News
CLCC is proud to announce the latest recipients of its Climate Smart Land Stewardship Grants. With a total of $160,000 awarded, these grants support vital conservation projects across Connecticut. Focused on forest management, habitat restoration, and sustainable agriculture, these initiatives are designed to enhance landscape resilience, boost biodiversity, and promote the long-term health of natural resources in the face of climate change.
Recipients
Plans for Forest Management
Avalonia Land Conservancy and Berlin Land Trust are spearheading sustainable forest management with new comprehensive Forest Management Plans. Avalonia’s plan covers the 272-acre Pike Marshall Preserve, while Berlin’s plan focuses on 120 acres of Lamentation Mountain. Both plans integrate indigenous knowledge with modern climate change mitigation strategies, aiming to boost forest resilience, enhance carbon sequestration, and better prepare for extreme weather events.
In Kent, the Kent Land Trust is advancing conservation with a new project at the East Kent Hamlet Preserve. Their plan focuses on creating a pollinator meadow and early successional habitat by replacing non-native species with native plants from local ecotypes. This effort aims to enhance carbon sequestration, provide crucial wildlife habitat, support biodiversity, and offer educational opportunities for the community.
Climate Smart Forestry
The East Haddam Land Trust is advancing forest management at Miller Farm Preserve with a project aimed at improving a vulnerable even-aged forest. This initiative will focus on invasive species management, creating small clearings, and enhancing structural diversity. By promoting natural regeneration and building resilience, the project aims to create healthier forests that can better withstand climate impacts and support diverse wildlife.
Enhancing Agricultural Lands
Great Meadow Conservation Trust is tackling soil erosion and enhancing cropland on six acres of active farmland, while also improving 2.5 acres of early successional habitat. Funded by NRCS, their project focuses on boosting soil health, controlling erosion, and creating a more resilient agricultural landscape. This initiative aims to improve soil health, control erosion, and establish a more resilient agricultural landscape.
Restoration of Vulnerable Habitats in Greenwich
In Greenwich, two major conservation efforts are set to revitalize key ecosystems. Greenwich Audubon Center will restore the Oneida Sanctuary, a unique tidal wetland, through invasive species removal and native plantings. Concurrently, Greenwich Land Trust will enhance habitat diversity at Duck Pond Hill Preserve by planting native trees and shrubs across 12 acres and improving plant diversity in a 1-acre wet meadow. Both projects aim to boost ecosystem resilience, flood control, and carbon sequestration.
Habitat Corridor for Biodiversity
The New Hartford Land Trust is enhancing habitat for pollinators, Monarch butterflies, and wildlife at Alfred Sabolcik Preserve. Their project involves creating a native edge ecotone and meadow to boost biodiversity, control erosion, and provide varied habitats. This initiative will also serve as a public demonstration of climate-smart stewardship, encouraging community involvement in sustainable land management practices.
A Collective Step Towards a Resilient Future
The Climate Smart Land Stewardship Grant Program represents a collective effort to prepare Connecticut’s landscapes for the challenges of a changing climate. These projects, each addressing different aspects of land stewardship, share a common goal: to enhance the resilience of our natural environments and ensure their continued vitality for generations to come.
Are you a land trust interested in applying for the Climate Smart Land Stewardship Grant?
Schedule a site visit with Ricky Bentley, CLCC’s Climate Smart Stewardship Coordinator to discuss your project and learn more about the application process. This visit will help ensure your proposal aligns with grant requirements and maximizes its impact on climate resilience and conservation.
Funding for this grant program was paid for by the Climate Smart Farming: Agriculture and Forestry Grant. Funding is awarded and administered by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture.