Conference Themes and Session Descriptions

Click on any of the links below to find what you need including downloadable versions of the documents.

Reconciliation, Recognition, and Restorative Justice for the Land

In planning for a climate changed future and in the wake of an ongoing, society-wide reckoning of the long-lasting impacts of colonization, racism, and rural divestment, we want to create space and time for listening and learning how we as conservationists can recognize, reconcile, and restore relationships, knowledge, and access to lands for all. Entangled in the history and philosophy of conservation is the harmful and disrespectful implication that conservationists know what is best for the land, undermining the knowledge of people who have lived and worked with these lands since time immemorial. We invite proposals for sessions that honor historically underrepresented or marginalized perspectives of knowing and caring for land, that bring awareness to the challenges and opportunities the communities we serve face, and that share new and different approaches to more equitable and responsive conservation across the northeast.  

Landscape-scale conservation:

Vermont has initiated a comprehensive, statewide planning effort to deliver a strategic conservation plan to prioritize actions and investments to implement innovative legislation, Act 59: The Community Resilience and Biodiversity Protection Act (2023). Act 59 establishes a vision to maintain an ecologically functional landscape that sustains biodiversity, connectivity, water quality, climate and flood resilience, and public benefits associated with a healthy landscape. To achieve this vision, Act 59 sets statutory goals to conserve 30% of Vermont’s total land area by 2030, and 50% of land and waters by 2050. We welcome proposals addressing opportunities and challenges related to landscape-scale conservation as set forth in Act 59 and encourage sessions focused on partnerships seeking to address the goals of this work.

Biodiversity: In the last 50 years alone, there has been a significant and documented decline in many species. For example, a third of freshwater and marine species face extinction, while countless invertebrates, terrestrial species, and fauna could disappear. We are interested in sessions that promote solutions to our unprecedented biodiversity loss, and topics around biodiversity conservation efforts. We encourage proposals to be inclusive of both land and water biodiversity efforts that are taking place. 

Climate Solutions: It is no surprise to any of us that the changes in climate are here, and that climate change will only continue to become more drastic if we fail to act. We hope that proposals grounded in this theme will describe the different expressions of climate change on our landscape, and the solutions being implemented to mitigate and adapt to these impacts. Examples of topics that fall under this category include: carbon sequestration, water quality, flooding mitigation, climate refugees, development pressure, impacts on human health, and new and traditional technologies in the field.

Organizational Capacity, Communication & Engagement: We are on the cusp of a momentous opportunity to operationalize major influxes of resources into the state to achieve critical goals for land and biodiversity conservation. How do we prepare our organizations to handle the complexity and volume of work we intend to do, manage relationships with the public, and bring together partners and funding to make it all happen? We invite session proposals related to workforce and community development, communication with diverse audiences about conservation topics, strategic planning and partnerships, and successful fundraising campaigns to fund this work. 

Working Lands:

Vermont’s patchwork of working farms and forests forms the backbone of our rural landscape. They provide open space, wildlife habitat, and serve as the economic engine for the state. People who own and work on the land are facing a variety of challenges, including but not limited to, better access to affordable land (particularly for people of color and new farmers), access to business transition/succession planning resources, adequate and timely pools of labor, safe and affordable farm labor housing, the impacts of climate change, threats (and opportunities) from invasive species, the difficult economics of the farm and forestry industries, diversifying within easement constraints, preserving our historical and cultural resources, providing safe recreational opportunities, and growing development pressure. We welcome session proposals that address any of these challenges, within the context of conservation and collaboration.

Stewardship and Restoration

As stewardship responsibilities grow over time, we seek to answer the question of how best to equitably and effectively manage and fund the growing investment in land. The needs and priorities of stewardship are dynamic and diverse, especially in the face of unexpected large-scale changes over time. In addition, much of the land that is conserved as-is requires an extensive amount of care, time, and money to restore the natural features that provide the greatest benefit to the landscape. We welcome proposals that provide insight on the incorporation of innovative or traditional management practices, legal dimensions of land stewardship, funding opportunities, long term organizational development and succession planning, effective partnership building, and success stories. 

Livable Communities:

In this season of climate change and biodiversity loss, we also have to plan our work to enhance the resilience and wholeness of the communities we work in. Given the current housing challenges in Vermont, we are particularly interested in proposals related to successful partnerships between housing and conservation organizations, addressing important issues like affordable/workforce/senior housing, smart growth, community scale agriculture & food access, planning and development pressures, equitable public access for recreation and provisioning, and historic preservation. 

