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AVCC Awards 2024 Tiny Grants

The Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions (AVCC) is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2024 Tiny Grants. This annual AVCC initiative provides seed money or matching funds to conservation commissions for specific land conservation, education and outreach, stewardship and management, and planning activities. Conservation commissions are non-regulatory bodies designed to advise planning commissions and select boards on natural resources issues.

The AVCC received applications from commissions across the state for a wide variety of conservation-related projects, including work to improve signage and repair trails on municipal lands, document wildlife activity with trail cameras, eradicate invasive plants and insects, and complete natural resource mapping, inventories and assessments. In May, the AVCC announced its decision to fund projects from the Greensboro Conservation Commission, Middletown Springs Conservation Commission, South Hero Conservation Commission and Thetford Conservation Commission.

Here are some more details about these projects:

Greensboro – Following the identification and documentation of 63 unique invasive infestations, the Greensboro Conservation Commission requested AVCC funding to support their ongoing invasive species education and management efforts. Tiny Grant funds will spur the creation of a Town Tool Library, including silage tarps, a sharpshooter shovel, and a weed wrench, which will be made available to the commission, community volunteers and other interested parties.

Middletown Springs – Funds will allow the commission to construct a bridge to make the Sullivan Educational Woods Loop Trail safer and more user-friendly for hikers, birders and mushroom foragers, while also protecting the stream zone and wetland areas from further disturbance. The Sullivan Educational Woods was donated to the Town of Middletown Springs for the purpose of supporting public education about forest resources (including wildlife habitat, timber and recreation) and inspiring and promoting a stewardship and conservation ethic.

South Hero – Tiny Grant funding will help the commission host a community event featuring live American Kestrels and educators from the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS), and to purchase building materials to construct nesting boxes in the fall. Habitat loss, pesticides, West Nile virus, and a lack of suitable nesting areas have all contributed to declining populations of these birds, the smallest falcon species in North America. The educational outreach event will take place at 1:30 pm on August 4, 2024 at the Worthen Library in South Hero.

Thetford – Funds will be used to purchase tools (weed wrench, loppers, work gloves, paint brushes & paint, and safety vests) to enable volunteer land management crews to paint boundary lines, manage invasive species, monitor wildlife and more in the Town Forest, Hughes Forest, Post Mills Natural Area, and Taylor Floodplain Preserve. The commission hopes to use these funds to execute its new Town Lands Management Plan, which was unanimously approved by the Selectboard on May 20, 2024, and replaces the previous plan from 2008.

AVCC also proudly supports the work of conservation commissions by hosting an annual summit for community volunteers engaged in planning and caring for Vermont’s natural resources. Details regarding the 2024 AVCC Annual Meeting and Conservation Summit will be announced in the coming weeks.

To stay in the loop about conservation initiatives happening near you, or to share your events with other conservation commissions, subscribe to our listserv by emailing vtconservation+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You may reach out directly to the AVCC Board by emailing vtconservation@gmail.com.

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AVCC Webinar: 2025 Updates to the Climate Action Plan

The Vermont Climate Council is in the process of updating the state’s Climate Action Plan, with a finalized plan due by July 1, 2025.  This plan has a necessarily broad focus on cutting climate pollution and helping communities adapt and become more resilient in a warming world. On Wednesday, March 26, the AVCC and VECAN (the Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network) are co-hosting a webinar to explore some of the ideas in play and how you (and your networks) can help shape the plan. Join us at noon to get an update directly from the Climate Council members who are helping to lead the pollution cutting, rural resilience, and agriculture and ecosystems pieces of this important work.

Climate Action Plan – Status Update and Input Opportunities
Wednesday, March 26th at 12:00 pm EST
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/9c2hI8bETommhVzm5HrHuQ

We will be joined by the following members of the Vermont Climate Council:
➡ Jared Duval, Energy Action Network, member of a Vermont-based organization with expertise in energy and data analysis
➡ David Mears, member with expertise in the design and implementation of programs to increase resilience to and respond to natural disasters resulting from climate change (also the chair of the Northfield Conservation Commission)
➡ Johanna Miller, Vermont Natural Resources Council, member to represent a statewide environmental organization
➡ Jaiel Pulskamp, Kettle Song Farm, member to represent the farm and forest sector

The Vermont Climate Council is expected to release a draft version at the end of March, and has scheduled public engagement opportunities throughout April in towns across Vermont (see below). Please follow this link to view the full list of priority recommendations from the Council’s subcommittees (please note that the Climate Council has not yet reached consensus on these actions).

