* NRWA - What?s New in Protecting Rare Species?

What’s New in Protecting Rare Species?
Revised Massachusetts Endangered Species Act Regulations

Tuesday, June 14th from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
at the NRWA River Resource Center, 592 Main Street (Rt. 119) in Groton

The public is invited to learn about revisions to the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act Regulations at the “What’s New in Protecting Rare Species?” presentation.Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) staff are offering a series of informational meetings across the state for interested citizens, property owners, Conservation Commissioners, land managers, city and town officials, potential land developers, and others, to provide an overview of how rare species habitats are mapped in Massachusetts, how the NHESP regulatory review process works, the recent changes to the MESA regulations, and some detailed examples of habitat and species conservation outcomes that can be achieved.

NHESP, as part of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, is responsible for the implementation of the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA; MGL c. 131 A) and its implementing regulations (321 CMR 10.00), which establish procedures for listing and protecting rare plants and animals in the Commonwealth. The MESA regulations also outline project review filing requirements for projects or activities that are located within a Priority Habitat of Rare Species (“Priority Habitat”) and provide clear review timelines for project proponents.

After five years of successful implementation, the MESA regulations were revised effective October 2010, to include a more transparent process for mapping Priority Habitat, a more holistic approach to conserving select species of Special Concern on a statewide basis, and expanded exemptions from MESA review.

This presentation is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Susan Benoit, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, at (508) 389-6393, or email Susan Benoit.