Resource Library
Every conservation easement and fee property represents a lasting promise to protect the land’s conservation values forever. Keeping the Promise: Core Skills for Effective Land Stewardship is an essential webinar series from CLCC and the Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy designed to equip land trusts with the practical skills, tools, and insights needed to uphold that commitment with confidence.
This six-part series focuses on the foundational elements of stewardship: conducting meaningful annual monitoring, responding effectively to encroachments, collaborating with natural resource professionals, integrating remote sensing tools into stewardship workflows, and using national Terrafirma claim trends to proactively manage risk.
Grounded in Land Trust Alliance Standards & Practices and informed by real scenarios from the field, each session will help land trust staff and volunteers strengthen their stewardship programs, improve documentation and preparedness, and build long-term resilience into their conservation work.
#1: Eyes on the Land: Annual Monitoring Made Meaningful
Monitoring is the foundation of effective stewardship and strong landowner relationships. This session will cover best practices for planning and conducting annual inspections, documenting findings, and building a reliable monitoring program. We’ll explore the tools and techniques that make monitoring more efficient, consistent, and impactful, whether you’re working on conserved easements or fee-owned lands.
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#2: A New Lens on Stewardship: Using Remote Sensing for Annual Monitoring
Remote sensing technology is transforming how land trusts conduct annual monitoring. Platforms like Lens and other imagery tools can help streamline inspections, document changes efficiently, and reduce travel demands—while still meeting the Land Trust Alliance Standards & Practices for thorough and defensible monitoring. This session will provide an introduction to these tools, discuss when and how to integrate them into your monitoring workflow, and share practical examples of how Connecticut land trusts are using remote imagery to complement (not replace) in-person visits. Learn how to interpret imagery, document findings, and maintain strong landowner relationships in this evolving monitoring landscape.
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#3: Drawing the Line: Preventing and Addressing Encroachments
Encroachments happen — but with the right systems in place, many can be prevented or resolved early. This session covers practical strategies for minimizing the risk of encroachment through clear communication, effective landowner relations, baseline documentation, and consistent monitoring practices. Presenters will walk through how to identify and assess an encroachment, determine appropriate next steps, and address issues promptly while preserving positive relationships with landowners and neighbors. Real-world examples will highlight approaches that lead to timely, cooperative solutions.
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#4: When Prevention Isn’t Enough: Legal and Civil Pathways for Encroachment Resolution
When initial outreach and corrective steps fail to resolve an encroachment, land trusts must be prepared to take further action. This session explores the legal tools available to enforce conservation easements and address significant or persistent violations. Presenters will outline how to document an enforceable case, work with counsel, evaluate options ranging from negotiated settlements to litigation, and understand the implications of each approach. Using real scenarios, this session will help land trusts feel confident navigating higher-stakes enforcement while upholding mission, integrity, and community trust.
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#5: Proactive Protection: Lessons from Terrafirma Trends
This webinar will give an overview of Terrafirma Risk Retention Group LLC conservation defense liability insurance coverage and take a closer look at the most common claims and challenges across Connecticut and the country. We will explore how land trusts can use these insights to strengthen their stewardship practices, anticipate potential conflicts, and reduce risk. We’ll review key aspects of Terrafirma coverage, what it includes, how to file a timely claim and the need to file claims, and how good documentation and consistent practices (consistent with Land Trust Standards and Practices) help your organization uphold lasting conservation and prevail in the increasingly complex and frequent challenges to conservation.
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#6: Forests and Foresters: Planning for Long-Term Woodland Health
What is the difference between a management plan needed for accreditation and a forest management plan? What does a forester actually do, and how can a forest management plan strengthen your stewardship work? This session demystifies the process of developing and implementing a forest management plan, explaining its purpose, structure, and how it complements broader management planning required under LTA Standards & Practices. Hear from a professional forester about working with consultants, understanding silvicultural prescriptions, and balancing habitat, recreation, and climate goals.
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