Meetings of the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Advisory Committee are held quarterly on the second Thursday of every third month. Topics on non-game and endangered species are covered, and updates on agency activities are part of the agenda.
Please note: If you have a disability or medical condition and would like to request special accommodation or will require translation services, please contact Susan Sacco via email at susan.sacco@mass.gov.
Next Meeting
The Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Advisory Committee will be meeting on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. This Advisory Committee meeting will be held virtually via a Zoom webinar of the Members, Associate Members, and MassWildlife staff, with the public invited to join the webinar.
Public Link to Join the Webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81795566309?pwd=MFY1T3JTdWlIeXpsclFJY2hrUi8xQT09
Passcode: YPe0Sh
Public Phone to Join the Webinar:
+1-929-205-6099 US (New York) (data or phone charges may apply)
Webinar ID: 817 9556 6309
Passcode: 435803
Agenda
- Minutes of the July Meeting
- Chair’s Comments – Mark Mello
- Board Member’s Comments – Matthew Sisk
- NHESP & Assistant Director’s Report – Jesse Leddick
- Advancements in Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation in MA – Rebecca Quiñones, NHESP Conservation Science Program Manager
- Member’s & Associate Member’s Comments
Posted Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at 11:45 A.M.
Past Meeting Agendas & Minutes
July 11, 2024: Overview of the Biodiversity Executive Order and Draft Biodiversity Goals for Discussion and Feedback – Jen Ryan, Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Initiatives and Climate Policy
April 11, 2024: Building a Prescribed Fire Program Through Partnership – Alex Entrup, Prescribed Fire Program Leader, NHESP
January 22, 2024: Discussion of the “Report of the Climate Forestry Committee: Recommendations for Climate-Oriented Forest Management Guidelines”
January 11, 2024: Open discussion; No formal presentation
October 12, 2023: Discussion and Member Vote on MESA List Proposals (Vertebrates & Invertebrates)
September 14, 2023: Discussion and Member Vote on MESA List Proposals (Plants)
July 27, 2023: Recommended Changes to the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act List – Mike Nelson (Invertebrate Zoologist) and Eve Schlüter (Assistant Director)
April 13, 2023: Bridging Climate Change Research and Agency Priorities at MassWildlife – Rebecca Quiñones, Stream Biologist Project Leader
January 12, 2023: MassWildlife’s Role in Coastal Waterbird Conservation – Carolyn Mostello, Coastal Waterbird Biologist
October 13, 2022: Update on Next Round of MESA List Changes – Eve Schlüter
July 14, 2022: A Checklist of the Bees of Massachusetts - Summary and Highlights – Michael Veit, Independent Researcher
April 14, 2022: Open discussion; No formal presentation
January 13, 2022: Linking Landscapes for Massachusetts Wildlife: A Model Partnership for Interagency Coordination – Dave Paulson, Senior Endangered Species Review Biologist
October 14, 2021: BioMap3 Update – Eve Schlüter
July 8, 2021: Prescribed Fire: Statewide Priorities and Spring Accomplishments – Caren Caljouw (Prescribed Fire Program Manager) and Alex Entrup (Seasonal Prescribed Fire and Habitat Restoration Ecologist)
April 8, 2021: Wildlife Rehabilitation Program Overview – Jennifer Longsdorf, Natural Heritage Program Coordinator
January 14, 2021: Brief Introduction to the Heritage Hub – Sarah Maier (NHESP Information Manager) and Amanda Veinotte (NHESP Project Coordinator)
December 10, 2020: A Recap of Major Restoration Projects in 2020 – Chris Buelow, Senior Restoration Ecologist
November 12, 2020: Open discussion; No formal presentation
October 8, 2020: Open discussion; No formal presentation
September 10, 2020: Re-discovery of Crested Fringed Orchid with notes on the orchid family in Massachusetts – Bob Wernerehl, State Botanist
July 9, 2020: The Great Marsh Resiliency Project – Russ Hopping, Lead Ecologist, Coastal Ecology, The Trustees
June 11, 2020: Spotted Turtle Conservation and Management from Maine to Florida - an update from Massachusetts – Mike Jones, State Herpetologist