➡ April 10, 5:30-7 pm: Virtual  |  Register for a virtual event 

➡ April 14, 6-8 pm: Hardwick  |  Hardwick Town House, 127 W Church St, Hardwick, VT 05843 |  Register for Hardwick event 

➡ April 15, 6-8 pm: Hinesburg  |  Champlain Valley Union High School, 369 CVU Rd, Hinesburg, VT 05461  |  Register for Hinesburg event 

➡ April 16, 6-8 pm: St. Albans  |  St. Albans City Hall, 100 N Main St, St Albans, VT 05478  |  Register for St. Albans event 

➡ April 17, 6-8 pm: Bennington  |  Bennington Fire Department, 130 River St, Bennington, VT 05201  |  Register for Bennington event 

➡ April 23, 5:30-7:30 pm: Bellows Falls  |  Rockingham Free Public Library, 65 Westminster St, Bellows Falls, VT 05101  | Register for Bellows Falls Event 

➡ April 28, 5:30-7:30 pm: Barre  |  Old Labor Hall, 46 Granite St, Barre, VT 05641  |  Register for Barre event

➡ April 30, 5:30-7:30 pm: Rutland  |  Rutland Regional Planning Commission, 16 Evelyn St 2nd Floor, Rutland, VT 05701  |  Register for Rutland event 

➡ May 1, 12-1:30 pm: Virtual  |  Register for a virtual event

Contact anr.cao@vermont.gov or call (802) 404-2729 with any questions, including for any accessibility needs (language, transportation, disability, etc.) to participate in the spring input sessions.

You can also view upcoming meetings of the Council and its various subcommittees on the calendar on their website. Vermonters are encouraged to join these meetings to share their thoughts with the Council, or submit a written comment here.

Conservation commission members should not miss this chance to weigh in on the 2025 update!

“Local Conservation for Regional Outcomes”: AVCC Panel at the Vermont Conservation Conference on October 7, 2024

On Monday, October 7, 2024, the AVCC hosted a panel discussion around the promise and potential of regional collaboration between conservation commissions at Sowing Seeds: Conservation Connections for a Resilient Future, the first statewide conservation conference in Vermont in over a decade. The theme for the session was “Local Conservation for Regional Outcomes”, and we sought to explore how commissions have come together to address some of the biggest conservation challenges – such as invasive species, flood resilience, and forest fragmentation – that don’t stop at a town’s borders.

The session included presentations from Margo Ghia of the Windham Regional Commission, Jim Henderson of the Bennington County Regional Commission and the Sandgate Conservation Commission, Heidi Willis of the Salisbury
Conservation Commission, and Curt Lindberg from the Waitsfield Conservation Commission representing the Tri-Town Partnership (Fayston-Waitsfield-Warren).
We greatly appreciate both our panelists and attendees for sharing their experience and enthusiasm for partnering with neighboring communities on conservation projects

In addition to our panel, Board members Mead Binhammer, Bill Dell’Isola, Suma Lash, Marian Wolz, and volunteer Alex Connizzo took turns running the AVCC materials table in the main presentation hall, where we sold raffle tickets to raise funds for the upcoming round of Tiny Grants. We want to thank our generous raffle sponsors for helping us raise nearly $700 for local conservation!

The raffle included items from Bee’s Wrap, Hunger Mountain Co-op, King Arthur Baking Company, Lunaroma, Orvis, Patagonia, Skida, Skinny Pancake, Switchback, Trapp Family Lodge, and Vermont Glove. Congratulations to our winners, Kate E. from Burlington, Kate W. from Chelsea, Mark N. from South Hero!

2024 Conservation Summit: Amplifying Local Voices

Thank you for attending our 2024 Virtual Annual Summit on Thursday, September 5, 2024! We were greatly enthused by the turnout, with nearly 70 participants joining the call to find out about AVCC’s latest activities. As we plan our programming for the coming year, we encourage you to reach out to the AVCC Board at vtconservation@gmail.com with any comments, questions, and/or webinar ideas.

We would like to extend our deep gratitude to our four presenters, Steve Harrington from the Middletown Springs Conservation Commission, Willow Uth from the Putney Conservation Commission (with additional contributions from Gino Palmeri), Krista Karlson from the Thetford Conservation Commission, and Julie Frost from the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources at UVM. More details, including links to their presentations, can be found below.

