Connecticut Land Conservation Conference

Staff from New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF) and the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection Division of Forestry will explain emerging forest stewardship, urban forestry and land management practices that are being defined, implemented and monitored for their climate benefits in Connecticut and across New England. These science-based practices are addressing climate adaptation and resiliency as well as climate mitigation by storing more carbon in the forest, and by improving forest management on lands designated as working forests. Several recent studies have found there is enormous potential to contribute to climate solutions and mitigation policy goals by adopting a multi-prong approach to forest conservation and sustainable management. This workshop will include an overview of these approaches including NEFF’s Exemplary Forestry standards recently developed for Southern New England, and a new USDA grant program focused on climate-smart wood products such as mass timber – a building material that can store carbon in our cities while addressing needs such as affordable housing. Current grant funding opportunities for public and private lands will be reviewed to support implementing practices on the ground.