Download the full list of session descriptions including themes, levels, and presenters.

 A1. From Flooded to Food Secure: Connecting the Dots between Climate Resilience, Farm Viability, and Food Security

Level: 

Intermediate 

Themes: 

Climate Solutions 

Working Lands 

Livable Communities 

Length: 

60 minutes 

Description:  

This session will illustrate what farms are grappling with in the face of economic struggle, climate chaos, corporate consolidation, and soaring land prices. Building on lessons learned through the climate emergencies of last year, the talk will highlight real stories about how climate-friendly, organic practices make a tangible difference in climate resilience and ask questions about what role conservation might play in increasing both food security and climate resilience. The session will feature the VT Food Security Roadmap, a collaborative statewide process that engaged hundreds of Vermonters and brought together food security organizations, farming associations, social service providers, and regional planning entities. 

Presenter: 

Grace Oedel, Executive Director of Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont 

A2. Stewardship and Conservation Across Property Boundaries: The Cold Hollow to Canada Woodlots Program

Level: sh

Beginner / All 

Themes: 

Landscape-scale conservation 

Working Lands 

Stewardship and Restoration 

Length: 

60 minutes 

Description:  

 To support healthy forestland stewardship, Cold Hollow to Canada (CHC) has created a program that convenes neighboring landowners in high priority forest blocks who together learn strategies for maintaining forest resilience, receive technical assistance, and learn about funding opportunities to put plans into action. CHC has developed an online "Woodlots Toolkit" to enable adoption by conservation groups in other geographies. In this workshop, we will share this resource and its intended use! 

Presenters: 

Nancy Patch, Co-Founder and Vice President of Cold Hollow to Canada 

Monica Przyperhart is the former Program Director at Cold Hollow to Canada.   

A3. Innovative Riparian Buffers and the Riparian Lands Native Seed Partnership

Description: 

This session will focus on two innovative programs used across Vermont to improve water quality, conserve water resources, and re-establish wildlife habitat: USDA’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and the Riparian Lands Native Seeds Partnership. Both programs are available to private landowners using their land for agriculture and has been a powerful driver for riparian restoration in Vermont.  Over time, methods and practices for establishing buffers have changed, resulting in greater success and expedited habitat restoration. We will share lessons learned over the years using Vermont case studies, and will set aside plenty of time for a discussion on how we can further collaboration between organizations doing this work and improve program delivery across the state.  

Presenters: 

Brooke Fleischman, Intervale Center Conservation Nursery 

Phil Wilson, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets 

Ben Gabos, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets 

Katie Kain, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Partners for Fish and Wildlife

A4. Setting Communities up for Success in Owning & Managing Land: A Roundtable Discussion on Avoiding and Navigating Conflict

Level: 

Intermediate 

Themes: 

Stewardship and Restoration 

Livable Communities 

Length: 

60 minutes 

Description:  

Community-owned lands are some of the most treasured places in Vermont. They contribute to the conservation mosaic of our state, and they can bring community members together in a shared commitment to caring for these beloved lands. Unfortunately, these lands can also be at the center of controversy and conflict. Differences might arise around desires for management focus or multiple user groups vying for their favored activities.  Come join in the discussion to help communities across Vermont steward their treasured lands with a spirit of inclusivity and cooperation! 

Presenters: 

Bob Heiser, Project Director, Vermont Land Trust 

Caitlin Cusack, Forester, Vermont Land Trust  

A5. Going Wild in the City: Nature-Based Climate Solutions and the Value of Urban Conservation

Level: 

Beginner / All 

Themes: 

Reconciliation, Recognition, and Restorative Justice for the Land 

Climate Solutions 

Stewardship and Restoration 

Length: 

60 minutes 

Description:  

Burlington Vermont passed one of the first in the nation Nature-Based Climate Solutions plans.  This session explores the many creative ways that the plan is facilitating on-the-ground action in Burlington to fight climate change and enhance flood resiliency. From an innovative granting program to deep collaborative efforts within the Burlington Wildways partnership, native habitat is being expanded and restored throughout the city.    

