Who We Are
Berkshire Natural Resources Council is a non-profit land conservation organization working throughout the Berkshires in Massachusetts to preserve threatened lands. The Council places special emphasis on protecting Berkshire’s farms, forests, streams, and ridgelines – the great landscape features that give us clean water, fresh air, local produce, healthy wildlife, and outstanding recreational opportunities.
Since its founding in 1967, BNRC has worked closely with hundreds of Berkshire landowners to help them meet their preservation and planning goals. BNRC today owns and manages 7,999 acres and protects an additional 10,011 acres through conservation restrictions.
Mission Statement:
To protect and preserve the natural beauty and ecological integrity of the Berkshires for public benefit and enjoyment. Approved by Board of Directors, October 20, 2006.
For information please contact:
Berkshire Natural Resources Council
20 Bank Row
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 499-0596
Fax: (413) 499-3924
Email: Tad Ames
Please send comments about this site to Narain Schroeder
Tad Ames joined the Council in 1990 after graduating from Yale University and working as an editor of The Berkshire Eagle. His desire to “do something instead of just write about it” led him to the field of land conservation. Tad has continued to work with landowners to find ways to conserve land in Berkshire County. His writing abilities have been put to use publishing the Council’s newsletter and various publications, and in a compilation of trail notes soon to be released as a guide to friendly family hikes in the Berkshires. He is former chairman of the state board of Environmental Management, and currently serves on the board of directors of the Environmental League of Massachusetts.
Narain Schroeder, the councils Director of Land conservation, originally hails from Vermont. He grew up on a small beef farm in a community sustained by farming, logging, and maple syrup production. He has a Planning Degree from the University of Colorado and a Masters Degree in Environmental Biology from Antioch. Narain guides the efforts to the Council preserve and protect more of the Berkshires.
A native of northern Vermont, Doug Bruce earned his bachelor’s at Bowdoin College. More recently he lived in North Carolina, where he married and completed coursework toward a Master of Science at Wake Forest University. In addition to documenting and monitoring conservation restrictions, the stewardship department manages BNRC’s fee property, trails, habitat projects, and forest-health improvement projects.
Doug Bruce: dbruce@bnrc.net
Amanda L’Etoile, BNRC’s trails and outreach coordinator, grew up in the coastal towns of MA and fell in love with the Berkshires while camping in Beartown State Forest. She quickly transferred to Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts to complete a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and began interning with BNRC on the Hoosac Range trail project as a Rice Fellow. At BNRC, Amanda will oversee our trails and engage the community by providing memorable outdoor experiences.
Sally Cornwell has helped keep the council running smoothly since 1989. She maintains the membership databases for BNRC and ten other landtrusts in Berkshire County. In addition to being here longer has than the rest of the staff she also has the cleanest desk, the quickest laugh, and the best golf game.
Peter Tucker, a consulting forester based in Alford, an important part of the BNRC stewardship team. For nearly 20 years the council has benefited from Peter’s extensive forestry experience and his thorough work both in the field and in the office. Peter’s detailed field maps grace numerous BNRC files and have helped monitors navigate around many properties.
Karen Ross is a dedicated volunteer who has spent many summer days organizing years of records and visiting properties and landowners to inspect restricted parcels of lands. Her roots run deep in the Pittsfield area, and she is familiar with many of beautiful places hidden away in the Berkshires. She is appreciated for her work and for the fresh eggs and vegetables that come into the office from her farm in New Lebanon, NY.
Kim Burbank provides legal services for the Council, and he is a member of its board of directors. For 32 years, the Council has relied more than anyone on the accuracy of Kim Burbank’s legal advice – and the generosity with which he dispenses it. On May 22, 1999 the Council tried to show in some small degree how greatly it appreciates Burbank’s help by dedicating a trail in his honor on Yokun Ridge in Lenox. “The Council has had the good fortune to protect over 8,500 acres around the Berkshires. Every one of those acres has passed under Kim’s eyes on its way to the Registry of Deeds.”
George Wislocki founded the Council along with Donald B. Miller, the former publisher of the Berkshire Eagle, in 1967 – leading a movement of land conservation in New England and the nation. George was educated at Bard College in New York and is involved with numerous environmental organizations throughout Massachusetts. George has worked with hundreds of landowners in negotiating agreements to conserve the pristine lands of the Berkshires, and is responsible in part for the preservation of the Berkshire landscape. George retired in 2001.