Speaking of gratitude, we bid a fond farewell to Mark Nelson, Chair of the Ripton Conservation Commission, who is departing the AVCC after six years of service. As Board Chair, Mark stewarded the organization through the pandemic, leaving us on strong footing thanks to his thoughtful and dedicated leadership. We know Mark will continue working for the benefit of Vermont’s forests and communities, and we wish him the best in the years ahead. Thanks for everything, Mark!

We also want to congratulate Greta Hasler and Gannon Osborn on their election to the AVCC Board! They both bring great experience to the Board, and we look forward to working with them over the next three years.

We hope you’ll join us again next month for our panel on regional collaboration at the 2024 Statewide Conservation Conference in Randolph. Registration is now open: Sowing Seeds: Conservation Connections For A Resilient Future.

Annual Summit Presentations

Middletown Springs Conservation Commission
Steve Harrington spoke about the commission’s efforts to educate residents on issues of conservation through the town’s forest, the Sullivan Educational Woods. Middletown Springs received a 2024 Tiny Grant to construct a bridge on their hiking trail, making the path safer and more user-friendly while also protecting the stream from disturbance.

Watch the presentation / View the slideshow

Putney Conservation Commission
Willow Uth detailed Putney’s efforts to manage invasive species in the East Putney Forest Block, an important wildlife habitat and corridor connecting forested land on either side of Route 5. The commission used funds from a 2023 Tiny Grant to purchase special girdling knives and uprooter tools, and they’ve engaged local experts in the fight against buckthorn and Japanese stiltgrass.

Watch the presentation / View the slideshow

Thetford Conservation Commission
Krista Karlson talked about recruiting volunteers to implement Thetford’s recently updated Town Lands Management Plan, which the commission helped craft. Funds from their 2024 Tiny Grant will be used to purchase supplies for painting boundary lines, wildlife monitoring, invasive species management and more in the Town Forest, Hughes Forest, Post Mills Nature Area, and Taylor Floodplain Preserve.

Watch the presentation / View the slideshow
Contact the Commission
Read the Thetford Town Lands Management Plan

Vermont Town Forest Census Project
Julie Frost updated AVCC members on efforts underway to inventory municipally-owned town forests across Vermont and better understand their current governance, usage, accessibility, and stewardship. Once the census is complete, the researchers will put together a map of all town forests, with a public database with details about acreage, location, key contacts, and more. The Town Forest Census Project is a collaboration between the Vermont Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation and the University of Vermont.

Watch the presentation / View the slideshow
Contact the Researchers
Click Here to Access the Town Forest Stewardship Toolkit

Thank You, Mark!

Mark Nelson is a retired financial services executive who retired early to commit his time and energy to conservation, environmental, and social work. Mark’s passion for conservation and environmental protection is based on his desire to “be the voice for those that have no say in human decisions that have an impact on them”. He is a founding member and current Board President of Standing Trees Vermont, and continues to serve his community as Chair of the Ripton Conservation Commission. From 2014 to 2018, Mark was Chair of the Vermont Sierra Club Executive Committee, and is also a past board member at Vermont Natural Resources Council and Habitat for Humanity of Addison County, and a former member of the Ripton Energy Committee and the Ripton Energy Assistance Program (REAP). He is an Advanced EMT, Wilderness EMT and firefighter with Ripton Fire & Rescue and Middlebury Regional EMS.

Congrats, Gannon and Greta!

Greta Hasler
Greta joined the AVCC Board while serving as Communications Director at Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC), and currently works as Communications Director for Vermont State University. She is an active member of the Cambridge Conservation Commission, and draws on her experience in advocacy and engagement around climate and energy policy, responsible resource management and food system resiliency. She was formerly on the outreach team at U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders’ Vermont office, led clean water permitting for agriculture at the Maryland Department of the Environment, and supported renewable energy policy work at both the Sierra Club and 350Vermont.

Gannon Osborn
Gannon is the Land Conservation Program Manager with the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR), where he has worked since 2018. In this position, he works to conserve land through additions to State Parks and State Forests, as well as conservation easements held by FPR. Gannon has experience working with local land trusts in regional land conservation and conservation stewardship, as well as in environmental consulting. Outside of work, he enjoys exploring the outdoors in all manners and all seasons, cooking over an open fire, traveling to new places, hunting down the best general store baked goods, and relaxing with a good book.

Act 59: Public Meeting to Review Vermont’s Draft Conservation Inventory on Thursday, June 27th

As part of the Act 59 implementation process, the Vermont Conservation Strategy Initiative (VCSI) team is hosting a virtual public meeting at 4:00 pm on June 27, 2024 to review the draft inventory of conserved lands in Vermont. Register today!

