30 by 30 in Andover
Have you heard of the 30 by 30 plan? I hadn’t until recently. 30 by 30 is an effort to conserve at least 30% of land and ocean worldwide by 2030. Launched by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2020, more than 70 nations including all of the G7 and the European Union had signed up by the end of 2021. At COP15 30 by 30 was a centerpiece of their work including incorporating the importance to achieving biodiversity outcomes of granting rights to Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
The 30 by 30 campaign has been adopted by the Biden administration. Unfortunately, in the United States our land conservation has slowed this century. For the plan to come to fruition, private landowners and local municipalities will need to focus on conservation strategies.
So what can we do locally? Your votes at Town Meeting can do a lot:
We can vote to approve Town purchase of additional conservation land, especially strategic land parcels that can reduce flooding in town. Donations to AVIS’ land acquisition fund helps too. Much of the land that has been conserved in Andover protects crucial riverbanks and wetlands. When land that connects these parcels can be protected, it strengthens wildlife habitat and ecosystem functions as well.
We can vote to adopt the Community Preservation ACT (CPA) and join the 189 Massachusetts communities that have already passed CPA and are benefitting from its funds every year. You can help build support for this increasingly flexible, highly successful program.
We can vote to support zoning change to allow accessory dwelling units (“in-law apartments”) that make existing housing more flexible.
We can support changes to local zoning to allow duplexes and other higher density housing to be built that can welcome the folks who want to live in Andover and preserve our open space.
Just because 30 by 30 is a global effort, doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty for us to do locally! Step up and learn more about 30 by 30, the Community Preservation Act and local zoning.
