S549 — An Act investing in natural and working lands

Summary

An Act investing in natural and working lands

Bill Text

• Full text Current

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The bill amends Chapter 21N of the General Laws to define 'Nature Services' and 'Reforestation', modify reporting and policy recommendation requirements, and establish a new municipal program to promote conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.

• Section 1

  “Nature Services”, the processes and properties of both natural and human-managed ecosystems that provide human societies with benefits and resources of fundamental value. These services include: resources essential for life, public health, mental and physical health and economic prosperity, such as food, clean water, clean air, shelter, medicines and recreation; stabilizing environmental processes such as biodiversity, purification of air and water, ambient temperatures, flood control, carbon sequestration and storage and nutrient cycling; and cultural services not of direct material benefit.

  This adds a new definition for 'Nature Services' to the law.

• Section 1

  “Reforestation”, the process of replanting trees in areas depleted by natural or unnatural disturbances such as wildfires, natural disasters, drought, insects, disease, logging, mining, agricultural clearing and development.

  This adds a new definition for 'Reforestation' to the law.

• Section 3A

  and → natural and working lands, and

  This expands a listing by including 'natural and working lands' within the context.

• Section 5

  the word “policies” → policies, and provided further, that the inventory, baseline assessment, plan and reporting requirements pursuant to this chapter shall also include information about expenditures, participation rates and results from the natural and working lands friendly communities program, as well as recommendations for administrative policies, programs and legislation to improve compliance and to meet these statewide goals;

  This adds new reporting requirements regarding the natural and working lands friendly communities program.

• Section 5

  clause (xvi) → (xvi) include recommendations developed in coordination with the division of local services within the department of revenue for updated expenditures and incentive rates for land conservation, stewardship and ownership programs to ensure they adjust with the value of the land and sufficiently reimburse or incentivize land conservation or stewardship to further these statewide goals; and (xvii) make recommendations for future policy action.

  This replaces an existing clause with two new clauses including updated recommendations related to land conservation and stewardship.

• Section 13. (a) The commonwealth shall undertake actions under this chapter with the goal of preventing the degradation and loss of natural and working lands, as defined in Section 1 of this chapter, as well as freshwater wetlands and coastal wetlands, as defined in section 40 of chapter 131, and promoting equitable access to nature services. ...

  This introduces new sections focused on the preservation and management of natural and working lands.

• Section 14. (a) The secretary of the executive office of energy and environmental affairs shall establish a municipal opt-in natural and working lands friendly communities program.

  This creates a new program to support municipalities in conservation efforts and sustainable practices.

Sponsors

• Joanne M. Comerford · Primary

Subjects