The “Community Resilience and Biodiversity Protection Act” (CRBPA, or Act 59), was passed by the legislature last July, and commits Vermont to the goal of conserving 30 percent of its land by 2030 and 50 percent by 2050. The bill requires the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB), in consultation with the Agency of Natural Resources, to develop an inventory of conserved lands that takes stock of existing conservation data and practices, public and professional perspectives, and opportunities and avenues for future conservation.

As part of this process, VCSI has collected stakeholder input through surveys, focus groups, interviews, and roundtables, including two sessions with conservation commissions – an in-person meeting at Waitsfield Town Hall on March 20th and a virtual focus group hosted by the AVCC on March 27th. The upcoming June 27th meeting represents yet another opportunity for commission members to share their thoughts and perspectives on this historic legislation.

The inventory, which represents a culmination of all the VCSI work to date, is required to be submitted for review to the House Committees on Environment and Energy and on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry and the Senate Committee
on Natural Resources and Energy by July 1st, 2024. A statewide conservation plan that details the strategies for biodiversity protection and land management that will enable the state to reach its 30 x 30 and 50 x 50 conservation goals is due to the legislature by December 31st, 2025.

You can find out more about the Act 59 implementation process by visiting the VCSI website at https://vhcb.org/our-programs/vcsi.

AVCC is Looking for New Board Members

On the eve of our 35th anniversary, the Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions (AVCC) is looking to add two conservation-minded individuals to our all-volunteer Board of Directors to help govern and guide the organization.  

Specifically, we’re looking for individuals committed to our mission to support Vermont’s existing conservation commissions and encourage the establishment of new ones.  Current or former conservation commission members are especially welcome, but the position is open to anyone with knowledge, experience, interest and/or availability who is looking to make a difference across Vermont.  A more detailed description of the functions of the Board and responsibilities of its members can be found below the break.  

If you or anyone you know might be interested in serving in this capacity, please send an email to the AVCC Board at vtconservation@gmail.com with the subject line “AVCC Board Membership”.  We look forward to improving the reach and impact of our work in 2024, and we hope you’ll join us in these efforts!

AVCC Board of Directors

The Functions of the Board

The Board governs the operation and programs of AVCC including:

  • Long range planning and setting matters of policy not determined by membership;
  • Maintaining and upgrading the organization’s mission, values, and vision;
  • Fiscal management and maintaining accountability to members and donors;
  • Developing, reviewing and approving the annual budget, major program plans, and organizational policies;
  • Ensuring that adequate resources are available to AVCC;
  • Meeting the general standards for Directors under 11B V.S.A. § 8.30;
  • Evaluating the organization’s effectiveness; and
  • Representing the organization to the public.

The Board assumes fiscal and legal accountability for the organization.

Qualifications

A Board member should:

  • Be committed to the vision, mission, goals and programs of AVCC;
  • Have available time to work to advance these goals and programs; and
  • Have experience, knowledge, or interest in one or more of the following: building capacity of conservation commissions, conservation programs, public and community relations

Responsibilities

  • Exemplifies and upholds AVCC’s values;
  • Maintains a working knowledge of AVCC’s finances, operations, and programs;
  • If appointed an officer, fulfills the standards of conduct under 11B V.S.A. § 8.42;
  • Faithfully attends and prepares for Board and committee meetings;
  • Fully and openly participates in Board and committee deliberations
    • Questions with an open and curious mind;
    • Respects, listens and learns from others;
    • Maintains independence and objectivity;
    • Advocates according to conviction; and
    • Strives toward consensus and respects majority decisions
  • Actively collaborates in the creation of program strategies

Board Terms

Directors appointed by Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC) serve five-year terms.  Directors elected by AVCC membership serve three-year terms. There are no term limits.

Board Meetings

Full Board meetings will be held at dates and locations to be determined by the Board. The Board currently meets virtually for 90 minutes on the first Tuesday of every month.

Confidentiality

Board members should keep information learned during the course of AVCC activities in confidence when the information concerns the administration and activities of the organization and is not generally available to the public. No Board member shall obligate AVCC financially or publicly to an issue or program without prior authorization by the full Board.

Conflict of Interest

Board members are governed by the statutory conflict of interest policy described in 11B V.S.A. § 8.31. Board members must endeavor to conduct all activities in such a way that no conflict or appearances of conflict will arise between other interests and the policies, operations, and interests of AVCC. Activities that conflict or appear to conflict and cannot be avoided shall be brought to the attention of the Board at the earliest opportunity.

