Metrowest Conservation Alliance
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Upcoming Events!
'Farming on Conservation Land' Mixer
Thurs, March 26 from 12:00 - 1:30 @ Framingham Friends Meeting House
Thank you to everyone who joined the “Farming on Conservation Land” workshop hosted by the Metrowest Conservation Alliance. During the session, we heard from Land For Good about best practices for agricultural licenses and leases, as well as from several MCA partners who shared insights from their existing licensing programs. If you missed it, a recording of the workshop is available here.
Building on this momentum, MCA is hosting a networking event on Thursday, March 26, from 12:00–1:30 PM at the Framingham Friends Meetinghouse. This event will bring together farmers seeking access to agricultural land with land trusts and municipalities interested in leasing or licensing conservation land. Lunch will be provided!
To support meaningful connections, conservation landholders will be asked to complete a brief criteria checklist to help match farmers with suitable agricultural land. If you’re interested in participating but unsure whether your land portfolio includes potential agricultural land, please contact MCA Coordinator Mike Perrin at [email protected] for guidance.
This is a wonderful opportunity to support the local farming community while helping preserve the rural character of your service area. Feel free to reach out to Mike Perrin ([email protected]) with any questions.
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MCA 2025 - 2035 Action Plan, Final
MCA 2025-2035 Action Plan, PDF
About
The Metrowest Conservation Alliance (MCA) is a partnership of organizations that work collaboratively on land management (stewardship) and land protection to achieve regional conservation success. The MCA works in the 36-community region that makes up the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord River watershed, covering approximately 377 square miles. Partners include municipalities, state agencies, land trusts, and other non-profit organizations.
The MCA promotes sustainable forestry and agriculture, biodiversity protection, and local economies. The MCA recognizes the need to integrate people with the environment through education, extension, and outreach in order to achieve our conservation goals.
The MCA is a Regional Conservation Partnership (RCP), which is a network of private and public organizations and municipalities that work together to develop and implement a shared, long-term conservation vision across their shared region. As a recognized RCP, the MCA and its partners gain access to experienced peers in other organizations and gain insights about stewardship practices, wetland resource management/permitting, land protection strategies, management planning, Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) experience, and much more.
Additionally, partners working together typically get more work done, improve the quality of their work, and qualify for additional (and often larger) funding sources. Any conservation organization or municipality can become a partner.
See below for MCA's Priority Issues and the committees working on these priority issues.
Invasive species management is done in cooperation with the SuAsCo CISMA, a regional partnership of organizations that intend to manage and control invasive species defined by the geography of the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord (SuAsCo) watershed.
The MCA is coordinated by Sudbury Valley Trustees. For more information contact the MCA Coordinator, Mike Perrin, at [email protected].
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Mission
Members of the Metrowest Conservation Alliance (MCA) work collaboratively on land management (stewardship) and land protection to achieve regional conservation success. The MCA promotes sustainable forestry and agriculture, biodiversity protection, and local economies. The MCA recognizes the need to integrate people with the environment through education, extension and outreach in order to achieve our conservation goals.
Resources
Looking for more on landowner engagement or resources for landowners considering land conservation options? Click here.
History
Formed in 2009, the Metrowest Conservation Alliance (formerly the West Suburban Conservation Council, or WSCC), is a regional consortium of local land trusts, conservation commissions, agencies, individual landowners, and students working together on land conservation and stewardship. The MCA is based in Metrowest Boston, including the 36 towns within the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord River watershed. Organizations in neighboring towns are also welcome to participate.
Cooperation between conservation organizations provides not only technical support on overlapping projects, but also gives political clout to regional efforts. The Alliance was originally formed as a Woodland Council, one of many regional conservation partnerships that were created to advance the Wildlands and Woodlands Vision.
See a list of past MCA meetings including minutes and presentations.
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Partnering Organizations
Any organization, municipality, or agency involved in conservation within the watershed can become a partner. To find out more reach out Mike Perrin, MCA Coordinator ([email protected]).
Acton Conservation Trust
Boxborough Conservation Trust
City of Marlborough
Concord Land Conservation Trust
Division of Fisheries & Wildlife-Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program
Lincoln Land Conservation Trust
Littleton Conservation Trust
New England Forestry Foundation
OARS
Sherborn Rural Land Foundation
Southborough Open Land Foundation (SOLF)
Sudbury Valley Trustees
Town of Acton Natural Resources Department
Town of Billerica Conservation Commission
Town of Bolton Conservation Commission
Town of Chelmsford Conservation Commission
Town of Concord Division of Natural Resources
Town of Framingham Conservation Commission
Town of Holliston Conservation Commission
Town of Northborough Trails Committee
Town of Stow Conservation Commission
Town of Westborough Conservation Commission
Town of Weston Conservation Commission
Wayland Walks
Westborough Community Land Trust
Westford Conservation Trust