Connecticut Land Conservation Council
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eNews | December 2017
The land is always here - thanks to you.

I have been running the same trails for over 25 years. That’s a long time; and a lot has changed.  

The babies I carried on my back while exploring those woods have grown-up; dogs that ran faithfully beside me have come and gone; my pace has slowed; and I breathe a little harder climbing up the steep slopes.  

“We come and go, but the land is always here. And the people who love it and understand it are the people who own it -- for a little while."
Willa Cather, O Pioneers! page 60.
Thanks to you, the land that I love will stay protected forever. In this season of giving, I can’t think of a better gift.

Wishing you a happy Winter Solstice and a wonderful holiday season.

Sincerely,
Amy Blaymore Paterson, Esq.
Executive Director
CLCC News
CLCC Becomes a Fully Independent 501c3 Nonprofit Organization

In late 2017, CLCC received its official 501c3 nonprofit determination letter from the IRS, and is starting off 2018 as a fully independent organization. If you’re surprised by this fact, then the Connecticut Forest & Park Association (CFPA) has done its job well in nurturing CLCC’s independence as its fiscal sponsor since 2010.

CLCC Builds Stronger Land Trusts through
CT Land Trust Advancement Initiative Program

CLCC is excited to be working on its fourth round of the Connecticut Land Trust Advancement Initiative, an organizational advancement program designed to strengthen Connecticut’s land trusts and their collective capacity to conserve the state's critical natural resources.

The Diana Atwood Johnson OSWA Photo Contest
Attention all Amateur Photographers!

CLCC in partnership with the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is pleased to sponsor its 2nd annual amateur digital photo contest featuring properties protected under DEEP’s Open Space & Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program (OSWA).  All entries must be received by February 5, 2018.

2018 Connecticut Land Conservation Conference
Sponsorship Program is Underway
March 17, 2018 - Wesleyan University - Middletown

Position your business or organization before a sophisticated and engaged audience of conservation volunteers and professionals, while helping CLCC to keep the annual CT Land Conservation Conference accessible and affordable for all who wish to attend. We offer a range of sponsorship categories, including advertising opportunities for Conservation Service Providers.

New Connecticut Land Trust Map

An updated version of our Connecticut Land Trust Map is now available. Created by CLCC Steering Committee member Margot Burns (Environmental Planner, RiverCOG), the map is now available for review on our Find a Land Trust webpage.

Land Trusts in the News
Lyme Land Conservation Trust Appoints New Executive Director
The Lyme Land Conservation Trust announces that the Board has appointed Kristina White as its new Executive Director. Kristina has been an actively contributing member of the Land Trust’s Board since 2014.

State News
Sustainable Connecticut. The Eastern CT State University Institute of Sustainable Energy administers this exciting new initiative to support and recognize sustainability actions by Connecticut towns. Launch events are planned throughout the state. Read more >>

12th Annual State of the Birds Report: "The New Bird Atlas: A Call to Action for Connecticut's Conservationists". In its annual State of the Birds Report, the Connecticut Audu bon Society calls on the state's conservation community to throw its full efforts into supporting the upcoming state Bird Atlas.

Public Comment Period Open for DEEP 2017-2022 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). DEEP has announced that its draft 2017-2022 SCORP is available for public review and comment. Deadline to submit comments is December 28, 2017.

The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Publishes Environmental Enforcement Report Focusing on Pesticides. CEQ's special report recommends using fees paid by the pesticide industry to restore inspections and enforcement to adequate levels and to improve pesticide regulation overall.

Bond Commission Allocates $7.5 Million for Recreation & Natural Heritage Trust Program. The RNHT program provides DEEP with funding to acquire land for additions to or establishment of State Parks, forests, wildlife management areas, aquatic access, and natural resource areas.

A partnership project between the State Historic Preservation Office and the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, the Mills: Making Places of Connecticut website allows users to explore the stories, culture, history and contemporary uses of Connecticut mills.
National News
Federal Policy Update: Public Lands under Assault. On December 4, President Trump signed an executive order that proposes to shrink the boundaries of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments by approximately 2 million acres. Please contact members of the Connecticut Congressional Delegation and ask that they oppose any efforts to weaken protections of our federal public lands. Read full action alert >>
Funding & Project Assistance Opportunities
Hartford Audubon Society Offers Mini-Grant Program. Funded by Audubon Connecticut, grants help support Citizen Science projects to benefit birds and bird conservation in Hartford County and in the state of Connecticut. Deadline: January 31, 2018.

Open Space & Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program. DEEP is accepting applications from municipalities, land trusts and water companies for the next round of the competitive OSWA grant program. Deadline: February 1, 2018.

Funding for FY2018 Conservation Easement Program. The USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program which includes Agricultural Land Easements and Wetland Reserve Easements. Funding Application Deadline: February 9, 2018.
Land Trust Resources & Opportunities
Volunteers Sought for Plant Conservation Volunteer Program. The New England Wild Flower Society is seeking volunteers to collect information on rare plants and their habitats across all six New England states.

Land Trust Photo Contest. A collaborative effort of the land trusts in East Haddam, Essex, Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, and Salem - seeks photos from amateur photographers captured in their respective towns. There are various categories. Entries are accepted from January 1 through February 28, 2018.

Growing Organic with NRCS. Learn how NRCS and organic farmers work together on conservation.
Job & Volunteer Opportunities
Tip of the Month
Board Retreats vs. Board Meetings
Why board retreats are important & should be very different from meetings.
" Board retreats should not simply be longer versions of your regular meetings. In fact, there shouldn’t be any agenda items at your retreat that even remotely resemble your normal board meeting agenda."...

(Source: Amy Eisenstein)

Connecticut Land Conservation Council
27 Washington Street, #12
Middletown, CT 06457
860-614-8537
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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.