The Massachusetts Teaming with Wildlife Coalition now includes over 145 outdoor organizations, land trusts, watershed groups, sportsmen’s clubs, and businesses. Members include the Appalachian Mountain Club, Cape Cod Bird Club, Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, Gun Owner’s Action League, MassAudubon, Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition, and New England Power Company.

Why have all these different constituencies come together is support of the one goal of protecting wildlife and habitat? When we protect wildlife habitat, we also protect the open space that provides opportunities for outdoor recreation and contributes to the character of our state. Future nature reserves and wildlife habitats will preserve areas for hiking, backpacking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, boating, hunting, and fishing. Watersheds act as filters that clean our water supply, and forests act as carbon sinks that help counteract the effects of global warming. In short, when wildlife habitat is protected, everyone benefits.

In the coming months and years, this broad-based coalition will come together to secure increased funding for habitat protection and work to implement the state’s Wildlife Action Plan. The various organizations will help to increase the public’s awareness of Teaming with Wildlife and the importance of wildlife habitat. With so many various parties involved, this is sure to become a powerful coalition that will bring about positive changes in the way we conserve wildlife habitat.