WAKEFIELD, NH — Moose Mountains Regional Greenways kicked off its NHEP grant-funded community outreach program on April 5 with a workshop titled,“Mapping Habitats for Community Planning.” Local Conservation and Planning Board members from Brookfield, Farmington, Middleton, Milton, New Durham and Wolfeboro attended the session.
New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game Conservation Biologist Emily Brunkhurst described how individuals and communities are using the updated Wildlife Action Plan and New Hampshire Coastal Watershed Plan to implement conservation strategies aimed at preventing the region’s wildlife from becoming endangered.
Brunkhurst presented the newly updated wildlife habitat map, which identifies the habitats that are most critical to the survival of species at risk, and the Conservation Focus Areas map, which highlights lands with the greatest ecological integrity in the region.
Brunkhurst’s presentation was followed by a hands-on mapping exercise, during which participants had an opportunity to take the new maps for a test drive.
Those who attended requested more information, including additional town-specific maps for individual local land use Board members, assistance with identifying local conservation priorities, and help contacting and working with owners of high priority conservation lands. Some also requested assistance with wetland and surface buffer ordinances. All urged MMRG to continue to offer educational forums and workshops.
Moose Mountains Regional Greenways staff will follow up with each local Conservation Commission to assist with the conservation efforts specific to each individual community.
This initiative is part of Moose Mountains Regional Greenways’ public outreach and education initiative titled, “Thanks for all the maps and reports. Now what do we do with them?” This program is funded by a grant from the New Hampshire Estuaries Project, whose mission is to protect, enhance and monitor the environmental quality of the state’s estuaries. For more information, visit www.nhep.unh.edu or call 603-862-3948.
Moose Mountains Regional Greenways is a non-profit conservation organization that works to conserve and connect the most special natural places in northern Strafford and southern Carroll counties in New Hampshire.
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