Mass Audubon Advocacy

Our Mission
Take Action Today!

MISSION: To Protect The Nature of Massachusetts.

VISION: A Commonwealth in which people appreciate and understand native plants and animals and their habitats and work together to ensure that they are truly protected.

ROLE: To serve both as a leader and a catalyst for conservation, by acting directly to Protect The Nature of Massachusetts and by stimulating individual and institutional action through education, advocacy, and habitat protection.

STRATEGY: To educate and motivate Mass Audubon members, citizens of the Commonwealth, local, state, and federal elected and appointed officials to make decisions that Protect The Nature of Massachusetts. The Advocacy Department seeks to strengthen important partnerships with other organizations and institutions, as well as to enhance coordination and information-sharing among Mass Audubon staff.

GOALS: To abate the principal threats to The Nature of Massachusetts. Broadly defined, these threats are:

• habitat fragmentation
• habitat loss
• disruption of ecological processes
• invasive species
• incompatible human uses of the land.

The Mass Audubon's Advocacy Department fulfills the legacy of our Founding Mothers, Minna Hall and Harriet Hemenway. Using friendly yet persistent persuasion, these two Back Bay cousins enlisted over nine hundred people to join a society for the protection of birds in Massachusetts and around the country. Their advocacy—which resulted in the passage of the Migratory Bird Treaty—marked one of the seminal moments in the history of environmental activism in the United States. Since that time, the Advocacy Department has played a crucial role in the passage of some of the strongest conservation laws in the country.

Through the Lincoln Headquarters, Advocacy staff develop policies and publications relating to Mass Audubon's conservation priorities, comment on major proposed development projects, and serve on state advisory committees working to develop state regulations and policies. On Beacon Hill, staff coordinate the lobbying of state and federal leaders toward passage of conservation legislation and funding conservation programs.

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TAKE ACTION TODAY!

There are several ways in which interested citizens can get involved with Mass Audubon and play active and effective roles in conserving the natural resources of the commonwealth:

• Get involved with your local Municipality: Most of the land use decisions that govern the health and character of our land are made at the local level. To make a difference in your community, get involved with your local conservation commission, planning board, or other municipal group.

• Take an active role in pending legislation: Join Mass Audubon's Action Network and participate in Mass Audubon's effort to improve state environmental laws by writing letters and making phone calls to your state legislators when asked by our legislative staff to take action.

• Join Mass Audubon today: Membership dues help support our statewide advocacy work, and the backing of 100,000 members lends credibility and clout to our efforts to ensure our legislators "do right" by the environment.

• Assist Mass Audubon with specific projects: The Advocacy Department offers opportunities for interns, volunteers and pro bono lawyers interested in assisting with specific issues or projects. If interested in providing at least 10 hours per week, please contact us via e-mail or call 781-259-2171.

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