Resource Library
Resources
Whether you’re a volunteer, staff member, or board leader, the Connecticut Land Conservation Council’s Resource Library is here to support your work in conserving and stewarding land across the state.
Organized by topic, this collection offers practical tools, templates, case studies, and expert guidance tailored to the needs of Connecticut’s land trusts. From legal and financial management to community engagement, stewardship, and climate resilience, our goal is to help you navigate challenges, build capacity, and strengthen your organization.
Explore the topics that matter most to your work—and check back often, as we regularly update the library with new and relevant resources.
Quick Links
CLCC’s report, “Connecticut Conservation Land Trusts & Affordable Housing: Current Status and Recommendations,” offers a fresh perspective on how land trusts can help address Connecticut’s housing crisis while advancing their conservation missions.
The report highlights a growing interest among Connecticut’s conservation land trusts to engage in affordable housing efforts—from building partnerships with community land trusts to supporting projects near conserved lands. It outlines key recommendations for overcoming barriers, including better information sharing, purposeful collaboration, and policy reforms to support dual goals of housing and land conservation.
Welcome to the Board Development Toolkit, a comprehensive, 7-part resource developed by the Connecticut Land Conservation Council and the Land Trust Alliance to help you build stronger, more effective boards to support the success of your land trust. Whether you are facing challenges in recruiting new board members, clarifying roles and responsibilities, or planning for leadership transitions, this toolkit is designed to provide practical tools and insights tailored to your needs.
“State of the Lands: Results from the 2023-24 Connecticut Land Trust Census” presents the findings of a groundbreaking effort to document land conservation activities, understand future priorities, and identify ways to better support land trusts. The insights gained from this census will guide CLCC’s future priorities and strengthen its support for the land trust community in Connecticut.
Strong, well-crafted conservation easements are essential for protecting land in perpetuity. This collection of model easements provides land trusts with a solid foundation for drafting agreements that are legally sound, adaptable, and enforceable. Whether you’re working on a new easement or ensuring compliance with best practices, these resources offer expert-vetted guidance to get you and your attorney started on drafting a conservation easement.
Strong policies are the foundation of a well-run land trust. CLCC’s Sample Policy Library provides a collection of ready-to-use templates covering governance, land stewardship, financial management, and more. Whether your land trust is refining existing policies or drafting new ones, these samples offer a valuable starting point to ensure best practices and compliance with Land Trust Standards & Practices. Use this resource to streamline policy development and strengthen your organization’s operations.
As any land steward knows, not every invasive plant can be eradicated. This webinar explores how land trusts can make thoughtful, strategic decisions about when and why to manage invasive plants, acknowledging both ecological realities and limited capacity.
CLCC’s Anatomy of a Land Transaction is a seven-part webinar series designed to give land trust staff and board members a practical, well-rounded foundation in the core components of land conservation deals. Each session features expert presenters covering key topics—from project selection, appraisals, and environmental due diligence, to surveys, baseline documentation, closings, and post-closing responsibilities—with plenty of tools and resources to take back to your organization.
This 2025 report from the Maine Land Trust Network explores how and why land trusts pursue mergers as a strategy for long-term impact. Drawing from case studies, interviews, and survey data, it highlights key motivations, challenges, and lessons learned from land trusts that have merged—or considered merging. A valuable resource for boards and staff exploring collaboration as a tool for mission advancement and organizational resilience.
This four-part webinar series equips land trust board members and staff with the tools and strategies needed to build a strong and sustainable fundraising program. From understanding donor behavior and building a reliable donor base, to identifying prospects through research and cultivating major gifts, each session offers practical insights to strengthen development efforts. The series culminates with a deep dive into capital campaigns as a long-term strategy to fund land acquisition and reduce reliance on last-minute appeals. Whether you’re new to fundraising or looking to refine your skills, this series provides a comprehensive roadmap for growing your land trust’s financial resilience and impact.
Curious about fiscal sponsorship and how it might fit into your land trust’s work? This practical guide breaks down what fiscal sponsorship is, how it works, and when it makes sense. Whether you’re looking to support a new project, collaborate with a grassroots partner, or test a new initiative without forming a separate nonprofit, this resource outlines key models, risks, and best practices to help you get started with confidence.
Fireflies are more than a summer spectacle—they’re vital indicators of habitat health. This resource collection, inspired by CLCC’s Illuminating Conservation webinar with the Xerces Society, offers guidance for land trusts looking to protect firefly populations. Explore practical tips from Illuminating Conservation: Fireflies, Land Trusts, and the Role of Firefly Sanctuaries, watch a recording of the original webinar videos, and see how land trusts are putting these ideas into action. Perfect for those interested in boosting biodiversity and community engagement through these glowing icons of conservation.
Balancing affordable housing with land conservation doesn’t have to be a trade-off. This guide from the Hudson Valley Alliance for Housing & Conservation offers actionable strategies for integrating housing and open space planning at the local level. With tips on zoning reform, community preservation funds, and intermunicipal collaboration, it’s a smart resource for land trusts and municipalities navigating growth, equity, and sustainability. Great for sparking productive partnerships between housing and conservation advocates.
Developed through a collaboration between Aspetuck Land Trust and Yale School of the Environment, this toolkit offers land trusts concrete tools and inspiring models to advance land justice—from cultural easements to Buy-Protect-Sell strategies. It explores how land trusts can support equitable access to land, especially for BIPOC and other historically marginalized communities, while fulfilling their conservation missions. Rich with examples, definitions, and actionable frameworks, it’s a must-read for any land trust aiming to align conservation with equity and community well-being.
In Part 1 of CLCC’s Board Development Toolkit, we explore a number of board diagnostic tools, and why they are important. Before improving your board’s effectiveness, it’s essential to understand its current strengths, gaps, and areas for growth. Diagnostic tools help your land trust: 1) Identify skillsets, demographics, and perspectives represented on your board; 2) Pinpoint areas where your board’s composition or practices may need improvement; 3) Create a foundation for targeted recruitment, training, and role clarification efforts. By conducting a thorough assessment of the current board, your organization can recruit to fill gaps and better align its board’s composition and capacity with its strategic goals and mission.
In Part 2 of CLCC’s Board Development Toolkit, we explore why mission, vision, values, and strategy matter. A strong board is guided by a clear understanding of the land trust’s mission, vision, values, and strategic goals. These foundational elements are not just words on paper; they shape decisions, inspire action, and keep your board aligned with your organization’s purpose and priorities.