THE GREEN LEAF FALL 2023
From The President’s Desk
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Among many other things, Fall brings the Warren Land Trust annual meeting (more about that in this newsletter!) – an occasion to reflect on what has been accomplished in the past year, and what projects lie ahead. It’s no spoiler alert to say that in both cases, the answer is: a lot! I hope it also goes without saying that none of it – what WLT has accomplished recently and what will be accomplished in the immediate future – could take place without the help of our community.
Where: WLT often partners with other conservation organizations to expand our reach, but we do our work in the context of a particular place: Warren, Connecticut. Our backyard, and yours. We love it and know it well – its history and character, its unique opportunities and challenges.
How: We conserve land thoughtfully and strategically, using criteria based on conservation values, in line with best practices in our field, and informed by Warren’s Town Plan of Conservation & Development (POCD).
What shape have these conservation principles taken lately? Here, I have some exciting updates that reflect that strategic approach.
It is currently an interesting moment for land conservation. Policy priorities at the state and federal level, and the funding that accompanies them, are focused on land conservation and its role in environmental health and climate change resilience.
At the same time, in this broader context, we’ve seen not one or two, but three once-in-a-generation land transitions, properties that have been on WLT’s radar screen for many years due to their exceptional conservation value.
As you may know (and can read more about on page 3), WLT recently acquired the Cunningham Nature Preserve at the end of Cunningham Road. These 237 wooded acres are historically significant, protect important wildlife habitat, and have exceptional recreational potential. The Preserve abuts the Kent Land Trust’s East Kent Hamlet Nature Preserve, and we are working closely with KLT on connecting, expanding, and improving a trail network that connects our two properties, thanks to a jointly-awarded trails grant from the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
At the same time, preservation plans are underway for the Tanner Farm, nearly 200 acres of farmland and forest trails along Route 341. This property comprises some of the most iconic views in Warren and beyond, and has key implications for the environmental health of Lake Waramaug: Sucker Brook, which runs through the farm, empties directly into the lake. We have secured federal and state funding for the project and expect to be moving forward on the project in the coming months. Working together with the Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy and the Lake Waramaug Task Force, we are excited to preserve the Tanner Farm’s agricultural legacy, and to develop the trail system at the property’s rear.
Finally, WLT is working to preserve approximately 150 acres at the end of Mountain Lake Road. Locally known as “the Bible Camp,” this property represents a linchpin connecting land held by the Warren Land Trust, the Kent Land Trust, and the State of Connecticut, as well as private conservation easements. Together, these properties will make up a protected forest bloc of 1000+ acres, providing fantastic hiking opportunities, valuable wildlife habitat protection and connectivity, and significant climate change resilience potential.
These projects are exciting and will benefit our town’s environmental health and our community’s outdoor recreational opportunities. But they’d be impossible without that community’s input and support. So, thank you – and we look forward to seeing you out on some great new trails!
Sincerely,
Rebecca Neary
President, The Warren Land Trust