conservation – Belmont Citizens Forum

Our Environmental Stewards: Tim Johnson, Native Plant Trust

Environment, Plants, September/October 2026 Comments Off

Aug 252026

Our Environmental Stewards: Tim Johnson, Native Plant Trust

This article is part of the Belmont Citizens Forum’s series on environmental leadership in Massachusetts. Native Plant Trust, based at Garden in the Woods in Framingham, is the nation’s first plant conservation organization and the only one devoted solely to New England’s native plants. It works across the region to protect rare and endangered species, manage sanctuaries from Maine to Vermont, and shows how gardens, streetscapes, and restored habitats can all support biodiversity in our changing climate. From its nurseries to its education programs and volunteer conservation corps, Native Plant Trust saves native plants in the wild, grows them for [READ MORE]

Our Environmental Stewards: Ian Cooke, NepRWA

Environment, July/August 2026, Newsletter Comments Off

Jun 292026

Our Environmental Stewards: Ian Cooke, NepRWA

This article is part of the Belmont Citizens Forum’s series on environmental leadership in Massachusetts. Within 20 years, I expect to see a more free-flowing Neponset River teeming with native and anadromous fish, with a connected network of bike and pedestrian trails … where people can swim in their local pond or waterway … where restored floodplains and green infrastructure keep us cool, protect people from flooding, and support thriving wildlife. The Neponset River Watershed Association (NepRWA) works to protect and restore one of Greater Boston’s most historically significant rivers, whose 30‑mile course drains parts of 14 cities and towns [READ MORE]

Lexington’s Conservation Stewards

Environment, July/August 2026, Newsletter, Open Space Comments Off

Jun 292026

By Jeffrey North Lexington’s Conservation Division and its network of Conservation Stewards form one of the most robust municipal stewardship programs in the region. Together, they care for more than 1,400 acres of conservation land and more than 50 miles of trails. This partnership offers a useful model for towns like Belmont that are looking to stretch limited staff capacity and improve the ecology and public enjoyment of local open space. The Conservation Division’s Core Mission Lexington’s Conservation Division is the town department charged with administering state and local wetlands laws, managing town-owned conservation land, and supporting the appointed Conservation [READ MORE]

Meet Belmont’s Natural Resources Manager

Environment, July/August 2026, Plants Comments Off

Jun 222026

Meet Belmont’s Natural Resources Manager

William “Will” McPhee brings a background in forestry, horticulture, and municipal land stewardship to his new role as Belmont’s new natural resources manager. A graduate of Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School’s horticulture program, McPhee went on to study parks, recreation, and tourism at the University of Maine, where he later earned a master’s degree in forestry. McPhee worked with the City of Bangor, Maine, on its emerald ash borer response program, helping the city plan for a pest that has damaged ash trees across much of the country. In Belmont, he first took on the role of tree warden [READ MORE]

Clean Energy Policy Needs to be Equitable

Climate Change, Construction and Housing, Newsletter, November-December 2021, Solar Power Comments Off

Oct 292021

Clean Energy Policy Needs to be Equitable

By Aditya Jain As a high school intern with State Representative David Rogers’ office in the summer of 2020, I learned about the legislative process through Massachusetts Bill S9, the Climate Roadmap bill, which was signed into law in March 2021. During the summer of 2021, I researched equity in Massachusetts clean energy policies, interviewing experts in Massachusetts policies on clean energy access, technology, and workforce trends. What is Environmental Justice? The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines environmental justice as the “fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, [READ MORE]