Advisory Committee Meetings

All Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public.

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  

  1. Minutes of the July Meeting     
  2. Chair’s Comments – Mark Mello      
  3. Board Member’s Comments – Matthew Sisk   
  4. NHESP & Assistant Director’s Report – Jesse Leddick  
  5. Advancements in Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation in MA – Rebecca Quiñones, NHESP Conservation Science Program Manager
  6. 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 

Agenda

April 11, 2024: Building a Prescribed Fire Program Through Partnership – Alex Entrup, Prescribed Fire Program Leader, NHESP

Agenda
Minutes

January 22, 2024: Discussion of the “Report of the Climate Forestry Committee: Recommendations for Climate-Oriented Forest Management Guidelines” 

Agenda
Minutes

January 11, 2024: Open discussion; No formal presentation

Agenda
Minutes

October 12, 2023: Discussion and Member Vote on MESA List Proposals (Vertebrates & Invertebrates)

Agenda
Minutes

September 14, 2023: Discussion and Member Vote on MESA List Proposals (Plants)

Agenda
Minutes

July 27, 2023: Recommended Changes to the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act List – Mike Nelson (Invertebrate Zoologist) and Eve Schlüter (Assistant Director)

Agenda
Minutes

April 13, 2023: Bridging Climate Change Research and Agency Priorities at MassWildlife – Rebecca Quiñones, Stream Biologist Project Leader 

Agenda
Minutes

January 12, 2023: MassWildlife’s Role in Coastal Waterbird Conservation – Carolyn Mostello, Coastal Waterbird Biologist  

Agenda
Minutes

October 13, 2022: Update on Next Round of MESA List Changes  Eve Schlüter 

Agenda
Minutes

July 14, 2022: A Checklist of the Bees of Massachusetts - Summary and Highlights – Michael Veit, Independent Researcher

Agenda
Minutes

April 14, 2022: Open discussion; No formal presentation

Agenda
Minutes

January 13, 2022: Linking Landscapes for Massachusetts Wildlife: A Model Partnership for Interagency Coordination – Dave Paulson, Senior Endangered Species Review Biologist 

Agenda
Minutes

October 14, 2021: BioMap3 Update – Eve Schlüter

Agenda
Minutes

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)

Agenda
Minutes

April 8, 2021: Wildlife Rehabilitation Program Overview – Jennifer Longsdorf, Natural Heritage Program Coordinator

Agenda
Minutes

January 14, 2021: Brief Introduction to the Heritage Hub – Sarah Maier (NHESP Information Manager) and Amanda Veinotte (NHESP Project Coordinator)

Agenda
Minutes

December 10, 2020: A Recap of Major Restoration Projects in 2020 – Chris Buelow, Senior Restoration Ecologist

Agenda
Minutes

November 12, 2020: Open discussion; No formal presentation

Agenda
Minutes

October 8, 2020: Open discussion; No formal presentation

Agenda
Minutes

September 10, 2020: Re-discovery of Crested Fringed Orchid with notes on the orchid family in Massachusetts – Bob Wernerehl, State Botanist

Ageda
Minutes

July 9, 2020: The Great Marsh Resiliency Project – Russ Hopping, Lead Ecologist, Coastal Ecology, The Trustees

Agenda
Minutes

June 11, 2020: Spotted Turtle Conservation and Management from Maine to Florida - an update from Massachusetts – Mike Jones, State Herpetologist

Agenda
Minutes

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

Agenda
Minutes

April 9, 2020: Meeting Cancelled

March 12, 2020: Meeting Cancelled

February 13, 2020: Open Discussion

Agenda
Minutes

January 9, 2020: Spring Salamander Assessment in Massachusetts – Jake Kubel, Conservation Scientist

Agenda
Minutes

December 12, 2019: Impacts of Annual Winter Water Level Drawdowns on Littoral Zone Ecology in Massachusetts Lakes – Jason Carmignani, Aquatic Ecologist

Agenda
Minutes

November 14, 2019: Vote on Officers

Agenda
Minutes

October 10, 2019: Using iNaturalist for MassWildlife Projects – Lynn Harper, Habitat Protection Specialist

Agenda
Minutes

September 12, 2019: NHESP Data Improvement Initiative – Amanda Veinotte (NHESP Project Coordinator) and Sarah Maier (Information Manager)

Agenda
Minutes

July 11, 2019: Carbon Budgeting on MassWildlife Forests – Brian Hawthorne, Habitat Planning Coordinator

Agenda
Minutes

June 13, 2019: Current Status of the Red-bellied Cooter – Mike Jones, State Herpetologist

Agenda
Minutes

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)

Agenda
Minutes

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)

Agenda
Minutes

February 14, 2019: Solar in MA: SMART Program Review – Kaitlin Kelly, Solar Programs Manager, MA Department of Energy Resources

Agenda
Minutes

January 10, 2019: Continue Discussion on Solar Arrays and Wildlife

Agenda
Minutes

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

Agenda
Minutes

November 8, 2018: Discussion of Solar Farms and Wildlife

Agenda
Minutes

October 11, 2018: MESA List Change Discussion and Vote

Agenda
Minutes

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

Agenda
Minutes

June 14, 2018: MassWildlife Land Protection: Planning and Process – Lynn Harper, Habitat Protection Specialist

Agenda
Minutes

May 10, 2018: Terrain Analysis for Conservation – Tim Flanagan, Advisory Committee Associate Member, Berkshire Community College Professor of Environmental and Life Sciences

Agenda
Minutes

April 12, 2018: The status of Whip-poor-Will in Massachusetts – Chris Buelow, NHESP Restoration Ecologist

Agenda
Minutes

March 8, 2018: Meeting Cancelled

February 8, 2018: Coastal Project Reviews within the Commonwealth – Amy Hoenig, Endangered Species Review Biologist

Agenda
Minutes

January 8, 2018: MassWildlife-Natural Resources Conservation Service habitat management partnership – Marianne Piché, MassWildlife Habitat Biologist

Agenda
Minutes

December 14, 2017: NHESP Outreach: Where we are and where we're headed – Elaine Brewer, Outreach Specialist

Agenda
Minutes

November 9, 2017: Meeting Cancelled

October 12, 2017: State of the Birds 3: Massachusetts Birds and Our Changing Climate – Joan Walsh, Mass Audubon

Agenda
Minutes

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

Agenda
Minutes

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

Agenda
Minutes

April 13, 2017: Recent Federal Listing Decisions and Implications for States – Brent Powers, NRCS Review Biologist

Agenda
Minutes

March 9, 2017: Hunter Ed Program Overview – Susan Langlois, Hunter Ed Program Administrator

Agenda
Minutes

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

Agenda
Minutes

December 8, 2016: Discussion of Translocations and Reintroductions – Eve Schluter and Jon Regosin, NHESP

Agenda
Minutes

November 10, 2016: Meeting Cancelled

October 13, 2016: Frameworks for Freshwater Turtle Conservation in Massachusetts – Mike Jones, State Herpetologist

Agenda
Minutes

Contact   for Advisory Committee Meetings

Help Us Improve Mass.gov  with your feedback

Please do not include personal or contact information.
Feedback