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

• Shrewsbury: Purchasing game cameras for monitoring roadside wildlife crossings
• Hartford: Training and data analysis for an amphibian road crossing project
• Bolton: Building a raised walkway to avoid degradation of a trail in the Town Forest
• Jericho: Creating a pollinator garden on the Town Green with educational signage
• Monkton: Purchasing tools to remove buck-thorn from school property
• Johnson: Updating their Emerald Ash Borer education videos
• Richford: Hosting a pollinator awareness campaign

Thanks to everyone for another fantastic Conservation Summit!

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

• KEYNOTE ADDRESS Nature-based solutions: strategies to create climate-smart communities. Taj Schottland & Zoe Richards
• Developing a Municipal Climate Toolkit: Expanding Your Town’s Capacity to Tackle Climate Change. Marian Wolz
• Town Action Towards Resilient Community – You Are the Hero You Seek. Chris Campany
• Peeling “Resiliency” Like an Onion. Ben Rose
• VT Climate Forecasts and Adaptation. Lesley-Ann Dupigny-Giroux
• Using BioFinder to Learn about Climate Resilience. Jens Hilke
• Where has all the Water gone? Stephen Leslie & Jennifer Byrne
• Intact Freshwater Systems Build Climate Resilience. Karina Dailey & Jon Groveman

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!

• Going through the Narrows: Judy Dow
• Managing Lands for Forest Carbon: Bill Keeton
• Balancing Goals in Land Stewardship: Lynn McNamara & Zapata Courage
• On the Trail of Wildlife: Alicia Daniel
• Keynote Address: Judy Dow