Fall is here, which means our Fall Event Series is coming up fast! We're looking forward to connecting with you over Zoom and outdoors in beautiful places! Check out our recently-announced remote workshop and networking event, along with a couple in-person field trips to hear from your peers on-the-ground.
As we reflect on the seasons changing, for most of us, the end of hurricane season can't come quickly enough. So many records have already been broken and it can feel hard to keep track of all the natural disasters these days. The recent impacts of Ida, which hit my own hometown in NY hard, have been particularly shocking for many in our region. Here's to everyone who is stepping up to help affected communities respond, promoting nature based solutions and wetlands conservation to reduce flooding, and working on the bigger mitigation picture to reign in the magnitude of climate change. Thanks for all you do!
See below for news specifically curated for our community of practice:
We're excited to offer remote and in-person events this year! We're kicking off our Fall series with two feel-good field trips where colleagues are overcoming challenges and getting the work done!
Old Town Hill, Newbury - 9/28 at 10:30am-12:30pm (rain date: 9/30) Come join us in a beautiful location in the Great Marsh to see colleagues and learn how to help our salt marshes adapt! This field trip will showcase nature-based climate adaptation strategies in salt marshes including ditch remediation and removal of sediment blockages. There will be a short walk to the marsh and rainboots/wellies are recommended. Pack a lunch if you'd like to eat on-site and continue connecting with colleagues. This field trip is co-hosted by Mass ECAN and The Trustees of Reservations. Sign up here to join us!
Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary,Northampton - 10/12 at
10:30am-12:30pm (rain date: 10/16) Join us to learn about transformation in floodplains! This field trip to Arcadia/Northampton's Manhan Meadows will showcase climate adaptation strategies in floodplain forests including novel climate-informed plantings. Pack a lunch to eat in the pavilion while connecting with colleagues. This field trip is co-hosted by Mass ECAN and Mass Audubon. Sign up here to join us!
We will follow COVID-safe practices. More details to follow as the day approaches! There is limited capacity for these field trips, and registration will be first-come, first-served.
New Virtual Events!
Climate Communications Networking Event, 11/8 at 2:00pm-3:30pm - We are excited to create a space for you all to discuss your experiences, and connect with peers! Our next topic is “Climate Communications,” including plenty of time for sharing about communicating the need for climate adaptation projects to stakeholders, best practices, resources and toolkits, and actionable items. Register here to join us!
Workshop on Resistance, Resilience, and Transformation, 11/16 at 2:00pm-4:00pm - This Zoom workshop will explore the spectrum of adaptation actions that exist across “Resistance, Resilience, and Transformation” (RRT), including illustrative examples from different ecosystems and opportunities to share about your work in breakouts. Register here to join us!
Stay tuned for more events and details coming soon!
Thank you to our sponsors!
Benefactor-Level
If you are interested in being a sponsor of the Fall Events Series, please contact Melissa for more information.
Mass ECAN Member Spotlight
Every month, we highlight someone in our community of practice so you can learn about a variety of adaptation work and "meet" a new colleague!
Van H. Du Senior Environmental Planner
Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC)
Bio: Van supports MAPC communities on climate action planning and implementation efforts as well as hazard mitigation projects. Prior to MAPC, Van worked at VHB, providing sustainability and resiliency planning services to local governments, airports, and private-sector clients.During her graduate work, Van also worked at Second Nature, a non-profit organization with a mission to promote sustainability in higher education. Van holds a Master’s in Urban, Community, and Regional Planning from Boston University and a BA in Environmental Studies from Bowdoin College.
Climate adaptation project: At MAPC, Van manages the Accelerating Climate Resiliency grant program, which aims to advance climate resilience planning into implementation in Metro Boston.In addition to helping municipalities advance strategies to protect people, places, and communities from the impact of climate change, this grant program also seeks to elevate projects with greater emphasis on equity and social cohesion. You can contact Van for more information about this program.
Announcements
Grant Awards - The Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program awarded $21 million in grants to cities and towns to identify climate hazards, develop strategies to improve resilience, and implement priority actions to adapt to climate change. See the press release and grantees here.
Grant Awards - The Office of Coastal Zone Management awarded $4 million in grants to help Massachusetts’ coastal communities prepare for severe weather events and the impacts of climate change, including storm surge, flooding, erosion, and sea level rise. See the press release and grantees for the Coastal Resilience Grant Program here.