Presenters: 

Zoe Richards: Wildlife Biologist and Co-Founder Burlington Wildways Partnership 

Daniel Cahill, Burlington City Land Steward 

A6. Developing a Resilience Implementation Strategy for Vermont

Level: 

Beginner / All 

Themes: 

Climate Solutions 

Organizational Capacity, Communication & Engagement 

Length: 

60 minutes 

Description: 

This session focuses on the Vermont Resilience Implementation Strategy—an effort to develop a comprehensive approach that will guide and prioritize the State’s climate resilience efforts.  Through discussion and an activity, session participants will review, weigh-in on, and help prioritize gaps and solutions related to nature-based solutions, conservation, and equity centering approaches to building resilience to climate change impacts. Participants will leave the session having provided input into the development of the Resilience Implementation Strategy, which will ultimately result in a prioritized set of recommended strategies to build resilience to climate change, and funding solutions to address those strategies. 

Presenter: 

Marian Wolz is the Resilience and Adaptation Coordinator in the Climate Action Office of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources.  

A7. The Easement Appraisal Process

Level: 

Intermediate 

Themes: 

Working Lands 

Length: 

60 minutes 

Description:  

The session will start with an overview of the parts of an appraisal report, will define and explain terms commonly used in appraisals and will outline the processes most commonly used to value real estate. The second half of the presentation will focus more specifically on the processes used to complete before/after easement appraisals in rural areas. An overview of the various easement report requirements and how they impact the development of the appraisal will be followed by an overview of the mechanics of the analysis performed. Participants will leave with a better understanding of how the various factors - easement configuration, market dynamics, buildings and improvements, etc - may impact the valuation process. 

Presenters: 

Rob Guay, Viewpoint Ag Valuation & Consulting, LLC.  

Nick Guyer, Viewpoint Ag Valuation & Consulting, LLC 

A8. Financing Conservation through a Climate-Ready Outdoor Sector

Level: 

Beginner / All 

Intermediate 

Themes: 

Landscape-scale conservation 

Climate Solutions 

Organizational Capacity, Communication & Engagement 

Length: 

60 minutes 

Description:  

This session will introduce participants to emerging ideas of how outdoor recreation can spur innovative partnerships and private investments in conservation. A panel will share approaches within the outdoor sector and finance communities to fund conservation as well as potential expansion of opportunities through climate resiliency measures and engagement in Act 59 in order to conserve 50% of land by 2050.  Outdoor businesses will also describe their innovation to adapt to a changing climate. 

Presenters: 

Kelly Ault Co-Founder and Executive Director for the Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance. 

Cailin O’Brien-Feeney, Senior Director for Quantified Ventures

Jim Shallow is the Director of Resilient and Connected Lands Protection for The Nature Conservancy’s Vermont Chapter.  

Sam von Trapp, Director and Executive Vice President, Trapp Family Lodge 

A9. Nature for all: accessible and equitable stewardship of conserved lands in Vermont

Level: 

Beginner / All 

Themes: 

Stewardship and Restoration 

Length: 

60 minutes 

Description:  

Join us to hear about a recent partnership between The Nature Conservancy and UVM's Center on Disability & Community to survey Vermonters with disabilities to learn more about how to make outdoor natural areas more welcoming and accessible. We will discuss planning stewardship of conserved lands with an equity lens, the importance of engaging with the disability community, and learn from a real example of project implementation that did not consider accessibility and equity.   

Bios: 

Jack Markoski is the Stewardship Manager for Vermont Chapter of The Nature Conservancy.  

Jesse Suter is the Executive Director of the University of Vermont's Center on Disability & Community Inclusion.   

B1. Future Wild: Vermont and New England's public forests in historic, cultural, and geographic context

Level: 

Beginner / All 

Themes: 

Reconciliation, Recognition, and Restorative Justice for the Land 

Landscape-scale conservation 

Biodiversity 

Length: 

75 minutes 

Description:  

New England has experienced profound changes over the last four hundred years: from thriving indigenous communities and high-functioning ecosystems, to environmental and cultural devastation following colonization, to - most recently - a slow recovery of ecosystem health and function. In this presentation and discussion, we will explore the past, present, and future of land management in the New England region, the opportunities and challenges afforded by regional and global conservation visions, and the special role of public lands in helping to recover biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human-land relationships.  

Presenters: 

Zack Porter is the Executive Director of Standing Trees 

Jamison Ervin is Manager, Global Programme on Nature for Development, at the United Nations Development Programme   

Randy Kritkausky is a federally enrolled tribal member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and a VT resident.   

