Our Initiatives List
Westfield River Waterfront Cleanup
In recent years, the Western MA Chapter's Conservation Committee has collaborated with the Westfield River Watershed Association (WRWA) in their twice-yearly waterfront cleanup events. Led by AMC's Heather Wyman (a WRWA board member), we coordinate cleanup efforts in the area of the West ph levee in West Springfield, MA. READ MORE »Invasive Species Removal
If all plants are not weeds, and not all weeds are invasive, how do you know which plants don't belong in our local outdoor spaces? How can we tell a "good" weed from a "bad" one? READ MORE »Pit Privy Replacements
Improper disposal of human waste at heavily-used overnight sites causes pollution of soil, groundwater and surface water and degrades the experience of backcountry users. Our chapter's trail management committees are working to improve waste disposal facilities on the trail systems we oversee by replacing environmentally-unfriendly pit privies with moldering privies. READ MORE »Sustainability in the Tyringham Valley
The A.T. Committee's Tyringham Valley Project will foster the AMC's goal of adapting to climate change while protecting the wide variety of local plant life, including several rare plant species and a key species threatened by an invasive insect, and minimizing our impact on the wildlife that inhabit the area. We will be doing all this while still providing public access to the remaining wild places in our region, including adding handicapped access to a scenic open area and wetland. READ MORE »Natural & Cultural Resources Along the Appalachian Trail
The 250,000-acre corridor of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) and its surrounding landscape are rich in natural and cultural resources. Running primarily along the Appalachian highlands, Trail lands protect headwater streams for major East Coast watersheds. The Western MA A.T. Management Committee runs a robust program to catalog, monitor, and manage natural and cultural resources on A.T. trail lands in Massachusetts. READ MORE »Leave No Trace
Since 1999, AMC has been a provider of the Leave No Trace education programs, designed by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics as a way to limit the human impact of outdoor recreation on natural spaces. READ MORE »Protection Strategies for the NET
The New England National Scenic Trail (NET) was established as part of the National Park Service's (NPS) National Trails System (NTS) in 2009 through an amendment to the National Trails System Act (NTSA) which establishes the nation's National Scenic and Historic Trails (NSHTs). The NET is a 235-mile trail that traverses southern New England from Long Island Sound in Connecticut to the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border. READ MORE »Waters and Rivers Protection Fund
The Waters and Rivers Protection Fund invests in projects, identified by AMC Chapters or other organizations, that will aid in expanding paddling opportunities. To date, AMC has donated money to six projects, including a modern privy along the Connecticut River used by paddlers doing multi-day excursions, and debris removal on the Wood and Pawcatuck Wild and Scenic Rivers in Rhode Island. READ MORE »Net Zero No Later Than 2050
In keeping with the scientific consensus on global warming and the latest recommendation from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), in 2019, AMC adopted a goal of achieving 'net zero' greenhouse gas emissions no later than 2050, with a goal of 45 percent reduction from 2010 levels by 2030. To meet these ambitious climate targets, AMC has developed a Net Zero Strategic Plan – a roadmap that sets forth our strategic vision for the production, consumption, and conservation of energy at AMC facilities and from our operations. READ MORE »AMC Intervenes on NECEC
The Appalachian Mountain Club has officially been designated an intervenor opposing the plan to build a 145-mile, above-ground transmission line from Quebec to Massachusetts, crossing through Maine – a project known as the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC). Of this stretch, 53 miles would require a new, 150-foot wide corridor to be cut through the undeveloped forest of western Maine, including a crossing over the Kennebec Gorge. The project is intended to supply Quebec hydropower to Massachusetts in an attempt to meet the latter's renewable energy goals. READ MORE » Conservation Research Advocacy