Changing Climate, Land Conservation, and Northampton:
Past, Present, & Future
Past, Present, & Future
A Zoom Presentation by Scott Jackson, UMass Professor of Environmental Conservation
Wednesday, January 31, 2024 | 7 pm | On Zoom
Bobcat photographed by Laurie Sanders
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Northampton is fortunate to have extensive tracts of forest, a variety of wetland types, miles of streams, as well as the Mill and Connecticut Rivers. These wilder areas protect our water supplies, reduce the impact of storms, provide habitat for hundreds of species of plants and animals, and are places many of us like to explore.
In this illustrated presentation, Scott Jackson, an expert on biodiversity conservation, will examine the past, present, and future of Northampton's wild landscapes. Jackson will describe new, objective tools and information sources that help identify and prioritize the areas that are the most "important" in terms of conservation and ecology, particularly in the face of climate change. These tools, many of which were first developed at UMass, are now available to cities, towns, and other organizations working on long-term regional conservation initiatives and climate resilience. |
About Scott Jackson
Scott Jackson is Extension Professor in Environmental Conservation at UMass Amherst. His expertise on wildlife behavior, including amphibians and reptiles, has been used to improve wildlife road crossings in many parts of the country. Jackson is a member of the Whately Conservation Commission and on the board of the Kestrel Land Trust.