I’ve done some volunteer work for the Greater Worcester Land Trust over the past few years, so I received an invitation to the 2011 Annual Meeting, which was held at the Trust headquarters at 4 Ash Street in Worcester, starting at 4:30 this afternoon.  The Trust is entering its 25th year as a Land Trust; they own over 550 acres outright and hold a Conservation Restriction on over 800 additional acres.  All told, the Turst has had a hand in saving 2000 acres of land in Worcester County.

After welcoming the group, President Allen Fletcher asked for the Treasurer’s Report and the Nominating Committee Report, followed by a report from Executive Director Colin Novick.  I had my notebook with me and scribbled frantically as Colin talked, but there was just too much that the Trust accomplished in the past year, and insofar as I don’t want inaccuracies creeping into this post, I won’t attempt a summary.  I will note that the GWLT website is much improved, and you can get a sense of the scope of the work undertaken by the Trust by browsing through the site.

The guest speaker this evening was Mark Blazis, who has an impressive resume, which includes serving as an outdoor columnist for the Telegram and Gazette, heading the Auburn Bird Banding Research Center, and leading photographic safaris to Africa.  Though he has traveled extensively, the African continent retains a special place in his affections, and with his wife Helen he has photographed some of its most spectacular sights, with emphasis on birds and large mammals.

Here are some of his notes on African animals:

• The wildebeest migration is a year-round phenomenon, which takes the form of a clockwise loop from the Serengeti Plains in Tanzania to Kenya and then back again
• The Mara River crossing is one of the most dramatic moments in the migration of the 1.5 million wildebeest and 300,000 zebras and other antelope
• The procession across the Mara is led by zebras, who need fresh grass to survive
• Crocodiles lie in wait at the River, waiting to feed on the animals who die crossing
• The hippopotamus is one of the most dangerous of the African animals
• Lions have heard the sounds of Range Rover vehicles since the day they were born, so they do not consider human beings a threat
• Vultures are like the custodial crews of Africa and are necessary for a healthy ecosystem
• The wild dog is the best African hunter; if their kill rate is analogous to a batting average, it would be something like .800 or .900
• Cheetahs are elegant predators who have a preference for gazelles
• A mother giraffe is very protective of her baby and might come undone if it’s killed
• Leopards are so solitary that they only tolerate another member of the species in order to mate
• Elephants revere their matriarchs
• The Spotted Hyena is a fascinating social animal; generally larger than the male, the female has a pseudo-penis and is dominant in the clan
• The Black Rhino is so endangered that very few people on safari see them

Now more than ever, I want to visit Africa and see these marvelous sights for myself!

In connection with the Town-Wide Read program focussing on wildlife and conservation,  Tom French, Director of the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, spoke at the Haston Library this evening on the restoration of habitats in Massachusetts and the current conservation status of various species.  Today, species are at risk not because we are shooting or trapping them, which was the situation during the period of colonial settlement.  From the early 1700s to the peak of deforestation in the 1830s, many species were actively persecuted, including such wilderness icons as bobcat, fox, wolf, cougar, owl, raven, and timber rattlesnake, most to the point of complete extirpation.

Far-sighted conservationists fought back with the regulations which comprise the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, first enacted in 1916 between Great Britain (as the governing body of Canada) and the United States.  Slowly, more enlightened policies prevailed in New England, even in the court of public opinion, but it wasn’t until 1972 that the last bounty for a rattlesnake was paid by New Hampshire.  And fortunately, some species — think of crows — have proven to be resilient.  Today, with its 6.5 million people, Massachusetts is one of the most densely populated states, but many species have made remarkable recoveries.  Here are some of the success stories:

• deer – perhaps because they are not truly forest creatures, we have a lot more of them now than we ever had
• beaver – the first one returned about 50 years ago, and there were 70,000 individuals in 2000
• wild turkey – gone in 1851, restored in 1972, there are now 30,000
• fisher – gone by the 1800s, they are now common state-wide
• coyote – about 10,000 strong, they are found everywhere except on the Islands; they cause the most alarm (note that our coyotes are bigger than those in California)
• black bear – now with a population of about 5,000, they are increasing at a rate of 8% per year and are moving across the state from west to east
• moose – absent from Massachusetts since the 1700s, there are now around 1,000; the population is growing, especially in northern Worcester County

Despite these very visible successes, other species are endangered, threatened, or of special concern.  The top four reasons for the declines are (1) habitat loss, (2) competition from non-native species, (3) fire suppression, and (4) road mortality.  In fact, there are currently 435 state-listed species, of which 176 are animals and 259 are plants.

We can do something about it though.  The State agencies responsible for protecting the environment use a five-pronged approach: they engage in habitat protection and management, in biological and ecological research, in writing and implementing regulations, and in educating the public.  Some notable examples include phragmites removal from Kampoosa Bog in Stockbridge, the restoration of peregrine falcons in urban environments such as the Quincy Shipyard, and the introduction of bald eagles to the Quabbin.  The Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program reviews some 2,500 projects per year, of which some 75% are evaluated as “no take,” meaning that the projects will not adversely impact endangered species.

Mr French ended his talk on an optimistic note.  Certainly there are challenges, such as the decline of our bat populations due to White Nose Syndrome, but he believes we should not be discouraged but instead should focus on what we can do to restore and maintain our rich natural heritage.