Connecticut Land Conservation Council

11/06/2026

Giving thanks for the and its Regional Conservation Partnership Gathering.

From the opening keynote on Indigenous perspectives on food and multiple Thanksgivings from the first fruit of the year - the strawberry - to the last - the cranberry - to inspiring sessions on topics such as Farming as Conservation and Innovative Strategies for Engaging Landowners, our team is grateful for the opportunity to participate, learn, and connect. And present, too, as Yaw helped lead a session on .

We hope to see many of the same faces in March at the CT Land Conservation Conference!

BTW, if you're a land trust, highly recommend checking out the work of the Virginia Working Landscapes , Piedmont Environmental Council, and partners in developing and delivering Conservation Speed-Dating Workshops to introduce landowners to conservation organizations and technical assistance providers in northern Virginia. Highly successful approach.

And (yes, there's more) locally, UConn Extension, Equity Trust, and New CT Farmer Alliance are doin' great work connecting new farmers looking for land to land trusts looking for farmers. Got land? Need a farmer? Give 'em a shout.

11/03/2026

Food for thought: land conservation isn't just about forests and watersheds and wildlife habitat. It's also about farms.

Connecticut may be small in size, but agriculture is a big part of it. In fact, it contributes about $4 billion to our state economy each year, thanks to the work of 5,500 farms and (as of 2020) 380,000 acres of farmland.

But we're losing farmland, and fast. Faster than most states in the country. According to the American Farmland Trust, we're on pace to lose about 900 farms and 55,000 acres of farmland by 2040 if we don't change our current path.

Now for the good news: CT's land trusts are working to conserve and steward our cropland, pastures, and woodland associated with farms. Yet another reason to .

You can explore CT town by town and learn all about our changing landscape via a sweet mapping tool by CT ECO, a partnership between the UConn Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR), UConn Extension, and Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP).

Map #1: Agricultural change by town (Greatest loss by %: New London, Westport, Weston, Wilton, Waterbury, New Britian, Plainville, New Fairfield)
Map #2: Agricultural land % by town (Highest %: Suffield, Somers, East Windsor, Ellington, North Canaan, Bethlehem)
Map #3: Agricultural land cover

11/02/2026

Hey land trusts, thought ya'll might find this useful: check out OSI's Forest Carbon Map, a free interactive tool to see how much carbon forests store today and how much more they will store by 2050.

11/02/2026

DEADLINE EXTENDED! The deadline for applications to the 2026-2027 Long Island Sound Schools program is now Nov. 1 at 11:59 p.m. K-12 schools in Connecticut and New York within the Long Island Sound watershed are eligible to apply. This is a great opportunity to connect with your school and community to protect and conserve the Long Island Sound.
More information: https://seagrant.uconn.edu/?p=11404

11/02/2026

Congrats Joshua's Trust!

🌳 BIG news for Joshua’s Trust!

Now that the deeds have been filed, we’re thrilled to share some extraordinary news: Joshua’s Trust has completed the largest conservation project in our 60-year history!

Together, we have conserved 329 acres along Upton Road in Ashford, protecting an extraordinary stretch of mature and successional forest, streams, historic features, and nearly a mile of the blue-blazed Nipmuck Trail.

This achievement reflects the power of a community united by a shared commitment to conservation. More than 20 donors from our Board of Trustees and President’s Circle, along with other supporters, helped make the purchases possible. The Shenipsit Striders made a significant financial contribution, the Connecticut Land Conservation Council provided a Transaction Assistance Grant, and the Connecticut Forest & Park Association supported the effort to protect this important stretch of the Nipmuck Trail.

Our Board of Trustees also deserves special recognition for acting with lightning speed when the opportunity arose.

We are grateful to everyone who helped make this possible—and proud of what our Joshua’s Trust community can accomplish together.

🌲 Come celebrate with us! Join us for an open house at the property on Saturday, November 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 93 Upton Road in Ashford. Guided hikes will leave every half hour. We hope to see you there!

11/02/2026

opportunity in CT! Spread the word!

Looking to jump start your career in conservation? We’re hiring PAID Pathways Interns throughout the country in fields including soil conservation, biology, rangeland management, agronomy, soil science, forestry and engineering. Internships can last multiple years, and interns who complete 480 hours of work and meet additional requirements will have the opportunity to convert to full-time employment with NRCS after graduation. Find the current openings and apply by November 17 at https://www.usajobs.gov/search/results/?k=Natural+Resources+Conservation+Service&p=1&hp=student.

10/28/2026

Thank you to Lyme Land Trust for hosting a lovely awards ceremony this past weekend, and congrats to Tony Irving, recipient of CLCC’s 2026 Katchen Coley Award for Excellence in Land Conservation.

For more than four decades, Tony has championed conservation in Lyme and the surrounding region. Through his leadership with the land trust, advocacy, and stewardship as both a volunteer and environmental professional, Tony has helped protect thousands of acres in Lyme and the Eightmile Wild & Scenic River Watershed.

Thank you for all you do, Tony!

10/28/2026

Now that sure looks like an interesting slate of speakers! 💚

Environmental Research Symposium
Presented by Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust and The Taft School
Thursday, November 5, 2026, 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM

Connecticut scientists doing research on land trust properties in the region will be presenting their ongoing environmental work and its implications. Attendees will gain a greater understanding of our changing natural environment here in Connecticut. Following the presentations, there will be an opportunity to meet the scientists and ask further questions.

One particular presenter has a special connection to the Bent.

Alton Spencer, who is a Graduate Student at Western Connecticut State University, will be talking about his research project, Vegetation Influence on Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor) Occupancy in Early Successional Habitats. Alton's research has been done at Bent of the River under the guidance of our Land Manager, Glen Somogie. Come to the Symposium to learn more about his research.

Register online on the Flanders website or by calling the office at 203.263.3711
This is a complimentary program, but pre-registration is requested.

10/27/2026

Shout out to Avalonia Land Conservancy, Inc and Otis Library for collaborating on a little action at the Cedar Wood Preserve in Norwich! And thanks to Allison Black for sharing her expertise as an NOAA Seabird and Marine Mammal Observer!

Throughout the walk, participants used the eBird app, a community science platform that allows birdwatchers to document their observations and contribute to a global database of bird populations. But beyond identifying birds, the group had an opportunity to explore how thoughtful land stewardship creates and maintains the habitats these species depend on.

Interested in arranging a outing in your community? Give us a shout!

10/26/2026

Quinnetukut: Our Homeland, Our History

Join the Wi******er Land Trust for a special talk with Traditional Native American Storyteller Darlene Kascak (Schaghticoke Tribal Nation).

📆 Saturday, November 7, 2026
🕓 4:00 pm (come at 3:30 and enjoy the museum first)
📍 American Museum of Tort Law, 654 Main St, Winsted
💸 Suggested donation: $10

Bring a friend and learn the history of this land through voices of those who have lived here for thousands of years.