Summary: Massachusetts’ most rural area, the 21-town Woodlands Partnership region, contains diverse historic, scenic, and natural beauty and a rich history of working landscapes. While the region has struggled in recent decades with low wages and a loss of jobs, population, and labor force, the area’s resources and distinctive sense of place provide a strong foundation for building a sustainable rural economy. By bringing additional financial resources and recognition to the region, the Woodlands Partnership effort can benefit the region by: conserving forests and the essential ecosystem services they provide; growing local forest product and natural resource-based recreation businesses, which in turn provide jobs and tax revenue to communities; and sustaining the region’s workforce, population, and rural way of life.