The New England Municipality Sustainability Network (NEMS) is a group of New England cities and towns that meet to collaborate on sustainable initiatives and planning. As an intern with the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Sustainability Institute, which serves as the backbone organization for NEMS, I was privileged to attend the most recent NEMS meeting in November. Throughout the two-day event, I learned what cities like Portsmouth, NH, Dover, NH, Cambridge, MA, and others have been doing to meet sustainable goals such as lowering emissions, instating pollinator gardens, and drafting and enacting climate adaptation strategies. Listening to the accomplishments and challenges of environmental and city planners while also asking questions about their careers was valuable for understanding what a life in this field may look like.
We also toured the Roger Williams Park and learned about the stormwater management practices, minimum pesticide use, invasive species management, and agricultural strategies implemented around the area that serve to enhance sustainability while also allowing people to visit and engage with the environment. Did you know goats can be used for sustainable invasive species management? Rather than using chemicals or pesticides, goats naturally eat invasive and non-native plants! Understanding how professional land users are maintaining environmental health and educating the public about the importance of sustainability was beneficial in order to bring back strategies that can be practiced at UNH as well. Overall, it was enlightening to witness the hard work and accomplishments of New England environmental and community planners in the hopes of one day being one myself!
Julie Bobyock ‘23 is an Environmental Science major; learn more about Julie's internship project with the Sustainability Institute.
Interested in getting involved? Learn about the Sustainability Institute student programs and internship opportunities.
