Have you seen Conserving Northwest Connecticut: Adaptive Strategies for Accelerating the Pace of Conservation? It’s a new report prepared for the Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy and Save the Sound by students from The Conway School. CLCC was honored to provide input into the project alongside the Housatonic Valley Association/Follow the Forest and The Nature Conservancy-CT. The report spotlights the imperative role of land conservation in Northwest Connecticut, but its findings transcend the region. They serve as a blueprint, underscoring the many benefits of conservation, and ..read more

The holiday season is officially underway! This time of year allows us to reconnect, get closer to our loved ones, and reflect on another year of lessons. It also calls us to think about the year ahead. This past month I have been doing so in terms of our conservation community. In the beginning of November, the Regional Conservation Partnership Network had its annual meeting. One of the first things I noticed was the warmth surrounding a gathering of like-minded conservationists near and far. It was a very welcoming space with a heavy focus on partnerships. The opening discussion panel reflec ..read more

Over the past two months, I have had the privilege of attending several events on the topic of land conservation efforts in Connecticut. All three of those events—the Latine and Puerto Rican Voices for Climate Action Roundtable Discussion at Hartford’s Capitol Building, the Regional Conservation Partnership Network Gathering at UMass Amherst, and the Building Community for Environmental Justice Conference at Wesleyan—centered around the importance of community engagement in conservation. It is easy to lose sight of why we strive to protect Connecticut’s lands. Too often, we reduce our success ..read more

Welcome to the November edition of #LoveYourCTLandTrust eNews, with exciting stories of land trusts successfully leveraging support for their projects at every level, from local and federal funding to DEEP’s Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Program, a priority of CLCC’s advocacy work. Local engagement and partnerships are key: A fifth grader’s testimony in support of Avalonia Land Conservancy’s ongoing efforts to conserve land in Norwich; Bethany Land Trust’s successful request for the town’s contribution of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds; and Easton citizens’ vote to s ..read more

The news headlines have been tough to read. Globally, nationally, and right here in New England. They make me anxious. They make me sad. They make me angry. They also have me thinking about a “Common Ground with Jane Whitney” program—a nationally syndicated public affairs conversation—I attended with many conservation partners last month in Washington, CT. In a discussion entitled “Climate Change: Minutes to Midnight,” renowned writers and lecturers Katherine Heyhoe (“Power of Crisis”), Britt May (“Generation Dread”), and Michael Mann (“Our Fragile Moment”) discussed the lack of coordinated ac ..read more

The Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC) has always been at the forefront of fostering connections and collaboration within Connecticut’s land conservation community. Earlier this year, we proudly played a pivotal role in the relaunch of the South Central Regional Land Conservation Alliance (SCRLCA), a Regional Conservation Partnership (RCP) in the Greater New Haven area. This event was a testament to the spirit of collaboration that thrives within Connecticut’s conservation community. As I wrote in the recap of that event, “Magical things happen in those moments when we consider our p ..read more

I’m delighted to bring you this month’s #LoveYourCTLandTrust eNews as CLCC’s new Sandy Breslin Conservation Fellow. In the short time I’ve been at CLCC, I’ve learned quickly that Connecticut’s land trusts are doing excellent work in conservation—improving environmental quality and addressing community needs through natural and working land preservation, habitat protection, and so much more. October’s stories showcase the importance of partnership and community in doing this meaningful work. East Haddam Land Trust successfully opened its new preserve with support from several organizations, inc ..read more

As a convenor for land trusts across the state, CLCC recently hosted two summits for leaders of Connecticut’s land trusts – presidents and treasurers. These summits not only fostered dialogue and facilitated networking, but also gave land trust leaders an opportunity to reflect on their land trust’s recent successes and future opportunities. In this safe space, leaders also opened up about some of the challenges and concerns they were facing, making for a meaningful discussion all around. A Wave of Enthusiasm at the President’s Summit The air was filled with optimism at the President’s Summit ..read more

September felt like the good old pre-COVID days: I was on the road almost daily – meeting with land trusts, legislators, and other community leaders, attending presentations and workshops, talking while walking, and planning for the 2024 legislature session with conservation advocates and agency partners. It was awesome! And in every conversation, one thing was clear: land trusts play a role as vital partners in addressing a range of environmental and societal issues at every level. We know that land trusts are actively contributing to climate resilience by conserving natural habitats, pr ..read more

I’ve just wrapped up a fabulous summer staycation with my family, including two grandkids under three and a half years old. What struck me most was how their biggest smiles and loudest laughs came from the simplest moments outdoors—muddy hands, chasing butterflies, harvesting tomatoes, playful splashes while kayaking for the first time, and more. Better than fancy toys or shopping sprees, just nature in its purest form. A visit to a state park or local preserve made each day a new adventure, capped off with ice cream from farms across the state. It was delightful. Through our land conservation ..read more