This page is a work-in-progress, so thank you for your patience as we build it out. If you know of any other publications or webinars that are specifically geared toward CCs and their work, please let us know at vtconservation@gmail.com.
Publications
Conservation Commission Handbook (AVCC)
Town Forest Stewardship Toolkit (Vermont Urban & Community Forestry Program)
Community Strategies for Vermont’s Forests and Wildlife (Vermont Natural Resources Council)
Wildlife Considerations in Local Planning (Vermont Natural Resources Council)
Webinars
In 2022, the Community Wildlife Program hosted a webinar series in partnership with the AVCC on some broad topics – Starting a Conservation Commission, Conducting a Natural Resources Inventory, and Starting Your Town Conservation Fund – but they routinely put on educational presentations on topics directly applicable to your work as conservation commissioners. Some additional links are copied below, but check out their video library (and the Fish & Wildlife Department’s YouTube channel more generally) for many more videos.
Other topics of interest:
Becoming an Environmental Leader in Your Town
Understanding Vermont Conservation Design
Using BioFinder 4.0
Reviewing Your Town Plan & Regulations
Updating your Town Plan for Forest Integrity (Act 171)
The RIver Corridor, Floodplains, and Riparian Habitat
Wildlife Road Crossings
The Southeast Vermont CISMA is one of several active Cooperative Invasive Species Management Associations (CISMAs) across Vermont whose goal is to educate residents about and help manage invasive plant species found in their region. Their website hosts a number of webinars that help conservation commissioners identify, manage, and hopefully prevent the spread of invasives like buckthorn, stiltgrass and knotweed. Watch content from the Vermont Land Trust, Windham County NRCD, and more at https://www.sevtcisma.org/webinars.