Mast General Store’s Post

You may have heard that the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has opened submissions on its Three-Year Plan (2024 – 2027) which proposes to cut its current funding of $120,000 per year to Te Mata Park Trust. This is a third of our annual funding, the loss of which could have very real consequences, including the possibility that health and safety issues (brought about by under-funded maintenance) could lead to Park closures.    Cutting a third of our operating budget could put Te Mata Park Trust in an untenable position; fail to protect the region’s most important recreational, historical and cultural taonga; and undermine all the investment and volunteer time that has gone into the Park in recent years.   We know that times are tough, and budgets are stretched, but if you believe that the Park should continue to be part-funded by HBRC, please have your say and make a submission. With the community’s support we hope to influence HBRC to continue to fund Te Mata Park Trust and ensure the Park is protected and enhanced for future generations.    If you would like to make a submission to HBRC to support the retention of Te Mata Park’s funding, please go to the Protect the Peak page on the Te Mata Park website where we have summarised some useful information to assist you. To make the process easier, we have prepared some text that you might like to use in your submission. Thank you for supporting Te Mata Park. #protectthepeak https://lnkd.in/gX57wYry

Indianapolis' tree canopy has dropped from 33% to 29% in the last decade, impacting air quality, temperature, and even safety in our neighborhoods. But there’s good news! KIB and our partners are planting 4,500 new trees over the next four years to reverse this trend. 🌳 Want to be part of the solution? Join us by volunteering, donating, or advocating for greener spaces in our city. Together, we can make Indy cleaner, greener, and healthier for everyone. Read more on our blog: https://bit.ly/4duimli City of Indianapolis | Citizens Energy Group

Check out my recent blog on the importance of tree canopy and the work to make it better in #Indy by Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. #DoBeautifulThings

CAN A WALL BECOME A CHOICE . . . NOT A BARRIER? The wall was an overlooked 110-year-old building, neglected for 50 years.  Its roof and much of its third floor had been destroyed. Finally, the building, located in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, was condemned by the city of Philadelphia. The local newspaper shouted for attention about the loss! Along with a few others, I fought to save the building by producing dozens of letters followed by phone calls. The owner of the building retaliated with an ultimatum: “To halt the demolition, raise $4800 in 48 hours!” At the zero hour we met the challenge, only to face a harsher hurdle: Raise the necessary money to build the walls, install a new roof, and renovate the building. “It’s not what happens to you that matters. It’s what you do about it.” - Nido Qubein, “ATTITUDE The Remarkable Power of Optimism” The challenge was harsh: Not only were we novice fundraisers but also We were recent newcomers from outside Philadelphia with few local contacts. In the 1960s we faced another hurdle: This accepted belief reigned: “There is nothing historic in Chestnut Hill.” Only monumental buildings in Philadelphia such as Independence Hall qualified as “historic.” We gained time enough to: Attract key support and raise the required money. Today, the three-story stone building stands as a landmark. Our actions gave birth to the Chestnut Hill Historical Society, now known as the Chestnut Hill Conservancy. Today the Conservancy ‘s actions meet ever-present challenges: It reaches out to save stone walls in Chestnut Hill and beyond into neighboring communities. #thriving #wellbeing #optimism #attitude

🌲 Yellowstone National Park: an iconic treasure and a vital part of our country's natural heritage. Did you know it was established way back in 1872, making it the nation's first national park? Explore the wonders that lie beneath its surface—a volcanic hot spot giving rise to geothermal features, hot springs, and geysers that form half of the world's geothermal attractions. 🌋 🏞️ Beyond its hydrologic marvels, Yellowstone boasts canyons, rivers, and pristine forests teeming with diverse wildlife like bears, wolves, and bison. It's truly a glimpse into a time before history was recorded. As we marvel at Old Faithful and other iconic spots, let's not forget the challenges the park faces 🚧 🚗 With over $630 million in deferred maintenance, including road damages near Firehole River, the park's infrastructure needs attention. Behold the 142-mile Grand Loop Road, a narrow thoroughfare without shoulders, struggling to keep up with the traffic demands. Upgrading it requires substantial funding to ensure visitor safety and access to Yellowstone's natural wonders. 🏞️ From the pump house museum to water and wastewater systems, significant repairs are needed to preserve Yellowstone's rich heritage and ensure a memorable experience for all visitors. Let's advocate for sustainable solutions to address these maintenance challenges and safeguard this national treasure for generations to come. 🌿 What are your thoughts on preserving Yellowstone National Park and similar natural treasures? Share your feelings and ideas below! 🌟 https://lnkd.in/gYk_VxZz

