[SEMCO] Landmark Decisions: A Meeting of the Pine Barrens Partners

[Sharl Heller]

Landmark Decisions:  A Meeting of the Pine Barrens Partners

The effectiveness of our Regional Conservation Partnership is directly related to our willingness to embrace a shared vision of the future of the Massachusetts Coastal Pine Barrens.

To that end, the next meeting of the Partners will begin with an exercise that will highlight the jewels in our crown: the many splendid examples of coastal pine barrens that can be found throughout the Partnership region and could be selected as a Natural National Landmark. From the consideration of those exemplars we will then move effortlessly into the important business of forging our shared vision.

When:	Monday, May 9, 6:30 pm

Where: 	Mass Audubon’s Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary, 345 Bone Hill Road, Barnstable

Who should attend:
	• Those interested in the National Natural Landmark designation.
	• Those who would like to help shape the vision/plan for the Regional Conservation Partnership
	• All those considering participating in the Southeastern Massachusetts Coastal Pine Barrens Partnership
Refreshments 
Goals:
 
1) Information sharing

Purpose: To determine the eligibility of potential sites for nomination as the Coastal Pine Barrens National Natural Landmark (NNL).

Objective:  Organizations cooperating in the nomination of a site as the Coastal Pine Barrens NNL.
 
2) Visioning/planning

Purpose: Gathering input for shaping the vision and building the strategic plan for a Regional Conservation Partnership.

Objective: Develop a short, well-written strategic plan that demonstrates how the partnership will bring value-added support to conservation, education, and stewardship in the region.

Background Information

1)  National Natural Landmarks Program (NNL)

When we heard that the National Park Service recently designated the Albany Pine Bush as a National Natural Landmark (NNL) as one of the best examples of inland pitch-pine scrub oak barrens in the world, we wondered if the Massachusetts Coastal Pine Barrens might qualify for this prestigious national honor. 

Deborah DiQuinzio, the Coordinator for the Northeast NNL program, says that proposals for new NNL designations are welcome, and she’ll tell us how to go about nominating a site at our May 9 meeting.

Did you know that the first site in Massachusetts to be designated a NNL was Gay Head Cliffs (Aquinnah) in 1965? Since Aquinnah, 11 sites have been designated in Massachusetts, though the most recent was the Mt. Greylock Old Growth Spruce almost 30 years ago in 1987. We are long overdue for another NNL in Massachusetts!

The primary goals of the NNL Program are a good fit for the PBP:

	• Encourage and support landowner’s efforts to protect NNL resources,

	• Strengthen public awareness and appreciation of the natural history of the Nation,

	• Enhance the scientific and educational value of nationally significant sites, and

	• Develop a National Registry of Natural Landmarks that illustrates the biological and geological character of the Nation’s natural heritage.

To qualify for landmark designation, a site must be one of the best examples of a biological or geological feature within a biophysiographic province. Determination of the quality of sites is made according to NNL significance criteria defined in program regulations. Landmark designation is the result of a rigorous evaluation and review process.

More about the NNL Program: http://www.nature.nps.gov/nnl/

Background Information

2) Visioning/Planning           

The Massachusetts Coastal Pine Barrens Partnership (PBP) is moving forward at a steady pace. A core of Steering Committee members has emerged, and three volunteers from SE Mass Pine Barrens Alliance are serving as coordinators.

In 2015 we became an official partnership, recognized by the Regional Conservation Partnership Network. In March of this year we were honored to have a two–day Project Design and Evaluation training sponsored by Waquoit Bay Reserve Coastal Training Program (CTP) NOAA, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the Waquoit Bay Reserve Foundation of NOAA. The training gave us the specialized skills needed to develop a strategic plan for the PBP.
                                         
The May 9 meeting will begin the process of determining the vision, mission and goals of the PBP. If you are interested in shaping the PBP this is the moment when your active participation is most needed. 
 
If you’d like to be involved but won’t be able to attend this meeting, please contact one of the coordinators and we’ll keep you informed of our progress and succeeding meetings.

Sincerely,
PBP Coordinators,
Sharl Heller, slheller at comcast.net
Frank Mand, dogd at aol.com

Link to the PBP Call to Action		 http://www.pinebarrenspartnership.org/docs/rcp-2-pager.pdf
Visit the PBP website

More about RCPs:
 
Regional Conservation Partnership (RCP) Network Overview	http://www.wildlandsandwoodlands.org/rcpnetwork
 
Partnership Handbook, Ten Steps to Effective and Enduring  Collaborative Conservation at Scale: http://highstead.net/pdfs/RCP%20Handbook.pdf

Link to the PBP  Call to Action 	http://www.pinebarrenspartnership.org/docs/rcp-2-pager.pdf
Visit the PBP website 			http://www.pinebarrenspartnership.org/index.html


Massachusetts Coastal Pine Barrens Partnership Status:

Region Acres    523,590
Acres Of Protected Open Space    146,095
Percent Protected    28% 
Targeted Percent of Protected Acres    60+ *

*Percent recommended by the MA Sustainable Development Principles to protect particularly sensitive natural resources or attain a prominent local conservation objective. http://www.mass.gov/envir/smart_growth_toolkit/bylaws/model-osd-nrpz-zoning-final.pdf.


Respectfully submitted by:
Sharl Heller
Coordinator
Pine Barrens Partnership
204 Long Pond Road
Plymouth, MA 02360
(774) 773-9982
http//:www.pinebarrenspartnership.org