Woodlands Partnership of Northwest Massachusetts Executive Committee Meeting - Jan. 14th, 2026

This is a virtual meeting via Zoom. Members of the Board and public are welcome to attend.
Please email Agent Lisa Hayden to request a Zoom link at any time: lhayden@newenglandforestry.org

Agenda

1.Call to order – Board Chair Dicken Crane

2.Brief Agent update on consultants’ progress, report drafting & emerging themes to be outlined in state-funded National Heritage Area feasibility study:

• DRAFT: Story of the varied upland forests & watersheds of NW MA and the movement of people and goods through this rugged landscape past, present & future; a more complete picture of the pivotal role of this place and its diverse Indigenous Peoples and immigrants in the shared history of colonization and birth of the American nation; shaping a resilient future for all who care for and depend on these forests and rivers and the ecological benefits they provide, through stewardship, education and sustainable rural community development.
• Key findings from consultants’ research

3.Committee discussion of Heritage Area theme & inter-related governance questions: consider voting on recommendations to Board:

• I. Identify Local Coordinating Entity (LCE):
  • a) Should the WP Board, or an affiliated non-profit arm of WP to be created, be the LCE?
  • b) Should a new entity, potentially with expanded Indigenous membership, and/or potential to add new towns or other partners, become the LCE of an NHA?
• II.Consider Board governance and potential participation of sovereign Indigenous communities who may be interested – Potential options:
  • a) Recommend adding a WP Board seat for Western Massachusetts Commissioner on Indian Affairs (voting or liaison, TBD)
  • b)Expand WP Board membership to tribal/Indigenous communities with ancestral homelands in NW MA (Ohketeau Cultural Center, Ashfield-based, Nipmuc/k-centered non-profit has board seat); other communities include federally recognized Stockbridge Munsee Band of Mohicans, state-recognized Nipmuc/k, & Odanak, now based in Canada (Abenaki)
  • c) WP working group and Agent invite Indigenous communities to meet to explore how NHA could be structured, simultaneously with the public feedback process of reviewing the draft feasibility report in 2026.
• III.Distribution of potential funding (state or local match to federal NHA funding is required):Should WP Board adopt a Vision statement now for how funding is anticipated to flow? Potential options could include:
  
  a) Base % to LCE for administration & operations (core staff);
  b) Equal proportions (25% each) to the LCE (WP), and to 3 identified Indigenous communities;
  c) Invite each Indigenous community to share a program or need to be funded by afuture NHA that the WP or LCE would include and make a priority in the report (i.e.,tribal forester or stewardship role for Indigenous lands as one identified need), or,
  d) Another equitable distribution TBD.
• IV.Review map & WP geographic footprint in light of potential NHA – Potential options:
  a) Consider by-laws process to expand after interest by several border towns to join theWP (Hancock, Hinsdale & questions from Dalton, Plainfield residents); Countyparticipation, state endorsement needed?
  b) Should the current 21-town footprint be the starting point for the report – withoptions to expand geographic region to interested towns in the future outlined under“Alternatives”?

4. Agent updates: Finalizing new state contract budget underway with PT website support; WP table atCanopy Forestry Forum at UMass March 5; spring tree-planting location needed; Board officerelections to be held at June Annual Meeting if needed
5. Any item(s) not anticipated within 48 hours
6. Public comment
7. Adjourn