A Climate Resilience Plan For Plainfield, MA

The rural town of Plainfield is located in the highlands of Western Massachusetts at the head of two watersheds. Plainfield is home to a small but active community, whose members are passionate about the dense forests, rolling fields, and fast-flowing streams that shape the landscape. In recent years, the community has begun to feel the effects of climate change, and acknowledges the importance of land use decisions in determining Plainfield’s resilience to these changes. The Town wishes to be proactive in planning for climate change and seeks to bring together previous town studies and recommendations to create a long-term vision for the community. This Climate Resilience Plan evaluates current land uses and systems that contribute to resilience in Plainfield—spanning food systems, natural and cultural resource conservation, and green energy—and provides recommendations for increasing resilience across the natural and human landscape.