B2. Private Benefit Analysis Training (CLE)

Level: 

Intermediate 

Advanced 

Themes: 

Working Lands 

Stewardship and Restoration 

Length: 

75 minutes 

Description:  

Impermissible private benefit is a particularly thorny legal concept that comes up regularly for 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations that hold conservation easements. Land trusts are at times asked to enter into transactions or otherwise take actions that would benefit private parties. This workshop will provide an introduction into the issue of private benefit and will review some scenarios in which a private benefit analysis should be applied. Attendees will leave with a basic understanding of private benefit and will know when it is appropriate to seek experienced legal counsel in order to determine whether or not an action will result in impermissible private benefit.  

Presenters: 

Dave Gurtman, Attorney at Dinse, P.C. 

Megan Grove, Associate Attorney, SRH Law 

Geoff Hand, Attorney, SRH Law 

B3. Vermont Conservation Strategy Initiative (30x30, 50x50) - what is it, what have we learned, and where are we headed?

Level: 

Beginner / All 

Themes: 

Landscape-scale conservation 

Biodiversity 

Working Lands 

Length: 

75 minutes 

Description:  

Under Act 59 of 2023, the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and Agency of Natural Resources are working with a broad array of stakeholders to implement 30x30 and 50x50 legislation in Vermont. This work has two distinct phases: 1) a baseline inventory of conservation in Vermont; and 2) development of a plan to implement the Act’s vision and goals for a connected and functioning natural and working landscape. In this interactive session, participants will learn about the key findings from Year One, become oriented to the Phase 2 planning process, and engage in a mini planning charrette to identify opportunities, needs, and challenges for conservation in their region using the Vermont Conservation Design framework.  

Presenters: 

Trey Martin is the Director of Conservation and Rural Community Development at the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board.  

Stacy Cibula is the Agricultural Program Director at Vermont Housing and Conservation Board.  

B4. Vermont's Conservation Design: A science-based vision to sustain the state's valued forests, waters & wildlife for future generations.

Level: 

Beginner / All 

Themes: 

Landscape-scale conservation 

Biodiversity 

Climate Solutions 

Organizational Capacity, Communication & Engagement 

Working Lands 

Stewardship and Restoration 

Length: 

75 minutes 

Description:  

Vermont Conservation Design (VCD) is a prioritization tool that identifies the lands and waters most important for maintaining Vermont's ecologically functional landscape – one that conserves current biological diversity and allows species to move and shift in response to climate and land-use changes. Vermont Conservation Design maintains nature and the benefits it provides. VCD was just updated with new landscape scale components and Wildlife Road Crossings. It now features more accurate edges of the habitat blocks that allow for a better understanding of the pattern and network of connected forests. Join us to learn more about this important conservation science. 

Bios: 

Jens Hawkins-Hilke, VT Fish & Wildlife Department 

Bob Zaino, VT Fish & Wildlife Department 

Gus Goodwin, The Nature Conservancy 

Liz Thompson, ecologist and board member of the Northeast Wilderness Trust.  

B5. The Sustainability Paradox: Experiences of Farmers in Vermont

Level: 

Intermediate 

Themes: 

Climate Solutions 

Working Lands 

Stewardship and Restoration 

Length: 

75 minutes 

Description:  

The concept of sustainability has been used for decades as a goal for agriculture and food systems, with the three-legged stool (social, economic, and environmental) serving as a common model. Yet our sample of farmers in Vermont report that attaining and even considering crucial aspects of this model of sustainability is increasingly difficult and stigmatized to even talk about. In this session, we explore these issues through a facilitated discussion with deep questioning of agricultural sustainability and its implications. Our session will include three of our farmer research participants to keep the discussion grounded in farmer experiences, while creating dialogue among researchers and farmers on how to move forward.  

Presenters: 

Dr. Josiah Taylor, UVM Food Systems Research Center 

Dr. David Conner, professor and agricultural economist studying community development. 

Shiva Soroushnia, PhD student studying farms and sustainable community development. 

