The Massachusetts Association of Conservation Districts (MACD) represents the 13 Conservation Districts of the Commonwealth, from the tip of Cape Cod to the Berkshire Highlands. (That’s one for each of the state’s 14 counties – with Hampden and Hampshire counties having merged their Districts in 2016.) MACD supports our member Districts in their efforts to provide education, outreach, technical assistance, and other activities designed to promote sustainable stewardship of natural resources for all members of our communities. We strive to do this by increasing public visibility, access to funding, connections to government activities, opportunities for fruitful collaborations, and overall technical and financial capacity.
Conservation Districts are led by dedicated local citizens charged with protecting our most precious natural resources. For more than half a century, the Districts have partnered with federal, state, and local agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other conservationists to help stop soil erosion, improve water quality, support farmers, protect wildlife, restore habitats, reduce pollution, and enrich the environment – all while increasing productivity and ensuring the sustainable viability of our farms, forests, and coastal ecosystems.
In addition to assisting and uniting the individual Conservation Districts, MACD provides staff to advance initiatives of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Massachusetts and manages various projects and programs for state agencies such as the Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and the Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR).
You can learn more about all our activities by exploring this website. We welcome your suggestions for enhancements as well as submissions for additional postings.
MACD Personnel
Staff
Michael Leff, Executive Director | Chesterfield MA | MLeffMACD@gmail.com
John Doyle, Forestry and Wildlife Implementation Specialist | Easthampton | John.Doyle@usda.gov
Martha Higgins, Program Assistant | NRCS Holden Field Office | Martha.Higgins@usda.gov
Austin Miles, Farm Bill Outreach Coordinator | Cambridge MA | AMilesMACD@gmail.com
Stefanie Paventy, Program Assistant | NRCS Wareham & West Yarmouth Field Offices | Stefanie.Paventy@usda.gov
Meghan Siudzinski | Communications Coordinator | meghansiudzinski.macd@gmail.com
Lisa Trotto, Part-Time Administrator | NRCS Holden Field Office | Lisa.Trotto@usda.gov
Jill Wenner, Program Assistant | NRCS Pittsfield & Greenfield Field Offices | Jill.Wenner@usda.gov
Elizabeth Young, Program Assistant | NRCS Hadley Field Office | Elizabeth.Young@usda.gov
Board of Directors
Don Badeau, President | Supervisor/Treasurer, Plymouth County Conservation District | Chair, State Commission for Conservation of Soil, Water & Related Resources | Chair, Cranberry Research Foundation | co-owner, Morning Dew Farm
Connie Adams, Vice President | Supervisor, Hampden Hampshire Conservation District | co-owner, operator of Yellow Stonehouse Farm, organic vegetable CSA in Westfield
Carolyn Shores Ness, Treasurer/Secretary | Chair, Franklin Conservation District | Chair, Deerfield Selectboard, Board of Health | member, State Commission for Conservation of Soil, Water & Related Resources
Kim LaFleur, Advisor | Chair, Plymouth County Conservation District | President, National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) | co-owner, operator of Mayflower Cranberries in Plympton
Barbara Miller, Advisor | NRCS State Program Manager (retired) for Farm Bill programs | President, Franklin Land Trust
Consultants
We maintain a roster of talented independent contractors who serve on various MACD project teams. Currently, our primary consultants include:
Christina Petersen | Independent Environmental Consultant
Susan “Phinney” Phinney | Supervisor, Worcester County Conservation District
Chris Polatin | Principal, Land Stewardship Inc.
Joe Smith | Principal, Woodsman Inc. | Supervisor, Worcester County Conservation District | joesmith@woodsmaninc.com
Iain Ward | Principal, New England Consulting Services (NECS)
Pete Westover | Principal, Conservation Works LLC
Kathryn Zichelle Sullivan | Independent Environmental Consultant
Partners
NRCS Massachusetts
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service works with the people of Massachusetts to support agriculture, forestry, and wildlife as we seek to improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and habitat. Click here to find your local office.
