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Collage from SCRLA event with people walking on trails and learning

This October, CLCC and the South Central Regional Land Conservation Alliance (SCRLCA) launched an engaging education program aimed at strengthening land conservation efforts in Connecticut’s South Central region. Participants enjoyed a full day of site visits to diverse forested areas—urban, suburban, and exurban—where they exchanged knowledge on stewardship strategies and discussed challenges and successes.

The program facilitated vital discussions around climate stressors, equitable benefits from protected lands, and the importance of water quality. By fostering collaboration among SCRLCA members, we aimed to explore new opportunities for resource sharing and regional conservation efforts.

Additionally, this initiative opened doors for important conversations about equity and environmental justice, highlighting how coordinated stewardship can positively impact the entire region.

Reflections from Ricky Bentley, CLCC’s Climate Smart Stewardship Coordinator

This program was born from an idea about internal collaboration between our program areas at CLCC. We saw an opportunity to bring together aspects of our capacity-building work, community conservation, and climate stewardship to create a program that could help land trusts in any or multiple of those areas. The opportunity to apply for the Claire C. Bennitt Watershed Fund allowed us to bring this vision to life. This grant supports nonprofit organizations in acquiring and protecting watershed lands and advancing educational initiatives on water resources, the impacts of development, and the value of preserving open space for water quality. With the South Central Regional Land Conservation Alliance’s support, we designed this program to convene land trusts, conservationists, and other local partners. While the program offered many learning opportunities, our primary goal was clear: to strengthen our regional conservation network by connecting people in their own communities.

Our first session at Quinnipiac Meadows Preserve and Town Center Park in Hamden provided a strong start. We had a smaller group on Day One, which created space for meaningful conversations and relationship building. Participants were impressed by the extensive community education and empowerment work of Gather New Haven and understood some of the unique challenges at an urban preserve like Quinnipiac Meadows. At the Hamden site, we explored the impacts of collaborative, watershed-based conservation. One participant remarked that, although they had visited the park many times, they never realized that the meadow area was actually a stormwater retention system—a testament to how subtle yet essential green infrastructure can be.

Our second session started at a Regional Water Authority site in Prospect, where participants engaged with foresters on forest management strategies and funding opportunities, offering a firsthand look at partnership possibilities with a large-scale watershed entity like RWA. Our final stop was Lock 12 Historical Park in Cheshire, where we toured pollinator gardens created by the Cheshire Pollinator Pathway. This grassroots project, launched by dedicated volunteers with grant funding, expanded into multiple garden sites along the Farmington Canal Rail Trail and evolved into several different community outreach programs.

Each day highlighted a different approach to conservation and stewardship, showcasing a spectrum of strategies across the region. Our gracious site hosts shared insights into their stewardship practices and their collaborative work with other organizations. By visiting these local sites, participants were able to see firsthand the depth of conservation work happening right in their communities—work that often goes unnoticed yet is essential to building resilient ecosystems and communities.

Through this program, we aimed to inspire new partnerships, identify potential collaborators, and connect organizations with resources and ideas to advance their missions. Even if it was simply an opportunity to experience a nearby site for the first time, this program laid a foundation for a strong, interconnected network of conservationists in South Central Connecticut.

Reflections from Jovan Bryan,CLCC’S Community Conservation Coordinator

On October 4th, we embarked on our first Stewardship Strategies for Climate and Community event, bringing together land trusts and conservation organizations from the south-central region of Connecticut. This event was a unique opportunity to connect with peers, share experiences, and explore innovative approaches to conservation.

By integrating our three CLCC focus areas—stewardship, community engagement, and organizational capacity-building—we sought to fortify the South Central Regional Land Conservation Alliance (SCRLCA). The event provided participants the opportunity to evolve as a Regional Conservation Partnership (RCP) by visiting local conservation sites and discussing critical issues like the impacts of climate change on the environment and community.

I was inspired to see and hear such immense enthusiasm and willingness to collaborate among participants. It was evident that everyone in attendance was passionate about protecting our environment and making a difference that truly lasts. The open and honest conversations we had about the challenges and opportunities facing land trusts were invaluable to approaching solutions.

A key takeaway from the event highlighted the crucial role of collaboration. By uniting efforts, land trusts can harness collective strengths and resources to tackle complex challenges and achieve a more significant impact. Through open dialogue and shared experiences, we cultivated a stronger sense of community among land trusts and regional partners.

By sharing our individual experiences, we uncovered new opportunities for collaboration toward our conservation goals and strengthened our connections. I’m eager to see how these partnerships will develop and evolve to positively impact the region.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to the success of this event. I look forward to future opportunities to collaborate and work towards a more sustainable future for our communities.

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