Wildlife Habitation Grants Awarded to Berkshire Towns
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SHEFFIELD, Mass. — Nearly $200,000 in grants for wildlife habitat improvement projects are targeted for organizations in seven Berkshire and border towns.
All together, 18 municipalities, organizations, and private landowners across the state were awarded a total of $506,856 in grants from the MassWildlife Habitat Management Grant Program. The program was developed to establish partnerships between the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and private and municipal landowners to enhance habitat and increase recreational opportunities on properties across the state.
This year, funds provided through the grant program will benefit 20 wildlife habitat improvement projects, totaling 950 acres in 19 Massachusetts communities. The projects will complement the ongoing habitat management efforts currently underway on state owned lands.
“The Habitat Management Grant Program is a great example of the strong partnership between the state, municipalities, private landowners and organizations working together to conserve land and wildlife," said Gov. Charlie Baker. "These grants are an important tool to help build upon the thousands of acres of important conservation land for wildlife and residents across the commonwealth."
Awards and regional projects are:
- $36,500: Berkshire Natural Resources Council to conduct invasive species control at Housatonic Flats and Thomas and Palmer Preserves in Great Barrington
- $16,675: Franklin Land Trust to enhance native shrub habitat on Crowningshield Farm in Heath and Guyette Farm in Plainfield.
- $36,630: Town of Lenox to conduct hardy kiwi invasive species control within Kennedy Park.
- $15,632: Sheffield Land Trust to work to control invasive species at Ashley Falls Woods.
- $20,503: The Nature Conservancy to create and improve old field and shrubland habitats at the Schenob Brook Preserve in Sheffield.
- $15,500: The Cherry Hill Realty Trust to remove the invasive hardy kiwi plant in Stockbridge.
- $20,905: Town of Stockbridge to treat invasive species at Gould Meadows and Bullard Woods.
- $24,493: Mass Audubon to create shrubland habitat at the Richardson Brook Wildlife Sanctuary in Tolland.
Tags: invasive species, MassWildlife, state grant,