B6. Battles Lost, Battles Won, and Lessons Learned in the Conservation of an African American-Held Farm: An Arts-Integrated Session

Level: 

Beginner / All 

Themes: 

Reconciliation, Recognition, and Restorative Justice for the Land 

Organizational Capacity, Communication & Engagement 

Stewardship and Restoration 

Length: 

75 minutes 

Description:  

Participants will learn about the history of African American land ownership, stewardship, and loss prior to diving into a case study of the conservation of the historic Clemmons farm in Charlotte, Vermont. This highly interactive session will include a presentation, small group work, and a plenary discussion. Each small group will be facilitated by a visual or performing artist who will help participants process the information they receive, and the emotions they experience, by creating a collective artwork. The groups will then present their creative works during a plenary discussion that will generate a short list of lessons learned and recommendations to help guide future efforts to conserve land held by families and communities of historically marginalized populations. 

Presenters: 

Lydia Clemmons, PhD, MPH, President and Executive Director, Clemmons Family Farm, Inc.  

Kia'Rae Hanron, BA, Arts Learning Director, Clemmons Family Farm 

Ishmael Ahmed, Multidisciplinary Artist. Clemmons Family Farm 

KeruBo Webster, Singer-songwriter. Clemmons Family Farm 

B7. Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Investments through the Inflation Reduction Act

Description: 

Come learn about USDA investments in climate-smart agriculture and forestry through the Inflation Reduction Act. We'll provide an overview of general eligibility for the program, NRCS conservation planning, examples of current Vermont operations that are implementing climate-smart conservation practices, and additional opportunities for conservation professionals to share with the public. This session will feature a conservation planning case study of a Vermont farm in which participants will become oriented to the tools and resources available.  There will be an emphasis on best practices for avoiding bottlenecks at NRCS to facilitate a smooth and timely process to secure funding.  

Presenters: 

Travis Thomason, State Conservationist at Vermont Natural Resources Conservation Service 

Ryan Karb, American Farmland Trust 

B8. AVCC Presents: Local Conservation for Regional Outcomes, a Conservation Commission Panel

Level: 

Beginner / All 

Themes: 

Landscape-scale conservation 

Biodiversity 

Climate Solutions 

Organizational Capacity, Communication & Engagement 

Livable Communities 

Length: 

75 minutes 

Description:  

The Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions (AVCC) is a statewide non-profit organization whose mission is to support the work of Vermont’s municipal conservation commissions and to encourage the establishment of new ones. We are convening a panel of speakers to discuss regional collaboration between conservation commissions, land trusts, regional planning commissions, natural resource conservation districts, and other government entities, nonprofits, and citizens groups. Through this panel, we hope to spread awareness about the current landscape of regional collaboration, the challenges and benefits of working with neighboring towns, ways to improve communication and cooperation, and, finally, how the AVCC can help grow these networks. 

Presenters: 

AVCC Board and Staff, and a panel of Conservation Commission Members from across the state 

C1. An Indigenous Spirit Pathway to Connect "30 x 30" and Forest Vitality:  Looking Beyond Resource Management to Reciprocal Relationships

Level: 

Beginner / All 

Themes: 

Reconciliation, Recognition, and Restorative Justice for the Land 

Landscape-scale conservation 

Biodiversity 

Length: 

75 minutes

Description:  

Our Coalition of Abenaki and other Indigenous people and allies participated in the stakeholder involvement process on Act 59.  Our message - about the importance of including the spiritual and moral dimensions of our connections with nature - was the lead-off for reporting back to the public on the ongoing process.  This conference is an opportunity for us to demonstrate exactly what we propose to do when we talk about providing visionary leadership. Some members of our panel will explain how an Indigenous perspective on conservation elaborates upon and challenges often unexamined assumptions about nature protection as resource management. Other panel members will refer to how Indigenous Peoples in what is now called Vermont have for millennia gone about being stewards of Mother Earth in a manner that obligates humans to rethink resource management practices.   

Presenters: 

Randy Kritkausky is a federally enrolled tribal member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation.   

Emily Boles is Abenaki, has a background environmental science, and uses Traditional Knowledge and principles from ecology and conservation to guide her in caring for the land. 

Earl Hatley is an enrolled citizen of the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi (Shawnee/Cherokee) who currently serves as founder and president of Ottauquechechee Water Protectors Association.  

Rich Holschuh, founder and co-director of the Atowi Project and Chair of the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs.  

John Moody is an ethno-historian and project coordinator for Winter Center for Indigenous Traditions.   

Carolyn Schmidt is a member of the Vermont Coalition of Indigenous Communities and Allies who identifies as an "ally".   

Don Stevens is the Chief of the Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe and the Executive Director of Abenaki Helping Abenaki, Inc. 

