The state has come through with another $260,000 in grant funding for the Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership to help its member towns support projects related to forest stewardship, nature-based tourism and climate education.
Five county towns and the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) each received between $20,000 and $60,000 to support their work.
In February, the Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership was awarded a $1.5 million grant to support a regional adaptation climate resilience project through the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program. The grant was part of $11.6 million in funding to more than 80 communities across the state to identify climate hazards, develop strategies to improve resilience and implement priority actions to adapt to climate change.
Sen. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield, said the investment awarded to the towns he represents is a great step forward in showcasing the natural beauty of Western Massachusetts, while providing opportunities for economic development by promoting and conserving natural resources.
“It remains important for the communities to come together to define an agreed path forward for the partnership, and I look forward to engagement on this,” he said.
Ashfield received $20,000 to design and build a 1.5-mile loop trail from the town’s elementary school through a town forest that will include educational kiosks and brochures.
Conway received $20,000 to complete an inventory, assessment and plan for two of its forests, which will include educating and collaborating with town residents in regard to forest stewardship.
Heath will use its $20,000 to design and build a new trail and picnic area connecting the 350-acre town forest to the 1,300-acre state forest. Educational kiosks will be located throughout the trail.
Rowe received $20,000 to manage its 1,408-acre town park and forest, and to complete an assessment and plan for the property that will improve the forest’s climate resilience, while Shelburne will use its $20,000 to design and construct a trail from the Shelburne Falls village to a 100-mile-long regional trail along the Deerfield River. The new trail will connect the Connecticut River to the Hudson River, and include signs.
Additionally, a $60,000 grant will allow the Franklin Regional Council of Governments to inventory and map the nature-based tourism infrastructure in the 21-town Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership region, which includes recreation trails and sites, information centers and parking areas. It will also prepare recommendations for infrastructure that is necessary to expand regional nature-based tourism.
Initiated in 2013, the Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership is a collaboration between FRCOG, the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Franklin Land Trust, Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, a Forest Service liaison and an advisory committee, which has representation from each of the 21 communities within the partnership’s region as well as regional nonprofits.
In late 2018, state legislation authorizing the Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership was signed into law, and of the 21 communities eligible to join the partnership, 14 communities are now members. Seven more will vote on whether to join in the coming months.
Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-0261, ext. 269 or afritz@recorder.com.