promising new approaches to forest conservation finance. The result of that effort is summarized in the Report on the Woodlands and Wildlands Conservation Finance Roundtable , published in October 2006.
Study Commission on Forest Conservation Finance Innovation
With the report on the Conservation Finance Roundtable strongly recommending further consideration, Massachusetts State Senator Stephen Brewer proposed legislation in early 2007 ( Senate Bill 477 ) that would create a Study Commission on Forest Conservation Finance Innovation. The commission would recommend to the administration and legislature a package of efforts to advance specific methods of forest conservation finance in Massachusetts. In September of 2007, hearings on the bill were held before the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. Later that fall, reflecting the positive nature of the hearings, the bill was reported favorably upon by the Joint Committee's Executive Session.
As of January 2008, the bill is being considered concurrently by the Senate Rules Committee and the House Rules Committee. Further action on the bill and underwriting of the work of the proposed Study Commission will depend on continuing support from the community of conservationists who would like to see Massachusetts continue to innovate at the forefront of conservation policy and practice in the United States.