C2. Working Together: Success Stories and Lessons Learned from Conservation and Recreation

Level: 

Beginner / All 

Themes: 

Landscape-scale conservation 

Livable Communities 

Length: 

60 minutes 

Description:  

Access to the outdoors is a critical part of livable communities. Together the outdoor recreation and conservation communities can both create inclusive spaces for gathering, movement and wellness for individuals and communities and protect ecological function. However, at times without good planning and collaboration, conservation and recreation have been perceived at odds with each other. In this panel, each panelist will share a story where recreation and conservation have successfully worked together to achieve common goals and share a best practice they learned through the process.  

Presenters: 

Claire Polfus, Recreation Program Manager, VT Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation 

Carolyn Loeb, Stewardship Director, Stowe Land Trust 

Mollie Klepack Flanigan, Director of Land Conservation, Green Mountain Club 

Elise Lawson, Board President, Kingdom Trails Association 

Angus McCusker, Velomont Trail Collective   

C3. When Rivers Move: River Conservation Planning and Prioritization for a Changing Climate

Level: 

Intermediate 

Themes: 

Landscape-scale conservation 

Climate Solutions 

Stewardship and Restoration 

Length: 

60 minutes 

Description:  

With the changing climate has come a changing culture of increased public will to protect rivers and floodplains -- and with that, the opportunity and the responsibility to be as strategic as possible in our work. In this session, Vermont River Conservancy will present a novel, data-driven approach to river conservation planning. This geomorphic methodology analyzes best available data at the subwatershed and parcel scales in order to identify the highest priority targets for conservation and restoration. By pairing this method with ground-truthing and landowner conversations, conservation partners can be more strategic in developing climate-resilient projects that enhance flood storage, mitigate erosion, protect water quality, and more. 

Presenters: 

Hayley Kolding, Conservation Manager for Southern Vermont, Vermont River Conservancy  

Mike Kline former State River Ecologist and Fluvial Geomorphologist, State of Vermont 

C4. Farm Business Planning and Conservation

Level: 

Beginner / All 

Themes: 

Working Lands 

Length: 

60 minutes 

Description:  

This session will address the intersection of farmland conservation and business planning. Our panelists will discuss how to plan with easements in mind, how to support farms when their farm is conserved, the challenges around land transfer when there is an easement, how to educate and set farmers up for success when buying or conserving their land, and other long-term strategies for retirement planning besides the sale of land. 

Presenters: 

Calley Hastings, Program Manager, Farm and Forest Viability Program, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board 

Maggie Donin, Farmland Access Director, Vermont Land Trust.  

Sam Smith, Farm Business Director, Intervale Center.  

Mike Ghia, Vermont Field Agent, Land For Good.   

C5. Vermont's Flood Safety Act: Limiting Development in High-Risk Flood Areas

Level: 

Beginner / All 

Themes: 

Biodiversity 

Climate Solutions 

Livable Communities 

Length: 

60 minutes 

Description:  

Vermont’s topography and historic settlement pattern nestled our communities up against our rivers, providing us with early commerce and transportation opportunities and the bucolic viewscapes we have all come to love. The flip side of this coin is that those rivers still (and often) need room to move and overflow, in the form of flooding, which can devastate our towns. Join us for a conversation about flood risks in Vermont and how the recently-passed Flood Safety Act aims to better prepare communities through changes in regulation, improved mapping efforts for municipal planning, and more. Share your thoughts, ideas, and concerns with the panel as the early stages of education/outreach and rulemaking kick-off! 

Presenters: 

Rob Evans, Rivers Program Manager, Vermont Department of Environmental Protection  

Chris Campany, Executive Director of the Windham Regional Commission 

Lauren Oates, Director of External Affairs, Vermont Chapter of The Nature Conservancy 

C6. Improving Stewardship with Landscape: A Conservation Project and Data Management Software

Level: 

Beginner / All 

Themes: 

Organizational Capacity, Communication & Engagement 

Stewardship and Restoration 

Length: 

60 minutes 

Description:  

Landscape, by Dendroyka LLC, is a web-based conservation data and management software used by over 270 organizations including nonprofit land trusts, international conservation organizations, government agencies, private companies, and universities.  This session provides an overview of Landscape, followed by first-hand accounts on how the software has been implemented for stewardship practices at the Stowe Land Trust and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board. Using Landscape for efficient monitoring, mapping, project management, tracking of funding, and facilitating volunteer participation will all be discussed.  

