Feel free to forward this newsletter and encourage colleagues to join to stay up-to-date on climate adaptation happenings in the Commonwealth. I hope this finds you enjoying summer as much as possible given these challenging times!
Connecting the dots: the importance of nature for our well-being during COVID-19
We know that open and green spaces have many co-benefits for climate adaptation. They can also benefit fish and wildlife species, when habitat and functioning ecosystems are prioritized. But, in these COVID times, let’s take time to celebrate the amazing health benefits of being in nature.
The importance of nature to our well-being has been widely studied. Now, more than ever, we need a boost for our mental and physical health, to help reduce stress and to build personal resilience during these difficult times. Doctors are recommending time outdoors for both kids and adults. But spending time outside is especially important for kids, in part to combat “nature deficit disorder.”
Fortunately, one positive behavior change to come out of the pandemic is increased outdoor activity. With so many appreciating nature more than ever, this is the moment to help connect the dots between nature and public health, along with the many co-benefits for climate change, species conservation, community resilience, etc.
Connecting these dots goes hand-in-hand with ongoing work to promote open and green spaces, nature-based solutions, and land conservation. Here’s to ensuring that this positive trend of connecting to nature sticks long after we emerge from quarantine.
I hope you are able to take care of yourselves and get a dose of nature this summer!
Sharing your work in the context of COVID-19
Getting outdoors has taken on new importance during this pandemic, leading many to value the mental, emotional, and physical benefits of open space more than ever. Helping people understand the many values that open spaces and green spaces provide is critical. Each year, Kestrel Land Trust partners with UMass Amherst to connect students to the land. This year, Kestrel asked students to visit their local conservation areas and share reflections on being outdoors in light of COVID-19. See here for responses of dozens of students, sharing photos and experiences from around the state and the country on the "healing power of nature nearby." To learn more about this communications campaign, contact fellow Mass ECAN member, Kari Blood.
Are you working on something related to COVID-19?
Send your story to massecan@umass.edu.Thanks for everything you all are doing to take care of yourselves and others, respond to the pandemic, and advance climate adaptation!
In case you've been wondering what to read next....
Taking Cues from Nature to Adapt to Climate Change: A Communications Resource for Nature-based Solutionshas just been released - you are seeing our new resource first! This resource was written for practitioners and professionals to provide more climate adaptation and ecosystems context for nature-based solutions and highlight their many co-benefits for people and nature. This resource was created through collaboration of the Mass ECAN-affiliated Mainstreaming Nature-Based Solutions and Climate Communications Work Groups, with support from the USDA and UMass Extension.
Nature-based solutions can provide cost-effective long-term solutions to help people, wildlife, and ecosystems adapt to climate change. Recently, we've seen renewed interest in NBS associated with their prioritization in the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program. Thanks for all you are doing to mainstream nature-based solutions!
Mass ECAN Member Spotlight
Every month, we'll highlight someone in our community of practice so you can learn about the variety of adaptation work going on and "meet" a new colleague!
Alyssa Rosemartin Ecologist
National Phenology Network
Bio: Alyssa is an ecologist, interested in the intersection of science and decision-making. She graduated from Smith College and worked in Nicaragua, Mexico, and New York City, before earning her masters in Wildlife Conservation from UArizona. Since then, she has helped build the National Phenology Network, a program focused on the timing of plant and animal life cycle events, and how they are responding to climate change (you can join in and collect data in your own backyard). Based in Salem, Alyssa tracks seasonal changes on regular hikes in eastern MA and in her backyard garden.
Climate change adaptation project she’s currently excited about: Alyssa is excited to hear the rising voices of indigenous scholars and practitioners around climate change adaptation. A recent National Conservation Training Center Webinar Series and upcoming symposium at the Ecological Society of America both explore the intersection of indigenous and western approaches to phenology. When done thoughtfully and ethically, collaborations between western and indigenous scholars advance our understanding of phenology from multiple knowledge systems, prioritize indigenous perspectives, and benefit indigenous communities.
Join us for a joint networking event!
July 30th, 3:30pm on Zoom
Co-hosted by our Slow the Flow Work Group and massFM
(Mass Association for Floodplain Management)
This will be a great opportunity to meet new colleagues, learn from peers, and share ideas with others interested in climate adaptation and resilience of our river systems and watersheds.
Funding Opportunity - The Land Trust Alliance is offering its newest round of grants for land trusts to advance climate resilience practices through the Land and Climate Program. Proposals are due July 10.
Funding Opportunity - The ASAP Local & Regional Hubs Program is awarding three microgrants for climate and peer connection projects, with the Metro Boston area eligible.
Live Q/A session will be held on July 9th at 3 pm. Register here.
Funding Opportunity - The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA)'s Planning Grants through the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program. Proposals accepted on a rolling basis through August 7th. See the RFR here.
Webinar - Environmental Business Council Climate Change Leadership Series: Cambridge Urban Forest Master Plan on July 24, 12 pm - 1:30 pm. John Bolduc presented on their plan at our first Mass ECAN conference. Come hear the latest. Register here.
Course - Join Mass Audubon July 13-17 from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm for their Climate Change Professional Development course. This course is designed for middle and high school educators. Sound like you? Register here.
Job Opportunity - Climigration RFP on Rebranding Managed Retreat, The Climigration Network. Posted June 15th. The deadline to apply is July 20th. The network is seeking a consultant to work with affected communities to develop, test, and frame a supportive lexicon around climate migration.
Job Opportunity -Deputy General Council Energy/Climate, Exec Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Boston. Posted June 11. Requires knowledge of climate change mitigation and energy policy.
Job Opportunity - Associate, Investor Action on Climate, Ceres, Boston. Posted June 15. Support Ceres' Paris-Aligned Portfolio Project to encourage investors to transition their portfolios to be aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement's goals.
Job Opportunity - Environmental Planner I, Tetra Tech, Boston.PostedJune 16. Support private development, institutional, and public sector projects, including climate change and sustainable development issues.
Anti-racism resources for our work
“Low-income communities and people of color are bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the long-term impacts of a changing climate. In this context, resilience must mean more than enduring the unendurable, or bouncing back to “normal.” Real resilience demands that we recognize structural racism and rectify the injustices that rob black and brown people, and poor people, of agency and power. It demands that we rethink our responses to climate change and COVID-19, by remaking the systems that have harmed us.” - Jalonne L. White-Newsome, Kresge Foundation, from Rethink Resilience for the Era of COVID-19 and Climate Change.
There has been so much activity in response to systemic and institutional racism these last few weeks. Thanks for all you are doing to create a more just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive future. In case you missed it, see the anti-racism resources in our newsletter from last month here.
Why am I getting this email?
Welcome to Mass ECAN!
You are receiving this email because you joined Mass ECAN.
Welcome to a supportive community of climate adaptation practitioners and researchers who are interested in ecosystem resilience and natural resources conservation in Massachusetts.
Mass ECAN is creating a space for us to learn from and with each other. Together, we can build capacity for climate adaptation that promotes ecosystem resilience and weaves natural resources conservation into actions across sectors.
