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Learn more about CLCC's Land Trust Advancement Initiative, participating land trusts, and project consultants HERE.
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Executive Director's Message
Great work by a great group!
This past Wednesday evening was pretty special. After 18 months of meetings, workshops, site visits, coaching, drafting (and re-drafting), and lots and lots of discussion, we wrapped up CLCC's first ever
CT Land Trust Advancement Initiative.
Funded by the
USDA-NRCS, the Initiative provided 15 land trusts in the
Lower CT River and Coastal Region Land Trust Exchange (LTE)
with intensive technical assistance to collaborate on projects focused on communications, stewardship, and shared services.
The LTE is a regional conservation partnership coordinated by
RiverCOG
Environmental Planner and CLCC Steering Committee member Margot Burns.
The group reflected on project deliverables; shared new skills and insights; and brainstormed on ideas for implementing exciting next steps for their respective land trusts and the LTE.
Ann Courcy of the Deep River Land Trust summed it all up, saying,
"So much progress and growth came out of this mammoth endeavor. I know our land trust is changed forever because of the skills we learned and insights we obtained."
It was an extraordinary effort by an inspired (and inspiring) group of land trust volunteers -- and their fearless leader, Margot!
Great work and congratulations, LTE - we can't wait to see where you go from here!
With warmest regards,
Amy
PS: With lessons learned from this pilot program, we look forward to starting our next Advancement Initiative with land trusts in New London County, and sharing our experiences with you throughout the coming months at our summits, workshops and other programs to help advance your conservation goals and build regional collaboration. Watch for a schedule coming soon!
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UConn CLEAR GPS Smartphone Training - Granby - 6/3
Offered in partnership with CLCC
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| Photo Credit: UConn CLEAR |
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Using Smartphone GPS
for Monitoring and Mapping Land Trust Holdings
June 3 - Granby - 9:30am - 4:00pm
More information and to register click
HERE.
(only a few spots left!)
Offered as part of our regional Smartphone GPS series taught by faculty from the UCONN Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR) Geospatial Training Program, this one-day introductory training will cover the basics of using a iOS or Android phone or tablet to collect field GPS data for improved conservation easement monitoring and enforcement. Course participants will be taught how to collect field data using personal mobile devices and upload GPS data to interactive online maps that can be saved, shared and embedded on land trust websites.
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CLCC Website -- Library Updates
As part of our ongoing effort to provide the most relevant and up-to-date information for use by CT's land conservation community,
we have added new materials to our on-line Information Resources Library, including the following:
If you have any questions regarding these or other materials on our website, or don't see information on a topic of interest, please contact Amy at
[email protected].
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We (Still) Want Your Photos!
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Photo credit: Rick Newton
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Many thanks to Susan Barlow, Rick Newton, Gordon Paterson, and Paul Ramsey for providing us with new photos for our CLCC website -- beautiful shots reflecting the diverse beauty of CT landscapes.
We still have room for more photos, including one that we may showcase as the banner on the home page.
If you have a special photo of a conserved property that you would be willing to share, please include location and/or name of preserve and submit the same via email in JPEG form to Cristina at [email protected]. All captions for photos will include credit to the photographer.
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2016 Legislative Session Recap
In a Special Session convened May 12, the legislature voted to approve a $19.76 billion budget that reportedly closes a projected $1 billion deficit with $850 million in spending cuts. (See
Senate Bill 501) The legislation now goes to the Governor who is expected to sign the Budget into law. Go
HERE to read our Session Recap and learn how our conservation priorities fared.
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DEEP Seeks Public Comment on Green Plan
From CT DEEP
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Photo Credit: Paul Ramsey
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CT DEEP is updating the CT
Comprehensive Open Space Acquisition Strategy (Green Plan) and seeking comment from the public and its land conservation partners on its draft version of the plan. The draft Green Plan prioritizes DEEP's actions through 2020 to best achieve the Department's changing open space acquisition goals and meet new plan component requirements. Learn more
HERE or contact Jamie Sydoriak at
[email protected]
.
Comment deadline is June 1, 2016.
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Margaret Miner Recognized for Lifetime Achievement Award
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Photo Credit: Rivers Alliance of CT
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From Environmental Protection Agency
Seven winners from Connecticut were recently recognized at the
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| Photo credit: Gordon Paterson |
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Y
our Help Needed for Breeding Bird Atlas
From CT DEEP and UConn
CT DEEP and the University of Connecticut are initiating a Breeding Bird Atlas project. With the revision of the
State Wildlife Action Plan, it is critical to bring an updated understanding of the state's bird populations. For more info, contact Min Huang at
[email protected].
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ublic Conservation Funding Report Now Available
From Highstead
"
Public Conservation Funding in New England: Recent Trends in Government Spending on Land Protection" is a joint
Highstead-Harvard Forest publication that pulls together a collection of data on public conservation funding at the federal, state and local levels for all six New England states.
Find an overview of the main results of this research
HERE.
For Connecticut's results, click HERE.
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| Photo Credit: CFT |
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Assistance Provided for Farmland Preservation Projects
From Connecticut Farmland Trust
Connecticut Farmland Trust (CFT) wants to assist land trusts navigate the complexity of farmland preservation projects. Working with land trust staff and volunteers, CFT staff will review proposed agriculture easements and building envelopes, recommend knowledgeable attorneys and surveyors, explain federal and state farmland grant programs, and answer frequently asked questions.