Presenters: 

Michael Madole is a Partner at Dendroyka LLC, where he provides Landscape customer and technical assistance.  

Isaac Bissell, Stewardship Director, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board 

Carolyn Loeb, the Stewardship Director, Stowe Land Trust  

Nicole Corriveau, VHCB AmeriCorps Lands and Trails Steward, Stowe Land Trust  

C7. Act 181 (H.687): Understanding The Most Comprehensive Land Use Legislation in Decades and How a Diverse Coalition Helped Get it Passed to Promote Housing and Conservation

Level: 

Beginner / All 

Themes: 

Livable Communities 

Length: 

60 minutes 

Description:  

After almost a decade of concentrated effort to modernize Act 250, Vermont’s land use and development law, Act 181 (H.687) made monumental progress toward this goal during the 2024 Vermont legislative session. This session will include a presentation and roundtable discussion; the goal is for participants to better understand 1) how Act 181 modernizes Act 250 to more effectively achieve state land use goals, including conservation and housing needs, 2) how a unique coalition was formed around the need to holistically address and balance the climate, biodiversity and housing crises, and 3) future opportunities to collaborate and implement Act 181. Participants will learn how they can engage with implementation of Act 181 to address community needs.  

Presenters: 

Kati Gallagher, Sustainable Communities Program Director, Vermont Natural Resources Council  

Jamey Fidel, General Counsel & Forest and Wildlife Program Director, Vermont Natural Resources Council 

C8. Land Conservation & Climate Mitigation Nexus: A unique conservation approach to restoring natural function to rivers and wetlands

Level: 

Intermediate 

Themes: 

Landscape-Scale Conservation 

Climate Solutions 

Working Lands 

Stewardship and Restoration 

Length: 

60 minutes 

Description: 

A River Corridor and Wetland Easement (RCWE) is the least cost alternative to channel management with the greatest benefit to the water resource that allows for channel stability within the working landscape. We will highlight land conservation and flood mitigation measures that provide flood storage upstream of vulnerable business and residential areas where available open space is limited.  We will feature a case study of a 15-year collaboration of conservation, state, federal and municipal partners that led to the conservation and restoration of 12-acre parcel upstream of a downtown.  

Presenters: 

Erin De Vries, Conservation Director, Vermont River Conservancy.  

Shannon Pytlik, River Scientist with Vermont Rivers Program, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation.

D1: Conservation, Restoration, and Partnerships in the Otter Creek and Memphremagog Basins.

Description: 

This presentation will delve into the intersection of climate change, water quality challenges, and conservation efforts in Vermont.  We will start with an overview of the State’s Clean Water Service Provider Program (CWSP) and then share case studies of conservation and restoration projects in the Otter Creek and Memphremagog Basins. The presentation will explain how the CWSP can assist with the application process and provide ongoing support, emphasizing the importance of partnerships and leveraging complementary funding sources to ensure sustainable and long-term conservation efforts. By summarizing funded projects and their outcomes, the presentation aims to inspire attendees to apply for support from CWSPs. 

Presenters: 

Deron Rixon, Addison County Regional Planning Commission 

Patrick Hurley, Memphremagog Watershed Association 

D2. Wildlands in New England, Past Present and Future

Level: 

Beginner / All 

Themes: 

Landscape-scale conservation 

Biodiversity 

Climate Solutions 

Length: 

60 minutes 

Description: 

Wildlands—self-willed lands—are places where natural ecological processes prevail. Wildlands were the dominant land cover in the Northeast prior to European settlement, and they are extremely rare today. This session will address the significance of Wildlands and how they fit into an integrated vision of conservation that calls for protection of Wildlands, actively managed forestlands, and farmlands, while addressing issues of equity in land access. We will present a regional database and mapping tool of current Wildlands in New England and will describe a current project to identify potential new Wildlands in the region. Vermont Conservation Design (VCD) provides a case study of the importance of the distribution of, and ecological representation within, wildlands, and serves as a model for the new analysis. 

Presenters: 

Liz Thompson, ecologist and board member of the Northeast Wilderness Trust  

Shelby Perry, Wildlands Ecologist, Northeast Wilderness Trust, and spends her days mapping natural communities, looking for old forests, measuring trees, and learning from her wild kin. Shelby joined the Wilderness Trust in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a master’s degree from the University of Vermont’s Field Naturalist Program, and a deep love and respect for wild places. 

