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.
The Understanding Climate-Smart Forestry Practices speaker series from Yale Forest Forum explores strategies for managing forests to enhance carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and climate resilience. Land trusts can use this resource to stay informed on emerging forestry practices, guiding their stewardship efforts to support both ecological and climate adaptation goals.
The “Adaptation Workbook” is an interactive tool developed by the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science that helps land trusts and conservation practitioners integrate climate change adaptation into their management and stewardship planning. By guiding users through a step-by-step process to assess climate risks and develop site-specific strategies, this resource supports resilient and sustainable land conservation efforts.
Curious about Motus towers and how they can inform your land trust’s understanding of bird migration and habitat use? This collection includes recordings from Audubon CT/NY’s 2025 Science Forum on the Motus Wildlife Tracking System features insights from top researchers on how the network is shaping conservation across the hemisphere. You’ll also find links to alternative bird monitoring technologies — like AI-powered Autonomous Recording Units (ARUs) — that can help document species presence and habitat health.
Thinking about allowing research on your conserved land? This resource bundle includes practical templates and examples to guide you through the process — from initial inquiry to final publication. You’ll find a checklist of sequential steps, sample insurance language, a model letter of agreement, and more to help your land trust evaluate and manage research proposals with confidence.
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Climate-Smart Mitigation Activities webpage provides an overview of conservation practices that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance carbon sequestration. This resource is valuable for land trusts looking to integrate climate resilience into their conservation efforts through practices like forest management, wetland restoration, and soil health improvements. Land trusts can use this guide to inform landowners about climate-smart strategies and explore funding opportunities through NRCS programs like EQIP and CSP.
Understanding climate change resilience is essential for building resilience on the land we conserve and interactive mapping tools provide valuable data to guide our decision making. By integrating these tools into planning, land trusts can enhance habitat connectivity, protect biodiversity, and ensure the resilience of Connecticut’s conserved lands.
Well-designed signage helps land trusts guide visitors, protect natural resources, and reinforce stewardship values. The CLCC Signage Library provides examples of trail markers, boundary signs, property rules, and policies on dogs and leash use—ensuring clear, consistent messaging across conserved lands. Whether you’re creating new signs or updating existing ones, these templates and examples offer inspiration for welcoming, informative, and durable signage that enhances visitor experience and supports land protection goals.
The Dark Sky Regulation Checklist provides guidance on reducing light pollution through local regulations that promote responsible outdoor lighting. This resource is especially relevant for land trusts working to protect wildlife habitats, maintain natural nightscapes, and support community efforts to improve sky visibility. Land trusts can use this checklist to advocate for dark sky-friendly policies, educate landowners on best practices, and collaborate with municipalities to implement lighting ordinances.
Pollinator Pathways, led by town conservation volunteers, create continuous corridors of pollinator-friendly habitats for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other wildlife. The goal is to connect spaces within 750 meters, which is the average range of native bees, to ensure they have a thriving environment.
The Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG) offers a trove of resources to help land trusts identify, manage, and prevent the spread of invasive plants. From fact sheets and management guides to seasonal tips and species lists, these tools are grounded in the latest science and tailored to Connecticut’s ecosystems. Ideal for anyone stewarding conserved lands and looking to stay one step ahead of invasives.
The Climate-Smart Framework for Land Trusts handbook provides practical strategies for integrating climate resilience into land conservation efforts, helping land trusts address climate change through science-based stewardship and planning. This resource can be used to assess climate risks, implement adaptive management practices, and ensure long-term ecological health for protected lands.