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A collaborative conservation initiative working to protect 80% of New England as forests and farms.

Wildlands, Woodlands, Farmlands & Communities (WWF&C) is a collaborative conservation initiative of partner organizations that share a collective vision for the future of New England and the six states it comprises. This vision unites people, groups, and communities around an integrated approach to conservation — one that recognizes the inextricable connections between land, water, and air, and all living beings, human and wild. The varied landscapes of this region provide countless ecological, economic, and health benefits while helping to stem the crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and related threats to public health and safety. WWF&C partners strive to thoughtfully model collaborative conservation practices that include a diverse range of voices and knowledge, all working in concert toward a healthier, more just world. WWF&C works closely with its partners to provide research and resources for those who are working to advance land conservation within each state, and across state lines, and outlines specific goals to protect 80% of the region as forests, both wildlands and woodlands, and farmland (by 2060), helping New England do its part to ensure the future of all life on Earth. The WWF&C vision brings together a growing list of partners and collaborators from organizations, universities, government agencies, and individuals across New England and beyond its borders. Partners include Harvard Forest, Highstead Foundation and the Regional Conservation Partnership Network, Food Solutions New England at the UNH Sustainability Institute, Northeast Wilderness Trust, New England Forestry Foundation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.

07/31/2026

The conversation doesn't end when you reach the last page!

Our “Read. Watch. Listen.” collection is designed to take you deeper into the ideas explored throughout Issue 11. From biodiversity and bird conservation to old-growth forests, freshwater ecosystems, farmland conservation, climate leadership, and wildlife research, these carefully selected books, articles, videos, and podcasts offer new perspectives from scientists, conservationists, and storytellers.

Whether you have five minutes or an afternoon, there's something here to spark your curiosity and deepen your understanding of the natural world.

Which topic are you most interested in exploring: forests, birds, freshwater, agriculture, or wildlife?

Browse our “Read. Watch. Listen.” recommendations and continue the conversation beyond the pages of From the Ground Up.

https://buff.ly/fakTYob

Phys.org
Science
Vox
Urban Ocean Lab
JSTOR Daily
ProPublica
The Link, Springer Nature
NatureServe
Econews VT

07/29/2026

An update from From the Ground Up:

As we look to the future, we're reevaluating our publishing strategy to better align with the priorities of Wildlands, Woodlands, Farmlands & Communities. As part of this transition, we'll be moving away from our quarterly publication schedule, and there will not be a Fall 2026 issue.

While our publishing schedule is changing, our commitment is not. We remain dedicated to advancing thoughtful conversations around conservation, research, policy, and partnerships that support a resilient future for New England.

To everyone who has read, shared, contributed to, or supported From the Ground Up, thank you. Your enthusiasm has helped make this publication a meaningful place to explore the people, ideas, and landscapes shaping conservation across our region.

We appreciate your patience as we consider what comes next, and we look forward to sharing the next chapter with you. Stay connected by following Wildlands, Woodlands, Farmlands & Communities here and through our email updates.

https://buff.ly/Nad40kb

Wildlands, Woodlands, Farmlands & Communities

07/28/2026

What if the future of conservation begins with a map?

For more than 25 years, Maine's Beginning with Habitat program has helped communities, landowners, and conservation partners identify the places that matter most for biodiversity. By combining science, mapping, and collaboration, the program helps guide decisions that protect wildlife while supporting thoughtful community planning.

As Justin Schlawin writes, protecting biodiversity isn't just about preserving individual places. It's about maintaining "a resilient and connected landscape for people and wildlife."

From tidal marshes and forests to rare species and wildlife corridors, this story shows how conservation works best when people come together around a shared vision.

Discover how Maine is planning for the future, one landscape at a time, in this inspiring feature from Issue 11 of From the Ground Up.

https://buff.ly/cJax04D

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife

07/27/2026

What can one mountain reveal about biodiversity?

In A Climb to the Sky, forest ecologist Chris Reidy takes us into Maine’s north woods and up through changing habitats, from northern hardwood forest to rare subalpine and alpine communities.

Along the way, the field team encounters uncommon plants, an American marten, the song of a Bicknell’s thrush, and a previously undocumented subalpine hanging bog. Their discoveries show why protecting entire landscapes, across elevations and habitats, matters for the species that depend on them.

