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.
“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.
This CLCC-produced resource provides a clear overview of what land trusts do, how they operate, and why they matter, making it a great introduction for landowners, board members, volunteers, partners, and the public. Whether you’re explaining your mission to a new audience or strengthening your outreach efforts, this guide helps convey the vital role land trusts play in safeguarding natural and working lands.
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.
As demand for renewable energy grows, so does the challenge of siting projects in ways that protect open space, wildlife habitat, and working lands. This page contains a series or resources that explore the intersection of solar, wind, and other renewables with land conservation, offering guidance on policy considerations, best practices, and strategies for responsible siting. Land trusts can use these resources to navigate the complex balance between clean energy development and protecting the landscapes we value.
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.
Land trusts play a critical role in ensuring that farmland remains accessible, productive, and protected for future generations. “Farmland Access & Ownership: An Overview of Barriers, Models, and Actions to Increase Land Access for Connecticut’s BIPOC Farmers”, examines the challenges farmers face in securing land and explores opportunities for land trusts to support farmland affordability, leasing models, and long-term conservation. With data-driven insights and policy recommendations, this resource helps land trusts strengthen their farmland protection efforts, engage with local farmers, and develop strategies to keep working lands in agricultural production.
The 2024 CLCC Winter Summit brought together state, regional, and local leaders to explore land use through a holistic, cross-sector lens. Panelists shared insights on planning and funding programs that can drive collaboration between land conservation, affordable housing, and farmland access initiatives. The discussions highlighted opportunities to align policies and resources, fostering more integrated and sustainable land-use solutions across Connecticut communities.
Conservation commissions play a vital role in protecting natural resources, advising on land use decisions, and supporting local conservation efforts. This fact sheet outlines their key responsibilities, legal authority, and how they collaborate with land trusts, municipalities, and the public. Whether you’re looking to establish a commission, strengthen its impact, or better understand its role in your community, this resource provides a clear and concise overview.
Defenders of Wildlife has launched a unique online tool, WALT (Wildlife and Land Trusts), designed to assist land trusts in identifying federal resources for habitat conservation. This tool serves as a comprehensive resource, enabling land trust staff to align their conservation goals with suitable federal programs, and provides necessary contact information for federal staff.
This webinar, hosted by the Connecticut Land Conservation Council, Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy, Save the Sound, The Nature Conservancy, and the Housatonic Valley Association, explored key findings from the report Conserving Northwest Connecticut: Adaptive Strategies for Accelerating the Pace of Conservation. The report examines the region’s conservation landscape and offers ecological, economic, and equity-driven strategies to advance land protection. Land trusts can use these insights to prioritize conservation efforts, advocate for policy changes, and strengthen regional collaborations to accelerate conservation progress.