Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy

Stewardship - the Land trust's stewardship program ensures the conserved properties are protected and cared for in perpetuity. The Land trust's staff perform annual inspections of each conservation property to confirm there are no encroachments or violations and the conservation values are protected. The Land trust defends its conservation interests when necessary. In addition, the Land trust maintains 21 public preserves and manages, leases, or protects through fee ownership and easement 40 working farms. Stewardship also entails invasive plant removal, building maintenance, active protection for rare and endangered species, Land maintenance, such as mowing and hazard tree removal, and water quality testing and protection.

Aquisitions - as Connecticut's largest Land trust and the 12th largest in the nation, the Land trust protects 13,000 acres (and growing) of vast, connected natural areas in litchfield and northern fairfield counties. The Land trust's conserved lands include 21 public hiking preserves, 40 working farms, over 3,000 acres of habitat for rare, threatened, and endangered species, and 45 miles of rivers, lakes, and streams. The Land trust is Connecticut's Land acquisition leader, protecting more properties for conservation each year than any other organization statewide. Over the course of the Land trust's history, it has conserved, on average, 9 properties a year.

Education and outreach - the Land trust's conserved lands serve a resident population of 200,000 people. Each year, the Land trust provides free educational and recreational programming to more than 2,000 people. These programs are designed to connect people to nature and help demonstrate benefits of natural and working lands. The Land trust's programs include guided hikes, lectures, and other free public events. In addition, the Land trust provides internship and volunteer opportunities which include education as a leading component. Lastly, the Land trust also works in partnership with local libraries, schools, and education-based non-profits to reach further into the communities served and create opportunities for discussions on environmental topics for all ages and physical abilities.

The Land trust safeguards natural lands and waters, conserves workingfarmland, and creates healthy communities by connecting people tonature. In working to achieve its mission, the Land trust invests inregional partnerships that foster conservation, support the work ofpartner Land trusts, towns and government agencies, and provideconservation benefits to the communities served. Annually, the landtrust provides hundreds of hours of staff support to its nonprofit andgovernmental partners for acquisitions, advocacy, education andtrainings, events, grant writing, and stewardship. The Land trust'sstaff serve in leadership positions with the Connecticut landconservation council, Land trust accreditation commission, Land trustalliance conservation defense advisory council, litchfield hillsgreenprint collaborative, and working lands alliance. The Land trustalso convenes meet your greens, litchfield county's green drinks, amonthly gathering for environmental professionals and enthusiasts.