Bob Zaino, ecologist, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department 

Brian Hall, plant community ecologist, Harvard Forest.   

D3. Gardening Education at Affordable Housing Sites

Level: 

Beginner / All 

Themes: 

Landscape-scale conservation 

Climate Solutions 

Livable Communities 

Length: 

45 minutes 

Description:  

Vermont Garden Network works with Champlain Housing Trust and Evernorth across the state to provide garden education to residents at 21 affordable housing sites. Residents participate in hands-on activities to learn how to grow their own food and prepare meals from their harvest.  This presentation will share insight into the conservation and climate benefits of small-space, integrated residential gardening programs.  We believe this model is replicable and scalable. Landscape-scale conservation and climate solutions in the built environment are easily activated with a little advanced planning to integrate garden beds, water access, picnic tables and outdoor gathering space into the affordable housing complex design. 

Presenters: 

Meghan Tedder, Connection Coordinator with Evernorth 

Carolina Lukac, Co-Executive Director of Vermont Garden Network; Programs and Partnerships.  

D4. Housing and Resilience for Community Benefit

Level: 

Beginner / All 

Themes: 

Climate Solutions 

Working Lands 

Livable Communities 

Length: 

45 minutes 

Description:  

The Northern Forest Center is exploring multiple ways to integrate climate resilience into its diverse portfolio of middle-market housing projects. This session will discuss how the Center has evaluated and implemented climate resilience strategies in its housing projects, touching on a range of topics including floodplain risk assessment, local wood flooring sources, the relative importance of central air conditioning, zoning codes that allow density, maintaining trail access, historic preservation tradeoffs, and many others. Participants will gain an appreciation for the complexity of incorporating climate resilience into housing projects and the diverse opportunities that exist for doing so across a variety of project types.  

Presenters: 

Maura Adams, Director of Community Investment, Northern Forest Center 

D5. Wetlands Restoration and Wildlife Habitat Connectivity 

Level: 

Beginner / All 

Themes: 

Landscape-scale conservation 

Climate Solutions 

Stewardship and Restoration 

Length: 

45 minutes 

Description:  

The goal of the session is to provide awareness about the importance of linking permanently protected wetlands restoration areas with other protected habitats and working lands.  The presentation will cover information about the USDA NRCS Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, Wetland Reserve Easement component, and how NRCS and the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service partner on these projects.  Participants will learn about how they can work to identify potential landowners interested in connecting their land to larger scale habitat connectivity projects. 

Presenters: 

Ryan Crehan, Fish and Wildlife Biologist with the USFWS 

Jim Eikenberry, Wetlands Specialist for the USDA NRCS  

D6. Implementing the Vermont Forest Futures Strategic Roadmap

Level: 

Intermediate 

Themes: 

Climate Solutions 

Stewardship and Restoration 

Length: 

45 minutes 

Description:  

In February 2024, the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR) released the Vermont Forest Future Strategic Roadmap. Created by FPR at the request of the General Assembly, the Roadmap assesses the current state of the forest products sector in Vermont, and identifies ways to strengthen, modernize, promote, and protect its long-term viability. The plan also emphasizes the importance of intact, healthy, and sustainably managed working forests to enhance forest benefits and support a diverse array of climate-smart, high-quality products for the future. This presentation / roundtable discussion will provide an update on roadmap implementation, define current priorities and partnerships, and explain how to get involved.  

Presenter: 

Oliver Pierson, Director of Forestry, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation 

D7. Effectively Maintaining Trails with Volunteer Power, Tech and Partnership

Level: 

Beginner / All 

Themes: 

Climate Solutions 

Organizational Capacity, Communication & Engagement

Stewardship and Restoration 

Length: 

45 minutes 

Description:  

The Intervale Center and Burlington Wildways created the Volunteer Trail Stewardship Program, which trains volunteers to care for the vast trail system in Burlington. The Program currently includes an online training module (which will be demonstrated in this session), and now volunteers actively and independently walk city trails, reporting issues with a mobile app. Developed in partnership with various organizations, this program is a successful model of collaborative stewardship which demonstrates how to pool resources and effectively manage volunteers across organizations.  

Presenters: 

Duncan Murdoch, Natural Areas Stewardship Coordinator, Intervale Center