May 14, 2020: Using GPS technology to examine habitat selection and movements of the Eastern Whip-poor-will on the non-breeding grounds – Andrew Vitz, State Ornithologist
April 9, 2020: Meeting Cancelled
March 12, 2020: Meeting Cancelled
February 13, 2020: Open Discussion
January 9, 2020: Spring Salamander Assessment in Massachusetts – Jake Kubel, Conservation Scientist
December 12, 2019: Impacts of Annual Winter Water Level Drawdowns on Littoral Zone Ecology in Massachusetts Lakes – Jason Carmignani, Aquatic Ecologist
November 14, 2019: Vote on Officers
October 10, 2019: Using iNaturalist for MassWildlife Projects – Lynn Harper, Habitat Protection Specialist
September 12, 2019: NHESP Data Improvement Initiative – Amanda Veinotte (NHESP Project Coordinator) and Sarah Maier (Information Manager)
July 11, 2019: Carbon Budgeting on MassWildlife Forests – Brian Hawthorne, Habitat Planning Coordinator
June 13, 2019: Current Status of the Red-bellied Cooter – Mike Jones, State Herpetologist
May 9, 2019: Meeting Cancelled
April 11, 2019: Linking Landscapes for Massachusetts Wildlife: Innovation in Wildlife and Transportation Coordination – David Paulson (NHESP) and Timothy Dexter (MassDOT)
March 14, 2019: Turners Falls: A Summary of Impacts to Listed Species – Jesse Leddick (Chief of Regulatory Review) and Misty-Anne Marold (Senior Endangered Species Review Biologist)
February 14, 2019: Solar in MA: SMART Program Review – Kaitlin Kelly, Solar Programs Manager, MA Department of Energy Resources
January 10, 2019: Continue Discussion on Solar Arrays and Wildlife
December 13, 2018: Solar PV and Wildlife: Solar PV Siting Under the SMART Program and Development of “Wildlife-Friendly” Mitigation Measures for Solar Arrays – Zara Dowling, UMass Clean Energy Extension
November 8, 2018: Discussion of Solar Farms and Wildlife
October 11, 2018: MESA List Change Discussion and Vote
September 13, 2018: Meeting Cancelled
July 12, 2018: Recommended Changes to the Massachusetts List of Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Species – Mike Nelson, Invertebrate Zoologist
June 14, 2018: MassWildlife Land Protection: Planning and Process – Lynn Harper, Habitat Protection Specialist
May 10, 2018: Terrain Analysis for Conservation – Tim Flanagan, Advisory Committee Associate Member, Berkshire Community College Professor of Environmental and Life Sciences
April 12, 2018: The status of Whip-poor-Will in Massachusetts – Chris Buelow, NHESP Restoration Ecologist
March 8, 2018: Meeting Cancelled
February 8, 2018: Coastal Project Reviews within the Commonwealth – Amy Hoenig, Endangered Species Review Biologist
January 8, 2018: MassWildlife-Natural Resources Conservation Service habitat management partnership – Marianne Piché, MassWildlife Habitat Biologist
December 14, 2017: NHESP Outreach: Where we are and where we're headed – Elaine Brewer, Outreach Specialist
November 9, 2017: Meeting Cancelled
October 12, 2017: State of the Birds 3: Massachusetts Birds and Our Changing Climate – Joan Walsh, Mass Audubon
September 14, 2017: Discussion on When Federally Listed Species Should be Formally Included on the Massachusetts List of Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Species – Mike Nelson, Invertebrate Zoologist
July 13, 2017: Meeting Cancelled
June 8, 2017: Meeting Cancelled
May 11, 2017: Using Mobile Devices for GIS and Field Data Collection – Jon Regosin, Chief of Conservation Science
April 13, 2017: Recent Federal Listing Decisions and Implications for States – Brent Powers, NRCS Review Biologist
March 9, 2017: Hunter Ed Program Overview – Susan Langlois, Hunter Ed Program Administrator
February 9, 2017: Meeting Cancelled
January 12, 2017: The Effects of the Road Network and Thermal Constraints on Moose Movement and Habitat Selection in MA – Dave Wattles, Black Bear & Furbearer Biologist
December 8, 2016: Discussion of Translocations and Reintroductions – Eve Schluter and Jon Regosin, NHESP
November 10, 2016: Meeting Cancelled
October 13, 2016: Frameworks for Freshwater Turtle Conservation in Massachusetts – Mike Jones, State Herpetologist
Contact for Advisory Committee Meetings
Online
Phone
Open M–F, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. (closed noon–12:30 for lunch)
North/Central/Western Massachusetts
Southeastern Massachusetts/Cape & Islands