The rallying cry “Think Global, Act Local” is just as relevant as ever, as the challenges of climate change hit home here in the Valley. How does the way we use the land in our own communities make climate change worse–or help slow it down? Can land conservation make a difference locally? What can YOU do to make a difference? Find out how your town fits into the bigger conservation picture at this special presentation.

On Thursday, November 7, from 6:30 – 7:45 pm at the Westhampton Public Library, join us for a discussion with Scott Jackson, a University of Massachusetts Amherst professor of Environmental Conservation who studies the impact of climate change on wildlife and the land. He has developed landscape-based tools to assess the health of ecosystems and how they are connected to each other to help us make science-based land-use decisions. He is also chair of Kestrel’s Board of Trustees.

Local land conservation plays an integral role in mitigating climate change. In Westhampton, you’ll learn how Kestrel has conserved two forested properties in partnership with local landowners and other partners: the 70-acre Greenberg Forest Conservation Area with its picturesque Sodom Brook and trail system, and the newly conserved Collins property in Westhampton and Williamsburg, spanning nearly 350 acres in the heart of the Brewer Brook Forest, one of the largest areas of unbroken forest in the Pioneer Valley.

This program is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided.

Registration is not required, but RSVPs are appreciated. Please join us!