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Grant-funded projects will integrate climate mitigation, resilience, and adaptation into the stewardship of conserved lands.

The Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC) is thrilled to announce two grant awards through its Climate-Smart Land Stewardship Program. These projects underscore the proactive efforts of Connecticut land trusts in integrating climate mitigation, resilience, and adaptation into the stewardship of conserved lands. 

The Essex Land Trust received a $50,000 grant for the Johnson Farm Preserve to execute a multi-habitat management plan. The project will address the impacts of climate change and beech leaf disease by:

• Improving Forests: Implementing a shelterwood cut to remove diseased beech and birch, controlling invasive species, and planting softwood trees to enhance the forest’s long-term health and resilience.
  
• Restoring Grasslands: Removing selective trees and boulders to re-establish native shrub growth, promoting habitat and climate resilience through seed bank regeneration.

The Lyme Land Conservation Trust was awarded a $10,048.36 grant for the John Pritchard Conservation Center, a site previously degraded by quarrying. The project will transform the grounds into a resilient ecosystem by:

• Planting Native Species: Using local plants selected for their ability to tolerate harsh conditions like intense rainfall and high temperatures.
  
• Controlling Invasives: Carefully removing invasive plants to minimize soil disturbance.
  
• Promoting Education: The restored landscape will serve as a “living model” to educate the public on climate-smart practices and inspire similar efforts in their own communities.

These projects will impact 50 acres of forest, grassland, and shrubland. They represent the final cohort of initiatives awarded grants through CLCC’s Climate Smart Land Stewardship Grant Program. Learn more about each grantee by visiting CLCC’s StoryMap. 

“These climate-smart projects are tangible ways to take direct local action through stewardship and channel climate anxiety into something hopeful,” said Ricky Bentley, Program Manager at CLCC. “As we witness real-time changes and drastic climate events unfolding around us, this work gives us a way to think about the future, support the health of our landscapes, and connect others with information and resources to do the same.”

Funding for this grant program was paid for by the Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry Grant program, established through Public Act 22-118. Funding was awarded and administered by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture. The Connecticut Land Conservation Council, one of twelve organizations selected for an award, is distributing sub-grants to land trusts. The overarching goal of this grant program is to increase the number of acres in Connecticut managed using climate-smart practices and to elevate the role of conserved lands in providing vital natural climate solutions.