2023 Conservation Summit: Elevating Local Successes

Thanks to everyone for another fantastic Conservation Summit! Our 2023 virtual summit and annual meeting was held on Thursday, October 19th. During the meeting, we recognized and appreciated Nancy Jones’ over 20 years of dedicated service to the Board, and announced that she will not be seeking another term. After a brief financial snapshot of AVCC, we heard an overview of the recently passed 30 x 30 law (H.126, or Act 59) in Vermont and the work that lies ahead in its implementation. It was wonderful to hear from members of Conservation Commissions in 7 communities across Vermont who have received AVCC Tiny Grants to support their work in the past. Thank you to the Conservation Commission members from Bolton, Hartford, Jericho, Johnson, Monkton, Richford, and Shrewsbury, who shared their important work with us. 

Presentations from the 2023 Conservation Summit: Elevating Local Successes, 10/19/23

AVCC Announces 2023 Tiny Grant Recipients

The Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions (AVCC) is pleased to announce that this year’s Tiny Grant funding will support projects directed by the conservation commissions in Bolton, Jericho, Putney and Richford.

The Tiny Grants program provides seed money or matching funds to conservation commissions for land conservation, education and outreach, stewardship and management, and planning activities. Conservation commissions are non-regulatory bodies designed to advise planning commissions and select boards on natural resources issues.

Here are more details about the winning projects:

Bolton – Funding will allow the commission to construct a 70′ raised boardwalk on the primary access trail to the 403-acre Preston Pond Conservation Area that will reduce trail degradation and maintain beaver habitat. The boardwalk, which will be built by town volunteers, will make the trail accessible year-round.

Jericho – Looking to build on a project started in 2022, the commission will use Tiny Grant funds to expand the pollinator garden in front of Town Hall and install fencing to prevent soil compaction. The JCC will also conduct an educational campaign to inform residents and visitors about the ecological importance of trees in the life cycle of insects, birds, and other native species.

Putney – Funds will be used to purchase special girdling knives and uprooter tools to remove buckthorn from trails in the 50-acre East Putney Forest Block. Once the trails are restored, the commission plans to highlight the conservation value of this parcel, which serves as an important wildlife corridor connecting forested land on either side of Route 5.

Richford – The commission will use its Tiny Grant to purchase flowering shrubs, trees, wildflower seeds, and mulch as it partners with students at Richford Elementary School to create a pollinator garden and raise broader awareness in the community of the benefits of wildlife-friendly native plants.

AVCC also proudly supports the work of conservation commissions by hosting an annual summit for community volunteers engaged in planning and caring for Vermont’s natural resources. As with the past few years, AVCC will be hosting a virtual summit in 2023. More details – including the date and agenda for that event – to follow.

To stay in the loop about conservation initiatives happening near you, or to share your events with other conservation commissions, subscribe to our listserv by emailing vtconservation+subscribe@googlegroups.com.

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2022 Conservation Summit: Resilient Communities and Landscapes

Thanks to everyone for another fantastic Conservation Summit!

Presentations from the 2022 Conservation Summit: Resilient Communities and Landscapes, 10/15/22

2021 Conservation Summit: Caring for the Land

Thanks to everyone who organized, presented and attended our 2021 summit! Though the COVID pandemic again forced us to go entirely virtual, we were nonetheless able to meet and immerse ourselves in several interesting and related topics. In her opening session, Judy Dow set the scene of “going through the Narrows” as a metaphor for the path ahead in a world of changing climate and helped us focus ourselves on this journey and the path ahead. Then, Dr. Bill Keaton addressed the caring for the land theme with “Carbon Friendly Forests and Forestry” breaking out the key points landowners and conservationists need to know about the basics of carbon forestry and carbon markets. From there, Lynn McNamara and Zapata Courage delved into “Balancing Recreation and Ecological Goals” in our land management with wonderful insights into wetland management and examples from The Nature Conservancy’s stewardship of Raven Ridge. Alicia Daniels took us “On the Trail of Wildlife with a Vermont Master Naturalist” and we were able to do a virtual hike to Raven Ridge understanding the same place with a different lens as she addressed how appreciation of the landscape helps bring people to manage it with love and respect. Lastly, Judy Dow offered the keynote address, bringing together all these themes and engaging participants in a lively discussion. Many thanks to our presenters, sponsors, and participants and especially to Judy Dow for her leadership in this effort!