1. Focus on the Massachusetts Special Study Commission on Financing Forest Conservation
James N. Levitt
Director, Program on Conservation Innovation at the Harvard Forest
Fellow, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
LTA Rally 2010, Hartford, Connecticut
October 4, 2010

2. The Special Study Commission on Financing Forest Conservation was created by the Massachusetts legislature
Will meet in 4th Quarter of 2010
Will prepare recommendations for the administration, the legislature and the conservation community
Already generating interest in other states, and among potential philanthropic supporters

3. A recently completed study commissioned by the Massachusetts Environmental Trust will serve as our springboard

5. The Commission will focus on aggregation, mitigation and complementary strategies
Aggregation: generates a supply of relatively small parcels that can be aggregated into a larger package for funding, stewardship
Mitigation: a new generation of mitigation practice puts emphasis on strategic coordination with wildlife action and other statewide plans, and stresses contiguity and corridors, enhancing resiliency in the age of climate change
Complementary strategies include using state clean water revolving fund, facilitating low impact conservation development, encouraging forest-based economies and enterprises, and exploring the use of “optimization” techniques

6. Thank you.
Questions?