A year ago, Mass Audubon began a fundraising campaign to accelerate land conservation in the commonwealth. The 30 X 30 Catalyst Fund hoped to find $75 million to protect 30 % of Massachusetts by 2030. To date, $40 million has been raised. Working with other state, regional, and local conservation groups, the fund has jump-started over 20 projects, totaling 18,000 acres. The conservation team has also been able to purchase land from owners who cannot wait for current uncertain federal funding to materialize. Eligible properties are judged by their ability to help clean air and water, provide biodiversity and wildlife corridors, and capture carbon for climate resilience. Intact forests in western Massachusetts and coastal properties are especially crucial to safeguarding these cost-effective solutions of Nature.

Massachusetts already has 27% of its land protected. To reach the goal of 30% it would have to add another 100,000 acres of conservation land. The 30% by 2030 conservation initiative began at the 2022 worldwide biodiversity forum, COP15, in Montreal, where 190 nations from around the world adopted a protection framework to reverse the loss of nature.. For more information on how to help, or as a private landowner becoming a part of this initiative www.massaudubon.org/catalystfund.

Mary Metzger

Westfield