The Healey-Driscoll Administration has allocated $951,000 in grants to permanently protect 430 acres of forest reserves in Belchertown, Huntington, and Wendell. These lands are designated as reserves where trees grow and regenerate naturally to maximize carbon storage and protect biodiversity. This funding is part of the Forests as Climate Solutions Initiative, which aims to designate 10 percent of Massachusetts forests as permanent reserves. These protected areas help mitigate climate change by capturing carbon dioxide and reducing local extreme heat and flooding.
