On the Ground with Dave Small, Director of Conservation
Through workshops, lectures, and field trips across New England, Dave shares his expertise while studying and monitoring wildlife, leading field programs, and volunteering extensively to protect the region’s landscapes.
What makes Mount Grace supporters especially well-positioned to make a difference for conservation in our region?
From where I sit, our supporters are right there with us at the forefront of innovative conservation work in the greater North Quabbin, a region uniquely positioned to help achieve the state’s land protection goals. We still have large parcels of unprotected land, and compared to other parts of the state, they’re relatively affordable — so every conservation dollar goes that much further. By working alongside our communities, Indigenous partners, hunters, trappers, birdwatchers, and more, Mount Grace has positioned itself to bring diverse interests together for the common good.
What goes into deciding which lands Mount Grace works to protect?
At Mount Grace, our approach to land protection is both strategic and collaborative. We actively identify and prioritize landscapes with high conservation value—such as those identified through MassGIS and BioMap by MassWildlife, areas with prime forest or farmland soils, or lands that help connect and expand existing protected areas. We’re also mindful of where development pressure is greatest, focusing our efforts on places where conservation action is most urgent.
At the same time, we hear from a lot of deedholder who are interested in protecting their property, and those conversations are an important part of the process. When a property comes to our attention—whether through outreach or inquiry—we take a closer look at its ecological significance, its role in the broader landscape, and how it aligns with our strategic priorities. We also work closely with deedholders to understand their goals, whether that includes public access, trails, hunting, or long-term forest management.
By combining proactive conservation planning with landowner partnership, we’re able to focus our resources where they can have the greatest and most lasting impact.
What conservation project are you most excited about right now?
I’m really looking forward to revisiting the Eagleville Barrens Project. In the late 1990s, I was involved with a grant from EOEEA to do a biological inventory of the Lake Rohunta area which includes Eagleville Barrens. It’ll be fun to replicate some of that inventory work and see how the area has evolved over the past 25 years. This kind of inventorying will help inform Mount Grace as we develop the stewardship plan for restoring the unique barrens habitat.
Access to nature is important, but so is protecting wildlife habitat. How does Mount Grace strike that balance when planning trails and public access?
Those of us involved with land protection are faced with the constant push and pull of public access. We want to involve the public by providing healthy outdoor experiences and yet we want to protect the flora and fauna at the heart of the conservation mission. Understanding the unique attributes of a given land project allows us to make informed decisions about trail placement to help protect rare species communities while also providing an interesting experience for our visitors.
Spring is a busy season for wildlife—where might someone find you birding or exploring this time of year?
As April turns to May, returning migrant birds are top of mind. Whether I’m watching the spring hawk migration or looking for returning warblers and songbirds, it’s a wonderful time to observe wildlife around us. I’ll spend some time at Gifford Memorial Forest in Orange listening for the fluid calls of the Louisiana waterthrush along the Tully River and returning ovenbirds boldly proclaiming their territories deep in the forest.