To be considered for the program,
submit an application
HERE
to CFT by June 1, 2016
. For additional info, click
HERE or contact Danielle at
[email protected].
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CEQ's Environmental Monitor -
Stay Up-to-Date on State Projects
From the Council on Environmental Quality
How can you and your members keep abreast of state projects that might have significant environmental impacts? By reading the Environmental Monitor, published twice a month by the Council on Environmental Quality. The Environmental Monitor can be viewed on the CEQ website. You and your members can register on the website to receive an e-alert whenever the Environmental Monitor is published. Contact Karl Wagener, Executive Director at [email protected] for more info.
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Online Networking Launched for RCPs
From Regional Conservation Partnership Network
The
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Photo Credit: Bill Labich
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Regional Conservation Partnership (RCP) Network and partners have designed a new networking site
RCPNetwork.org. Keep up with new opportunities and approaches to large landscape conservation and stewardship tailored to New England, eastern New York and beyond. Current discussions include wildlife habitat connections, a region-wide media campaign and new SWOT analysis. A webinar will be scheduled in the coming weeks to go over the site's features.
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N
ew Haven Land Trust Wins First Place in Great Give Campaign -- Check out their 2.5 minute video!
Congrats to the
New Haven Land Trust for earning first prize for the greatest number of donors in the
Community Foundation for Greater New Haven "Great Give" competition.
Receiving
693 donations during the 36 hour contest and raising over $45,000, NHLT is excited to use the additional funding to improve the programs offered on their community gardens and nature preserves. View their excellent video
HERE
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Conservation Job and Volunteer Opportunities
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F
all 2016 Internship Program - Highstead
Highstead is seeking Conservation Interns for Fall 2016. Interns will work with our Senior Conservationists to implement research, outreach and policy projects that advance priority conservation initiatives. The paid internship will run 12 weeks, from September 26 to December 16.
More information
HERE
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P
reserves Manager - Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust
The Preserves Manager oversees all aspects of the management and implementation of an effective conservation program for Weantinoge's 4,300 acres of fee-owned properties. Work will be performed outdoors in various weather conditions and on rugged terrain, as well as indoors in an office setting. Full job description and application instructions HERE.
Resumes accepted until June 15, 2016.
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Upcoming Events & Programs
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Meadow Workshops at CFPA -
t
omorrow!
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Grown Your Own Meadow --
Large or Small
When: Sat., May 21; 10:00am-12:00pm
Where: CFPA, 16 Meriden Rd., Rockfall
Registration: $30 for CFPA members; $40 for non-members
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Low-Impact Site Preparation for New Meadows and Ground Covers
When: Sat., May 21; 1:00 -2:00pm
Where: CFPA, 16 Meriden Rd., Rockfall
Registration: $15 for CFPA members; $20 for non-members
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P
lanning for Agriculture in Connecticut Webinar - 6/10
From Working Lands Alliance
Want to know how your town can become more ag friendly? Want to learn about the tools and resources available to provide a supportive community environment where agriculture can thrive?
Join
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Photo Credit: Working Lands Alliance
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Audubon Connecticut Bird-Friendly Ambassador Trainings - 6/15 & 6/17
June 15, 10am-3pm- Audubon Greenwich Center, 613 Riversville Rd., Greenwich, CT
June 17, 10am-3pm- Audubon Center at Bent of the River, 185 East Flat Hill Rd., Southbury, CT
Interested in helping others create habitat for birds? This is an all-day workshop with expert-guided sessions focused on creating habitat for birds, conducting habitat assessments (with birds in mind) and providing tools and resources you (and those you work with/for) can access to further aid learning. Lunch will be provided. Cost to register is $20.
For more information, contact Katie Blake at
[email protected]. Register
HERE
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We Count on Your Support!
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Connecticut Land Conservation Council
Steering Committee and Staff
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Alicia Sullivan, Chair (Trust for Public Land); Catherine Rawson, Vice-Chair (Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust); Tim Abbott (Litchfield Hills Greenprint); David Bingham (Salem Land Trust);
Sandy Breslin (Bethany Inland Wetlands Commission);
David Brown (
Middlesex Land Trust
); Margot Burns (
Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments
); Kevin Case (
Land Trust Alliance
); Eric Hammerling (
CT Forest & Park Association
); Stewart Hudson (Audubon CT); Michael Hveem (
Joshua's Tract Conservation and Historic Trust
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; Connie Manes (
Kent Land Trust
); Elisabeth Moore (
CT Farmland Trust
); Shirley Nichols (
Darien Land Trust
); Tom ODell (
CT Association of Conservation and Inland Wetland Commissions
); David Sutherland (
The Nature Conservancy
); Chuck Toal (Colchester Land Trust); Humphrey Tyler (CT River Watershed Council
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Amy Blaymore Paterson, Executive Director
Cristina Gastador Hayden, Communications Coordinator
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The Connecticut Land Conservation Council's mission is to advocate for land preservation, stewardship and funding, and ensure the long term strength and viability of the land conservation community.
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