Keystone Project was given the 2017 Environmental Service Award by the MA Association of Conservation Commissions

Outstanding Environmental Education MA Keystone Project   Conservation is local. The Keystone Project (originally Coverts) was started in 1998 by UMass Extension as a means to provide private woodland owners with conservation information. With one Extension Forester, and thousands of private woodland owners, the model was designed to invest in peer owners and inform community leaders, and have them make connections and disseminate information in their respective towns. Training involves three days at the Harvard Forest with field trips and classroom talks by a variety of conservation professionals. Early on, it was recognized that in addition to forest owners, conservation commissioners and others could be excellent conduits of information. Since 1988, 26 classes have been held, with over 500 people participating as Keystone Cooperators. They collectively own over 36,000 acres, and through their community or organization are involved with over 500,000 acres. Acres and people are only part of the Keystone Story. Cooperators are expected to volunteer a minimum of 30 hours to advance...
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Family Forestry Research Center Honored with 2015 Family Forests Education Award

Family Forestry Research Center Honored with 2015 Family Forests Education Award

The Family Forest Research Center has been awarded the 2015 Family Forests Education Award for a Comprehensive Family Forest Education Program bestowed by the National Woodland Owners Association and the National Association of University Forest Resources Programs.  Paul Catanzaro was able to accept the award on behalf of the group at the SAF National Convention. The award is presented to an educational institution deemed to have delivered the most effective education program benefiting family forest owners over the past five years.  A family forest educational program is a combination of educational materials, media, courses, workshops, events and/or electronic media including applied research that supports those efforts, that is conducted over a period of time for the benefit of family forest owners. The award recognizes effective programs addressing any or all aspects of forest resources management including forest management, silviculture, forest health, harvesting, forest and estate planning, business management and marketing....
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