Follow the climb, explore the remarkable life found along the way, and discover what careful observation can reveal. The article is also available to listen to.

https://buff.ly/h8RtTMm

Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry

07/24/2026

Some books teach us about nature. Others invite us to experience it.

In Numinosity: A New England Forester's Search for the Ineffable, Robert T. Perschel blends poetry, essays, and personal reflections from a lifetime spent among forests, rivers, and wild places. The result is a deeply moving meditation on wonder, stewardship, and our relationship with the natural world.

As the introduction beautifully explains, "‘Numinous’ describes encounters with a mysterious, awe-inspiring, and powerful force that is often associated with the transcendent."

Whether you're a forester, a conservationist, or simply someone who finds peace outdoors, this thoughtful read offers a reminder to slow down, pay attention, and reconnect with the landscapes that shape us.

Discover why Numinosity is one of our featured Bookshelf recommendations in the Summer 2026 issue of From the Ground Up.

07/22/2026

What will we leave behind?

In Another Epistle to Be Left in the Earth, Robert Perschel offers a thoughtful reflection on our relationship with the natural world, inviting us to consider not only what we inherit from the landscapes around us, but what we choose to pass on.

As Perschel writes, “May we leave the Earth richer in life than we found it."

"It's a simple hope and a powerful reminder that every decision we make today shapes the forests, waters, wildlife, and communities of tomorrow.

Take a moment to read this moving reflection, then explore the full Summer 2026 issue of From the Ground Up.

https://buff.ly/oaC1gth

07/21/2026

Can healthy forests be both protected and actively managed?

For years, conservation and forestry have often been viewed as competing approaches. In Wildlands and Exemplary Forestry Together, Robert Perschel makes the case that the future of New England's forests depends on embracing both.

Protecting biodiversity doesn't require choosing between conservation and stewardship. It means recognizing that permanently protected wildlands and thoughtfully managed working forests each have an essential role to play in sustaining resilient ecosystems, supporting wildlife, storing carbon, and strengthening our communities.

As Perschel writes, "We need both wildlands and exemplary forestry."

What do you think is the most important role our forests play—for wildlife, climate, recreation, or something else?

Read the article and explore how these complementary approaches can help shape a healthier future for New England's forests.

https://buff.ly/iuQBCn1

07/20/2026

What if one tiny wildflower could change the way you see an entire forest?

In Following Flynn, Finding Floerkea, botanist Grace Glynn shares the joy of discovering one of New England's smallest and most easily overlooked native plants. Through her story, we are reminded that biodiversity isn't only found in the iconic or the extraordinary. Sometimes it's hidden in the smallest details, waiting for someone to notice.

As Grace reflects, "Little things matter."

It's a simple idea with profound implications for conservation. The more closely we look, the more we realize that every species plays a role in the health and resilience of our ecosystems.

What's the smallest plant, flower, or creature you've ever stopped to admire?

Read the full conversation and discover why paying attention is one of the most important acts of conservation.

https://buff.ly/EI8KY1r

07/17/2026

Biodiversity can be understood through science, but it can also be experienced through art.

In Issue 11, we're honored to feature the work of two remarkable artists whose unique perspectives invite us to see the natural world in new ways.

Wildlife artist Austen Camille brings intricate illustrations to life, celebrating the beauty and complexity of the species that share our landscapes. Conservation photographer Larry Master, whose career has spanned more than 70 years, captures some of the region's most imperiled plants and animals through images that inspire both wonder and action.

Together, their work reminds us that every species has a story worth seeing and a future worth protecting.

Take a moment to explore their artwork and revisit the many artists who have contributed to our publication throughout the years.

https://buff.ly/tzwlMCn

07/15/2026

What happens to food systems when water becomes scarce?

In this edition of Food and Farming Research Update, Molly D. Anderson explores emerging research on one of the defining challenges of our time: the growing global water crisis and what it means for agriculture, biodiversity, and our collective future.

As the article reminds us:
"Humans can live a few weeks without food, but for only about three days without water."

Drawing on the latest research, this update connects global challenges to the choices we make about food, farming, and conservation, showing why resilient ecosystems are essential to resilient communities.

Read the Research Digest and discover why protecting biodiversity also means protecting the systems that sustain us all.

https://buff.ly/lMMwkbc

Middlebury College

Address

127 Lonetown Road
Redding, CT
06896

Telephone

+12039388809

Website

http://www.wildlandsandwoodlands.org/

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