June 27, 2016
IN THIS ISSUE...
Calendar of Events

June 28,  10:00am - 2:30pm
New Fairfield

Building Strong Boards Webinar - Thursday!
June 30, 1:00 - 2:30pm

Regional Land Trust Summit
Prospect
July 27, 7:00 - 8:30pm
RSVP 

Summer Focus Group
Green Geek Squad
Middletown
August 5, 10:00am - 2:30pm
Registration opens in July

Mark your Calendar!
Plan ahead!
CLCC's 2016 schedule and program details  HERE
Connect With Us
Executive Director's Message
Something to talk about!

Connecticut's land conservation community is doing amazing work! Of course, that's not news to us. We follow your projects, take pride in your accomplishments, and love to share your good news far and wide through our eNews, Facebook page, and my favorite communication channel: word of mouth!

When it comes to Connecticut's land trusts, there's always something to talk about.

Check out this month's Land Trusts in the News section below and prepare to be impressed. Saving land, enhancing habitat, forging partnerships, inspiring kids (and adults!), and even consummating an organizational merger -- Connecticut land trusts are doing it all!

This is a great time of year to celebrate your community's conservation success stories and show off the land you have worked so hard to conserve. 

Whether you are planning a ribbon cutting, offering a tour, or scheduling a hike of a new preserve, please invite your local, state and federal elected officials -- and all of us at CLCC too!  

Enjoy the sunshine -- and the rain -- and all that summertime brings to you and yours.

With warmest regards,
Amy
Connecticut Land Trusts in the News
Prepared to be impressed!
Welcome Candlewood Valley Regional Land Trust
Land Trust of Danbury and New Fairfield Land Trust merge to form new land trust
From Land Trust of Danbury

The Land Trust of Danbury and the New Fairfield Land Trust recently announced their merger, creating a new land trust called the Candlewood Valley Regional Land Trust. This merger will strengthen both land trusts, which will have a combined 38 joint properties, approximately 420 acres, under protection. Read the full press release HERE. Be sure to like the Candlewood Valley Regional Land Trust Facebook page HERE .
Photo Credit: Shelton Land
Conservation Trust
Shelton Land Trust Acquires 4 New Acres of Land
From Shelton Land Trust

Shelton Land Conservation Trust (SLCT) has acquired property located in the Means Brook Greenway, adding 4 acres to their 370 acre inventory. SLCT President Joseph Welsh stated, "Nothing is better than acquiring a piece of property that comes with a farmer, they are some of the best land stewards you will ever meet." Read more HERE .
Photo Credit: NRCS
Cornwall Conservation Trust and Partners Preserve Picturesque Farm in Northwestern Connecticut
From NRCS

The  Cornwall Conservation Trust, in partnership with the   USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) and CT DEEP, recently announced the purchase of a conservation easement on Cooley Farm, an 84-acre parcel of farm and forestland located in the Town of Cornwall. Due to its elevation the preserve offers 120 degree views of the magnificent terrain surrounding West Cornwall and the Housatonic River Valley. Read the full press release  HERE .
Salem Trail Maps Booklet Now Available
From Salem Land Trust

The first booklet of the Trail Maps of Salem is now available from the Salem Land Trust . The .pdf format allows for great versatility, and the booklet is only 1.7MB in size. The .pdf format allows you to enlarge the maps as needed. 
Access the booklet HERE.
Aton Forest and Naromi Land Trust Recognized by Audubon Connecticut as Important Bird Areas
From Audubon Connecticut

Aton Forest, Inc. and Naromi Land Trust's Wimisink Preserve were among the five areas recognized as Important Bird Areas (IBAs) by Audubon Connecticut. These areas are important to bird species of conservation concern and are places where the municipality or land conservation organization is actively working to improve habitat for birds. Read the full story HERE .

Bobolink - Photo Credit:  Daniel Behm/Audubon Photography Awards - Audubon Connecticut
Photo credit:  GOSA
Groton Open Space Association Program Highlighted

The Groton Open Space Association's (GOSA) after-school Explorers Club is drawing a lot of attention these days!  We featured the program as part of a workshop on Community Conservation at our 2016 CT Land Conservation Conference and, more recently, it was featured in a blog by land trust consultant David VanLuven. The purpose of this experiential education program is to encourage local middle-school students to learn about nature outside  the classroom. Read the full blog  HERE .
Avalonia Land Conservancy's New England Cottontail Project Featured in Saving Land Magazine

Working with DEEP and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Avalonia Land Conservancy (ALC) created habitat for New England cottontails on 28 acres in two of its preserves in southeastern, CT.  The project was recently featured as part of the cover story, Protecting Biodiversity, in the Alliance's Summer 2016 Saving Land Magazine.  Beth Sullivan, ALC's volunteer chair for the town of Stonington, summed up the success of the project stating, "[T]his and other efforts to preserve land and create habitat for the New England cottontail saved it from being listed as an endangered species in a September 2015 decision."  Read the full article
HERE.

Photo Credit: Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition
Southbury Land Trust President Receives Stewardship Award

The Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition has awarded Tom Crider, president of Southbury Land Trust, the Dr. Marc Taylor Environmental Stewardship Award for his outstanding environmental leadership and enormous contributions toward protecting both land and water resources for generations to come. Read the full announcement HERE
Congratulations, Tom!
CLCC News
CLCC Workshops this Week!  

