News
On Wednesday, April 22—Earth Day—the Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC) led a powerful advocacy event at the State Capitol in Hartford. Land Conservation Day brought together land trusts, state agencies, and environmental advocates to celebrate our collective impact and shine a spotlight on the state programs—OSWA and UGCG—that are critical to our continued success.
As CLCC Executive Director Amy Blaymore Paterson noted in her opening remarks:
“For the state’s land trusts, conservation commissions, and all our partners, every day is land conservation day. Protecting natural and working lands takes passion, dedication, and resources from financial investments and partnerships at every level.”
A Unified Voice for Conservation
The event featured a distinguished lineup of speakers who underscored the connection between land conservation and Connecticut’s quality of life:
- Governor Ned Lamont celebrated the state’s success in conserving more than 18,000 acres during his administration, from rural forests to urban gardens.
- Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz recognized CLCC and CT DEEP’s leadership in keeping Connecticut green.
- Commissioner Katie Dykes (CT DEEP) and Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt (DoAg) highlighted the vital inter-agency partnerships that protect our watersheds and agricultural heritage.
Voices from the General Assembly
Legislators from across the state shared local success stories—from Representative Aundre Bumgardner’s call for environmental justice to Representative Joe Gresko’s advocacy for Remington Woods and Representative Pat Dillon’s’s celebration of the impact of the UGCG program in supporting community gardens in New Haven.
Click on through the slides to see each of the speakers. Screenshots via CT-Network.
The Policy Focus: OSWA & UGCG
The day centered on the two engines of Connecticut conservation:
- The Open Space & Watershed Land Acquisition (OSWA) Grant Program: The primary funding source for purchasing forests and farmland for permanent conservation. To date, OSWA has protected over 48,000 acres.
- The Urban Green & Community Garden (UGCG) Grant Program: A vital resource for creating and restoring green spaces in distressed or environmental justice communities.
Advocacy Goals: Moving the Needle
Our work doesn’t end with Earth Day. CLCC is actively advocating for:
- HB 5032: To add funding to the budget adjustments for two critical staff positions at CT DEEP to help process the growing demand for OSWA and UGCG grants.
- HB 5153: To expand Urban Greenspace and Community Gardens access to areas adjacent to Environmental Justice communities and improve the efficiency of conservation closings.
Land Conservation Day Partners
We are grateful for support from a diverse group of partners, including land trusts, environmental organizations, and state agencies. Organizations sharing common goals for Land Conservation Day include:
Appalachian Mountain Club ⎮ Aspetuck Land Trust ⎮ Berlin Land Trust ⎮ CT Department of Agriculture ⎮ CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection ⎮ CT Forest & Park Association ⎮ CT League of Conservation Voters ⎮ CT Soil and Water Conservation Council ⎮ Cornwall Conservation Trust ⎮ East Haddam Land Trust ⎮ Essex Land Trust ⎮ Farmington Land Trust ⎮ Great Meadows Conservation Trust ⎮ Greenwich Audubon Center ⎮ Guilford Land Conservation Trust ⎮ Housatonic Valley Association⎮ Interreligious Eco-Justice Network ⎮ Kent Land Trust⎮ Land For Good ⎮ Lower CT River Land Trust ⎮ National Audubon Society ⎮ Norfolk Land Trust ⎮ Northeast Organic Farmers Association of CT ⎮ North Haven Land Trust ⎮ Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy ⎮ Office of Senator Chris Murphy ⎮ Old Newgate Coon Club ⎮ Radiance Gardens ⎮ River COG ⎮ Rivers Alliance of CT ⎮ Salisbury Association Land Trust ⎮ Save The Sound ⎮ Shelton Land Conservation Trust ⎮ Sierra Club of Connecticut ⎮ The Nature Conservancy ⎮ Town of Easton ⎮ Trust For Public Land ⎮ Winchester Land Trust ⎮ Working Lands Alliance