🌿 Exciting Rewilding Partnership Announcement 🌿 I’m thrilled to share that my family is partnering with SCOTLAND: The Big Picture (SBP) and their Northwood Rewilding Network. In my free time, I’m leading the project and coordinating our efforts to rewild 230 acres in the stunning Scottish Highlands! 🌲✨ This partnership has provided us with invaluable access to expert advice, a strong grassroots network and a collaborative community focused on rewilding small-to-medium land holdings. I cannot recommend SBP highly enough for anyone interested in taking part in this movement. Below is just a glimpse of the commitments we’ve made for the next five years - but we’re aiming to go further, faster and think bigger. So if you have any ideas, want to collaborate, or are simply curious about rewilding, please reach out. I’ll be sharing updates and learnings along the way. The future is wild! 🌍💚 Our commitments - https://lnkd.in/ewi9bqmy Check out my previous post on making a difference to the future of nature 👇 https://lnkd.in/ev4U3ERM #Rewilding #ScottishHighlands #NatureRecovery #Sustainability #Biodiversity #ClimateAction #InnovateForNature #NatureRestoration #ScotlandBigPicture #WildFuture #ClimatePositive #NatureBasedSolutions

We've seen plenty of discussion about this article. Though National Parks Authorities are not charities themselves, all boards – regardless of legal setup – benefit from a diversity of skills, knowledge and experience, and inclusive practice. In addition, National Park Authorities work closely with many charities. A lack of #diversity on a #NationalPark board may have knock-on impacts on charities in partnership. Covering 10% of our country, we're hopeful that NPAs will make moves towards stronger #governance. https://lnkd.in/eMNEjnYv

A case decided by the SJC last week discusses a unique component of municipal real estate - namely -- that land which is acquired for a specific municipal purpose (under G.L. c. 40A, s. 15) cannot be diverted to another purpose without the municipality first determining that it is no longer necessary for the original purpose. In Carroll v Norwell, certain residents sought to transfer land which town meeting had authorized be "made available for affordable housing" to the conservation commission, which would hold it for other purposes. The question for the Court was whether the land was, in fact, held for a specific municipal purpose (affordable housing), thereby precluding a transfer for another purpose without an initial determination that it was not needed for the originally intended use. In reaching the conclusion that it was, the Court determined that the appropriate test to use in answering that question was "whether the totality of the circumstances indicate a clear and unequivocal intent to dedicate the land to that purpose." This issue comes up more often than you would think, particularly where land is donated and accepted for a use that it is ultimately unsuited for - but which could be productively used for an alternative purpose. It is a good reminder to make sure you follow all of the necessary steps before attempting a transfer for a new use.

“We did not own the land, we belonged to it.” This Nonprofit Quarterly article highlights stories of land reclamation and healing justice from 2023, and articulates "how land recovery (described within the frameworks of land rematriation and land reclamation) can be a healing process, how land can anchor power building." Including news from the Winnemem Wintu Tribe and grantee partners Sogorea Te Land Trust, Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples among others, this comprehensive read underlines the reasons why supporting land return is a multi-impactful approach to supporting Indigenous nations and BIPOC communities. https://lnkd.in/gppeJ68y #SpiritualEcology

Let’s make history!  Imagine Scotland as a country filled once again with vast native forests, seas teeming with life and healthy ecosystems supporting the prosperity and health of communities. From today until 25 April, every donation made via the Big Give Green Match Fund will be doubled and go towards the #RewildingNation campaign to help make this vision become reality. Why Scotland - Why now❓ Along with the rest of the UK, Scotland is one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Scotland has the space and experience to show that nature loss can be reversed. There are now over 150 rewilding projects across Scotland, from community woodlands to landscape-scale partnerships to seascape approaches. They’re restoring woodlands, peatlands, wetlands, rivers and seas – and saving wildlife from red squirrels to wildcats. With your help, we can pave the way forward for these pioneering rewilders and many more. We’re calling for Scotland to become a Rewilding Nation, committed major nature recovery across 30% of Scotland’s land and seas. In return this would inspire rewilding across Britain and beyond – offering hope for nature, climate and people. Please donate today, like and share. This is the first step towards not just a Rewilding Nation in Scotland but a wilder Britain. https://lnkd.in/eUun-nZF Credit: Richard Shucksmith / scotlandthebigpicture .com #rewilding #naturerecovery