Photo Credit:  John Foley - Great Hollow Nature Preserve
Tomorrow!
Conservation Easement Seminar
Nuts & Bolts -- Doing Deals -- Hot Topics
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
There is limited space still available!
New Fairfield
10:00am - 2:30pm
Details available  HERE 
or contact Amy at abpaterson@ctconservation.org



Thursday!  Webinar
Building the Board that Understands and Assures Perpetuity -  with Sharon Danosky
Thursday, June 30, 2016
1:00pm - 2:30pm

Learning how to become a stronger, more purposeful board will help your board members become more excited about their participation in the land trust and more effective in the work that matters now and for the future of the land trust. 

More info HERE. RSVP HERE.

CLCC Website --  More 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 abpaterson@ctconservation.org.  

*Developed as part of the curriculum for the CLCC Land Trust Advancement Initiative
State News
Governor's Greenways Council Presents 17th Annual Greenways Awards - Designates Two New Connecticut Greenways
From CT DEEP

Earlier this month, the Governor's Greenways Council  commended five individuals, two volunteer trail committees and a non-profit organization that have made significant contributions to the promotion, development and enhancement of Greenways and designated a new greenway at a ceremony at the James L. Goodwin Conservation Center Pavilion, in Hampton, CT. 
Read the full release HERE .
Funding Opportunities
Matching Funds Program - Funding Available for Resiliency & Climate Adaptation Projects
From CIRCA

The Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) will consider requests from municipalities and non-governmental organizations for matching funds for projects that assist Connecticut towns and cities adapt to a changing climate and to enhance the resilience of their infrastructure. Click HERE for more info. Requests are due by July 15, 2016.
Photo Credit: LISW-RCPP
Long Island Sound Partnership to Direct $3.25M to Forest Conservation Projects
From USDA-NRCS

A new $3.25 million program aimed at paying landowners to conserve and restore their wooded land for biodiversity and water protection is now accepting applications. The funding will come from the NRCS   Healthy Forests Reserve Program ; applications will be screened by the Long Island Sound Watershed Regional Conservation Partnership Program . Applications will be accepted through August 1, 2016. Information about eligibility, ranking criteria and how to apply is available HERE .
Land Trust Resources
Photo Credit: Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative website
Introducing Birdtrust.org
From Cornell Lab of Ornithology

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Land Trust Alliance are happy to announce the release of the new Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative website . The website brings together a plethora of resources aimed at giving land trusts the tools and know-how to engage in strategic bird conservation, while increasing their own capacity to meet important goals.
Free Webinar Demo for Land Conservation Software 
From Dendroyka

LANDSCAPE is an internet-based application available to users through a web browser from any internet-connected device. LANDSCAPE can track every aspect of a land conservation project from acquisition, to stewardship, to disposition. Caleb Pourchot, creator of LANDSCAPE, will offer a free webinar demonstration of the software an answer your questions on Thursday, July 21 at 3pm EST. Please RSVP to caleb@dendroyka.com if you are interested in joining.
Your Input Needed
Standards & Practices Revisions - Your participation is needed!
From Land Trust Alliance

The Land Trust Alliance is leading a collaborative process to revise Land Trust Standards & Practices to reflect changes in the legal and operational environment of the land trust community over the past 10 years. For more information and to download the Standards & Practices Discussion Draft (the proposed revisions), click HERE . The community participation phase will run through approximately September 15.
Land Trust Universal Design Examples Requested
Photo Credit:  CT DEEP
From Land Trust Alliance

The Alliance is requesting examples of land trusts utilizing the principles of Universal Design to build universally accessible trails to provide more access to nature for all people.Your story with examples of working with their communities will be told nationally through the Land Trust Alliance's blog. Trails do not have to be completed - stories of projects just as they are happening are just as compelling as seeing the final product. For more info contact  MaryKay at mkodonnell@lta.org .
Take a Survey on New England Conservation Policy Needs
From New England Forest Policy Group

The New England Forest Policy Group (NEFPG) would like to hear from Connecticut land trusts and other CLCC members on conservation policy needs that might be addressed with a regional approach. Please take the survey and let them know what you think. Survey is HERE. More information is available HERE.
Upcoming Events 
Rally 2016 Registration Now Open!
From Land Trust Alliance

Early registration is now open for Rally 2016 to be held October 28-30 in Minneapolis, MN. You can now register for the amazing schedule of new events and sessions at Rally's three exciting days of learning, connecting and growing. Find registration info HERE.

Our 2016-17 Annual Membership Appeal is underway!
We Count on Your Support!
Connecticut Land Conservation Council
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 ) ; Connie Manes ( Kent Land Trust ); Elisabeth Moore ( CT Farmland Trust ); Shirley Nichols ( Darien Land Trust ); David Sutherland ( The Nature Conservancy ); 
Chuck Toal (Colchester Land Trust); Humphrey Tyler (CT River Watershed Council

Amy Blaymore Paterson, Executive Director
Cristina Gastador Hayden, Communications Coordinator 
The Connecticut Land Conservation Council advocates for land conservation, stewardship and funding, and works to ensure the long term strength and viability of the land conservation community.
Connecticut Land Conservation Council | 16 Meriden Road, Rockfall, CT  06481 | 860-685-0785
© 2015 Connecticut Land Conservation Council. All rights reserved.