Regional Conservation Partnerships
Powering Community-Centered Land Conservation
Editor’s Note: Across New England, a quiet but powerful movement is transforming how land is conserved. At the heart of this movement are Regional Conservation Partnerships (RCPs)—collaborative networks of land trusts; conservation organizations; state and federal agencies; municipalities; and community members working together to conserve the forests, farmlands, wildlands, and vital ecosystems that define this region. Here, we examine RCPs—what they are, how they got started, and why they are more vital today than ever. We then look at five examples of RCPs from around the region that are leveraging and tailoring the collaborative RCP model to support community-centered land conservation. – Marissa Latshaw
What Are Regional Conservation Partnerships?
Regional Conservation Partnerships (RCPs) are voluntary collaborations that bring together diverse stakeholders with a shared goal: to conserve land and natural resources that transcend town and state borders. Rather than working in isolation, RCP members coordinate conservation actions at a landscape scale, ensuring that efforts are strategic, science-informed, and community-driven.
The RCP model of collaborative conservation in New England was originally conceived in the 1990s by the Wildlands & Woodlands (W&W) initiative based at Harvard Forest, which evolved to become Wildlands, Woodlands, Farmlands & Communities (WWF&C). The first W&W report, published in 2005, used the term “Woodland Council” for entities actively engaged in land protection coming together across sub-regions of the state to collaborate and create the necessary infrastructure to achieve conservation at scale. The Highstead Foundation, fiscal sponsor of WWF&C, hired William Labich in 2010 to advance this model for broader cooperation as a way to help address accelerating development pressures and ecological fragmentation. Since then, RCPs have become part of the landscape conservation movement that has spread across the country.
“The work of RCPs and the RCP Network, which today includes the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, offers a hopeful blueprint for regions across the country. ”
Today, Highstead’s William Labich and Katie Blake, and their ongoing work to coordinate the RCP Network, play a catalytic role by offering coordination, capacity-building, and convening support to RCPs—which includes the annual RCP Network Gathering. Their work has allowed many partnerships to scale up their ambitions and impact, moving from informal collaboration to structured, strategic initiatives that span hundreds of thousands of acres.
An Exemplar of Collaboration and Integration
RCPs are central to achieving the long-term vision laid out in the WWF&C initiative. This bold and inclusive vision aims to conserve 80 percent of New England as forests (wildlands and woodlands) and farmlands, while supporting thriving, equitable communities. At its heart, WWF&C calls for integrated conservation—collaborative approaches that don’t just protect land, but also enhance climate resilience, sustain livelihoods, promote equity, and strengthen local economies.
RCPs act as essential vehicles for turning vision into action. Because they operate at a landscape scale and are not constrained by political or geographic boundaries, RCPs are uniquely positioned to integrate conservation and land planning. The RCP model recognizes the interconnectedness of forests, farms, waterways, housing, and infrastructure—and each RCP is building relationships that make it possible to plan holistically.
This integrated approach is increasingly important in the face of climate change, biodiversity loss, and economic disparities. RCPs not only help conserve land but also advance nature-based solutions; strengthen local food systems; and build partnerships with Indigenous groups, landowners, municipalities, and other key stakeholders.
Real-World Impact: Five RCPs in Action
The Hudson to Housatonic (H2H) RCP, spanning parts of New York and Connecticut, is a vibrant example of cross-boundary collaboration. H2H brings together more than 30 partners focused on conserving forested landscapes, connecting habitat corridors and engaging local communities in conservation. Their work has led to significant land protection wins and the creation of tools that help towns integrate conservation into planning decisions.
H2H partners working together on a strategic conservation mapping project. Photo courtesy of Highstead
The Maine West Partnership exemplifies how conservation efforts can be entry points to nature for all types of community members. Encompassing a 27-town region in western Maine, Maine West blends land protection with inclusive outdoor programming. From wellness hikes for people over 50 to outdoor expeditions for at-risk youth and those in recovery, the partnership works alongside trusted local organizations to lower barriers to nature—ensuring that participants feel safe, supported, and welcome. These initiatives extend beyond conserving forests and trails. They promote community well-being, social connection, and mental health, demonstrating how RCPs can both protect land and increase access to natural spaces and their numerous benefits.
With funding from the Betterment Fund and a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Community Development Initiative grant, Maine West provided a free camping trip to at-risk high school students. Photo courtesy of Maine West
In Connecticut, the Litchfield Hills Greenprint Collaborative has conserved tens of thousands of acres through its network of more than 20 partners. By aligning around a shared conservation map and prioritizing areas based on ecological and community values, Greenprint has advanced large-scale protection while also supporting local farms, trails, and public access.
Community members representing both affordable housing and conservation organizations discuss strategies during a Collaborative meeting at the Norfolk Hub. From left: Arlin Deboer, Sharon Housing Trust; Jonathan Doster, Sharon Land Trust; Mary Oppenheimer, Salisbury Affordable Housing Commission; and Abeth Slotnik, Salisbury Association. Photo © Shana Sureck
The Staying Connected Initiative, which stretches from the Adirondacks to the Acadian forests of Canada, demonstrates how RCPs can operate across international borders. This ambitious effort works to maintain and restore wildlife connectivity across one of North America’s most important ecological corridors. The Staying Connected Initiative has combined land protection, transportation planning, and community outreach to create an enduring conservation legacy.
Staying Connected Initiative works with RCPs and other partners to conserve the 80-million-acre Northern Appalachian-Acadian region. Photo © Jeff Lougee
The Woodlands Partnership of Northwest Massachusetts represents a unique blend of conservation and economic development. This RCP has successfully leveraged state and federal recognition to support sustainable forestry, promote nature-based tourism, and invest in local economies—all while protecting the vast forest landscapes that define the region.
Community members attend a recent forest walk focused on habitat restoration in Savoy, Massachusetts, co-hosted by the Department of Conservation & Recreation and the Woodlands Partnership. Photo © Kate Conlin
A Model for the Future
At a time when collaboration is more vital than ever, RCPs offer a model that is both pragmatic and visionary. They bring together people who may have different objectives but who seek to balance conservation goals and community needs in a nuanced and careful manner.
The work of RCPs and the RCP Network, which today includes the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, offers a hopeful blueprint for regions across the country. By fostering trust, sharing knowledge and priorities, and working across boundaries, RCPs are showing that when we come together, we can protect land, support communities, and build a more resilient future for all.
Marissa Latshaw works with mission-driven organizations to build empathetic and inclusive communication strategies that inspire action. She is the publisher of From the Ground Up and co-coordinator of the Wildlands, Woodlands, Farmlands & Communities initiative, working with partners throughout New England to help bring a more holistic, integrated approach to land conservation. Marissa resides in Connecticut where she’s always up for a walk in the conservation area adjacent to her home.