About the Regional Conservation Planning Program
Since 1999, Manomet's Regional Conservation Planning (RCP) Program has been helping southeastern Massachusetts' conservation decision-makers by developing and providing them with the tools and information they need to make better informed decisions. Our main tools are the Conservation Scorecard and the ConservationMapper viewers.The Conservation Scorecard provides an objective, science-based approach to prioritizing land protection in the region. It is a powerful tool for identifying those parcels of land with high conservation values. It is ideally suited for conservation commissions, planning boards, open space and recreation committees, land trusts, and regional planning agencies to prioritize open space for future acquisition.
The ConservationMapper viewers are the RCP Program's no-cost, online mapping tools. They may be used in conjunction with the Conservation Scorecard, or on their own to address a variety of conservation issues.
Additional tools developed and distributed by the RCP Program include A Guide to the Natural Communities of Massachusetts; the Southeastern Massachusetts Natural Resources Atlas; Planning for Wildlife, our guide to improving Open Space and Recreation Plans; and Conserving Open Space, our guide to funding open space acquisition and stewardship. Together, these tools provide conservation commissions, open space and recreation committees, community preservation committees, land trusts, and others the informatio necessary to identify, acquire, and protect the region;s most important natural areas and resources. We are proud to provide this assistance, and to be a part of your conservation efforts.
Get involved!
There are many ways to get involved with Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences's RCP Program. Like most non-profit organizations, we welcome memberships, financial contributions, and contributions of volunteer time. You can also help by using this web site to become informed about natural resources in your town and region, and by bringing the site to the attention of town planners, conservation commissions, educators, and others in your community so that the information it contains may be incorporated into the decision-making process.Your support of other conservation groups and environmental initiatives also helps conserve southeastern Massachusetts's resources. Join a land trust, watershed association, or other conservation group working in the region. Contribute to conservation efforts through the purchase of conservation license plates for your vehicle, and by using the voluntary check-off on the Massachusetts state income tax form to support endangered species conservation and management. Finally, support conservation initiatives, such as the Community Preservation Act, by voting for conservation.
