THE SIERRA CLUB (MASSACHUSETTS CHAPTER) STATEMENT
OPPOSING THE MIDDLESEX SCHOOL'S DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
IN THE ESTABROOK WOODS

The following statement was approved by the Executive Committee of the Sierra Club, Massachusetts Chapter, on July 30, 2000.

The area known as Estabrook Woods in Concord and Carlisle may be the most important ecological reserve in our region of Massachusetts. In the nineteen sixties, thoughtful actions of joint stewardship by Harvard University, the Middlesex School, and the townspeople of Concord and Carlisle protected this extensive natural area from development. As a result, its unfragmented forest serves as a biological reservoir for the flora and fauna of Eastern Massachusetts. The state and federal governments have designated it as one of the nation's "forest legacy areas," and $2.5 million tax dollars have been spent to protect it.

It is a well-documented axiom of biogeography that the larger an island or patch of forest is, the greater the diversity of animal and plant life it can support. In its current form, Estabrook Woods can replenish more vulnerable and disturbed regional areas which would otherwise, with time, lose species diversity. In all other undeveloped areas of comparable size in our region, preservation of biological diversity is but one of many missions, and may be compromised by conflicting management objectives or insufficient understanding of the local ecology. But Estabrook Woods, which contains Harvard's biological research site, is uniquely constituted to play a critical role in our struggle to preserve our natural heritage. The Estabrook Woods also harbors a variety of historical and cultural sites that can best be appreciated through their continued protection from disturbance.

Today we are facing a threat to the protection of Estabrook Woods. A core parcel of the Woods is privately owned and is not permanently protected. Thus, the fate of Estabrook Woods is dependent upon impending decisions to be made by its owner, the Middlesex School. At a time when we finally realize the value of biodiversity and are actively teaching its value at all levels in our schools, it would be ironic if decisions by this respected educational institution were to degrade this irreplaceable natural and educational resource.

The Sierra Club represents over 350 members in Concord, 41 members in Carlisle, and over 4000 members in nearby towns. We have examined the problems facing Estabrook Woods, and we are compelled to take the following position regarding its future:

1. We oppose the plans of the Middlesex School to build roads through wetlands, install sewers, and construct an East Campus in Estabrook Woods. We feel that the wetlands constitute a natural and appropriate boundary to the ecological body of Estabrook Woods, and any development in the Woods to the east of these wetlands is an intolerable intrusion into and assault upon its ecological integrity. We urge all environmental agencies and the Town of Concord to act to reinforce the Town's earlier open space plans, to deny permits for wetlands alteration and for septic systems, and to protect rare species. We urge Middlesex School to withdraw all proposals for crossing the wetlands and to consider other viable alternatives outside of Estabrook Woods, such as siting new facilities on the less sensitive western portion of their property. Middlesex School should follow Harvard's example and protect and dedicate the core of the woods for ecology education.

2. We urge Middlesex School and other surrounding landowners to ensure the continued protection of the Estabrook Woods by creating permanent conservation restrictions on all open space that contributes to the integrity of the Woods. We commend Harvard's action, which made permanent the protective restrictions on its 670 acres of land, and we support the efforts of the Concord Land Conservation Trust and others to assemble permanent restrictions on a buffer of neighboring lands of more than 400 acres. Permanent protection is needed since the value of this undisturbed habitat will only increase as the years go by.

3. In view of the unresolved threat to the Woods, we support the designation of Estabrook Woods as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). The biological richness of the Woods clearly qualifies it for such designation, and an ACEC designation would constitute an official recognition of its uniqueness in our region.

Sierra Club Mass. Chapter ExCom contact is Gil Woolley <gilwoolley1@juno.com>.