Rathore Conservation Restriction
Benefits to Harvard’s Conservation Efforts
Extends over 200 acres of open space benefitting wildlife and natural resources.
Protects a resilient and priority parcel as identified by Mass Audubon Society.
Creates access to a trail network for a neighborhood currently lacking access.
Prevents home development adjacent to conserved lands.
Improves forest health on a previously timbered property.
Protects a tributary to Elizabeth Brook.
About the Property
The Rathore Conservation Restriction was completed in December 2024.
In late 2021, HCT learned about an offer to purchase and subdivide this property for the creation of a second house lot. Due to this property’s strategic position, HCT worked with the landowner to develop a Conservation Restriction (CR) to ensure the majority of the parcel would remain permanently protected. HCT also negotiated a public trail easement area that covers much of the protected area. The forested land had skid roads used for regular timber removal. The CR now requires restoring forest health through a forest management plan.
Adjacent to the newly protected (2022) Eastern Greenway conservation area, the Doctors Amin and Nahid Rathore Conservation Area adds 27 forested acres to the 216-acre conserved area to the south. It extends a large unfragmented natural landscape that has diverse habitat and supports a large number of bird and animal species.
A trail has been created to connect Mettacomet Path to the trails on the Eastern Greenway (South) and Tripp conservation lands. A forest management plan has been created to encourage climate resiliency, improve bird habitat, and improve ecological health to support HCT’s stewardship goals.
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