Agreement protects natural character of Estabrook Woods

By Susan Peterson

Gazette Staff

"What a wild and rich domaine," Henry David Thoreau wrote of the wooded land in Carlisle and Concord. The area today remains relatively untouched and is still known for its rich natural resources of wildlife, ponds, and fields.

And now, an agreement by the towns of Concord and Carlisle and some property owners will preserve a large section of the Estabrook Woods. More than 400 acres of undeveloped land surrounding a 672-acre tract owned by Harvard University has become a permanent buffer to preserve the Woods' natural resources. The Woods are the central core of a conservation corridor in Concord and Carlisle, where Harvard's Museum of Comparative Zoology has a field research station.

The undeveloped land, which is owned by Concord and Carlisle and families in the communities, adjoins the 672 acres used for the field research station. Harvard has worked on the preservation effort with a number of organizations, including the Concord Land Conservation Trust, Carlisle Conservation Foundation, The Trustees of Reservations, as well as many citizens.

The occasion was marked by a reception Monday at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, with various Harvard administrators, faculty, community volunteers from Concord and Carlisle, and representatives of the state and federal governments and private foundations in attendance.

"This is a wonderful example of what can happen when communities work together," said President Neil L. Rudenstine. "Rare is it these days that ways can be found to increase the amount of open space in our cities and towns. And rare is it that so many people are willing to look to the future as they have in this project, and to give so much of their time and energy toward an effort as good and important as this."

The Museum of Comparative Zoology's property, known as the "MCZ Woods," serves as a research base for studies in environmental biology. The additional land will permanently maintain the natural character of the Estabrook Woods and ensure that these lands will be protected from development and for teaching and research.

Museum Director James McCarthy, Alexander Agassiz Professor of Biological Oceanography in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, described the preservation as an act of altruism for the future.

"When I think of the progress that we are celebrating," he said, "the major advance toward the preservation of the Estabrook Woods for teaching, research, and conservation, I am struck by the complementarity of the approaches that made this possible. The selfless, tenacious, singular fixation on the future is truly inspiring."

Others attending the reception included Trudy Coxe, Secretary of Environmental Affairs for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

"This is a step of permanence," Coxe said. "There is housing in the area, but this agreement means no more. It lends itself well to guaranteeing the natural resources and ecosystem base without fear of being disturbed in the future.

"This is a visionary concept. This extraordinary laboratory, rich in diversity of plants and animals, intact and close to one of America's largest cities, will be preserved forever."