SNEP Awards - The EPA Southeast New England Program (SNEP) is announcing its 2021 grant awards:
Technical assistance awards to two Tribal Nations and six RI and southeastern MA communities to advance their stormwater and watershed management, and climate resilience planning. See the press release and grantees here.
A virtual event to announce the Watershed Grant awards that target water pollution, habitat degradation, and other high-priority environmental issues, to foster sustainable coastal and watershed communities. 9/13 at 9:30am. Register here.
Funding Opportunity -Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Programs. The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is announcing the release of three FEMA grant programs including the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program, the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program, and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). Funds are designed to be used to implement long-term, cost-effective improvements that will reduce, minimize, or eliminate risk to people and property from the effects of natural hazards. Learn more at their webinar on 9/9, at 10:00am - 11:00am. Register here.
Event - Communities Responding to Extreme Weather (CREW) is holding its fourth annual Climate Preparedness Week,dedicated to learning, service, and actions that better prepare our communities for extreme weather events, from 9/24 - 9/30.
Webinar - Bird-Friendly Forestry Practices and Strategies for Landowners, Highstead. Explore specific forest management activities and silvicultural options designed to enhance bird habitat while also achieving timber and non-timber forest product, climate adaptation and mitigation, and other ecosystem services goals. 9/29, 2:00pm - 3:15pm. Register here.
Job -Program Manager, Climate Smart Land Network, Manomet. Grow their multi-stakeholder initiative to increase climate resilience of working forests and maximize opportunities for climate mitigation by helping land managers integrate climate change into silvicultural decision-making and forest management planning. Apply by 9/21.
Job -Climate and Flood Resilience Engineer, Fuss & O'Neill, Springfield. Support growing climate resilience practice in Massachusetts by leading the development of designs for sustainable approaches to help address issues related to climate-related hazards and stormwater management.
Job -Water Resources and Climate Resilience Specialist, Fuss & O'Neill, Springfield. Lead the development of green stormwater infrastructure projects; watershed, water quality, and climate assessments; municipal stormwater management and flood mitigation projects; and other solutions to help address issues related to climate-related hazards.
Job -Urban Ecologist, Mass Audubon, Lincoln. Join a team focused on habitat restoration and building climate resilience for people and wildlife, and lead urban ecology, restoration, and community science programs.
Looking Ahead: Fall Conferences
Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center (NE CASC) Regional Climate Adaptation Science Symposium. Join NE CASC research panel discussions focusing on resource management perspectives and needs, workshops supporting climate adaptation, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities. October 26 & 27. Register here by Oct. 15.
Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC) Fall Conference. This conference will feature opportunities for learning and networking. More information will be available at the MACC website in the coming weeks. October 19, 20, 21, and 23.
massFM (Massachusetts Association for Floodplain Management) Annual Conference. The second annual conference will take place online through a virtual meeting platform and include a number of technical training sessions (offering CFM credits), followed by the Annual Meeting itself. Learn morehere. October 21.
Regional Conservation Partnership (RCP) Network Gathering. The RCP Network is expanding its biggest peer learning event of the year to enhance collaborations with other networks across the region and explore more dynamic and inclusive approaches to conservation across the Northeast. More details on this virtual event coming soon, including webinar schedules, the speakers and panels, and more. November 18.
The Mass ECAN Reader
In case you've been wondering what to read next....
State of the Coast: The Trustees of Reservations' 2nd annual report focuses on sea level rise and storm surge impacts affecting Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and the Elizabeth Islands. It is designed as a comprehensive and accessible resource to stimulate discussion, action, and engagement among public officials, conservation partners, residents, and others.
Climate-Smart Cities: See the updates and explore the Trust for Public Land and MAPC's Climate-Smart Cities decision-support tool. The program provides key planning and decision-making support to help Boston achieve regional resiliency goals by leveraging the power of green infrastructure for those who need it most.
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Welcome to Mass ECAN!
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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.
Newbury - 9/28 at 10:30am-12:30pm (rain date: 9/30) Come join us in a beautiful location in the Great Marsh to see colleagues and learn how to help our salt marshes adapt! This field trip will showcase nature-based climate adaptation strategies in salt marshes including ditch remediation and removal of sediment blockages. There will be a short walk to the marsh and rainboots/wellies are recommended. Pack a lunch if you'd like to eat on-site and continue connecting with colleagues. This field trip is co-hosted by Mass ECAN and The Trustees of Reservations. 
Northampton - 10/12 at
