Connecticut Land Conservation Council

06/05/2026

It's a good day for a good day. Happy 🌍

Fun fact: Did you know that CT's ~120 local land trusts protect nearly half of Connecticut’s conserved spaces? From the core forests filtering our drinking water to the urban green spaces cooling our neighborhoods, these lands are the life support system for our communities.

But permanent protection doesn’t happen by accident. It takes a village of boots-on-the-ground stewards, complex legal navigation, and community-backed support. Today, take a second to and celebrate the fields, forests, and waterways that make Connecticut look like Connecticut.



📸 Mountain Lake Preserve by Warren Land Trust

06/04/2026

No offense to salamanders and slugs and whatnot, but you'd have to be living under a rock to miss this weekend's remarkable slate of outdoor activities around the state, 'cuz it's National Trails Day 2026!

is a day of public events aimed at advocacy and trail service. The Connecticut Forest & Park Association, one of our member land trusts, was an early adopter of the National Trails Day program. Today, Connecticut Trails Day has expanded into a two-day celebration. With over 175 events, CT is hosting more events than any other state!

Join CFPA and land trusts across the state to celebrate trails and the outdoors. Find an event near you, lace up your hiking boots, and get out on the trail: https://trailsday.org/

06/03/2026

Know a farmer or forestland owner who goes above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat on working land? Submit a nomination application today - they could win $10K!

The deadline to submit nominees for the Leopold Conservation Award is June 15!

This award honors farmers and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat on working land.

Sponsored by & across 28 states. In New England, the $10,000 award is presented by and the New England chapter of American Farmland Trust. Nominations are due by 6/15.

Leopold was a forester, ecologist, author, and conservationist best known for his concept of a “land ethic” — a call for an ethical, caring relationship between people and the land they manage.

🌟 Know a farmer or forestland owner who embodies this legacy by showing an outstanding commitment to conservation? Submit a nomination application today! Landowners may also nominate themselves.

More information and the link to apply is in our bio. 🔗

06/02/2026

Thank you to the Woodbridge Park Association (WPA) for hosting an educational tour of its Alice Newton Street Memorial Park, site of a climate-smart land stewardship project called "Beech Treatment for Forest Resilience." Shout out to Andrea, a forester at Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP), board member at WPA, and town select person, and Eric, a forester overseeing this project, for leading the tour, and to Eli of the The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, for joining the action.

Most of the beech trees in the park, and throughout Connecticut, have been affected by beech bark disease and, more recently, beech leaf disease. It's caused by an invasive foliar nematode (microscopic worm) that feeds on beech buds and modifies their development. Its presence has reduced beech survival, and as a result carbon storage capacity and biodiversity of the forest, leading to other ecological concerns like reduced water filtration capacity and increased invasive species populations.

WPA is using its grant to test a variety of silvicultural techniques to increase species diversity and structural complexity of the forest, enhancing carbon storage and habitat quality. Educational components like this past Saturday's guided hikes and interpretive signage will help disseminate findings with other stewards and the public.

Learn more about WPA's project on their site: https://woodbridgepark.org/beech-tree-grant/

06/01/2026

06/01/2026

Shout out to Gather New Haven, New Haven Coalition for Active Transportation, Black and Brown SoulCyclist, and Black Wing Coalition for a successful Bird & Bike last weekend in !

Oystercatchers, Piping plovers, Sandpipers, Red-winged blackbirds, Song sparrows, Brants, and even an Osprey - not bad for a damp morning at Long Wharf Nature Preserve. And what a great turnout - thank you to all who joined the fun. And a special thank you to the Claire C. Bennitt Watershed Fund for making this event possible!

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05/29/2026

Who's up for an educational guided nature walk in tomorrow?

Join us and the to learn about WPA's climate-smart land stewardship project, Beech Treatment for Forest Resilience. WPA's Forester, Eric, will lead the walk and share how WPA's forest management activities are promoting forest health and resilience to climate change.

Where: Alice Newton Street Memorial Park, 7 Meetinghouse Lane, Woodbridge

When: Saturday, May 30, 9:30 - 11:30 AM

Register here: https://ctconservation.org/event/conservation-conversation-with-the-woodbridge-park-association/

Learn more about the project here: https://woodbridgepark.org/beech-tree-grant/

05/27/2026

Bird the word, all week long during .

There's plenty of action still to come, so flap on over to our site for all the details and links to register:

The Parakeet Conspiracy, Wednesday, May 27, at 6:00 PM in
Canal Chirp, Friday, May 29, at 10:00 AM in
Flock the Block, Saturday, May 30, at 9:00 AM in
Rights and Wingspan, Sunday, May 31, at 6:00 PM in

https://ctconservation.org/event/black-birders-week-2026/

05/22/2026

Congratulations to Litchfield Land Trust on opening the new Blakely Forest Preserve on Fern Avenue!

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This acquisition is a big deal for LLT - it's the first project they received an Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition (OSWA) grant from Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) for. The keystone parcel connects to lands conserved by the Morris Land Trust and the Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy, resulting in a ~1,000 acre core forest and wildlife corridor.

Thank you to Housatonic Valley Association for helping LLT out with the ins and outs of the OSWA application process! CLCC also pitched in with a Transaction Assistance Grant for the survey, and a LEAP grant to help with the acquisition cost.

And thank you for inviting us to join the celebration! 💚

05/21/2026

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Kick of with a Bird & Bike at Long Wharf Nature Preserve in ! The ride starts at 10:00 AM. We'll be joined by Gather New Haven, New Haven Coalition for Active Transportation, Black and Brown SoulCyclist, and Black Wing Coalition.

Meet us at Long Wharf with your bike, helmet, and bike lock. If you don’t have a bike, NHCAT will be on site to provide free rentals for bikes, but you will need to bring your own helmet and bike lock.

Learn more and register: https://ctconservation.org/event/black-birders-week-bird-hike-with-gather-new-haven/

This outing kicks of a series of Black Birders Week action. Check out the full schedule here: https://ctconservation.org/event/black-birders-week-2026/

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