Forest and Habitat Fragmentation Campaign

Rising property taxes, booming real estate markets, and shortsighted land use planning are helping facilitate the rapid development of privately owned forestland. To address these issues and help keep large tracts of valuable forest land intact, VNRC is working to promote incentives that will help more Vermont landowners hold onto their forestlands.

Decision in Halifax Case Important Precedent, Conservation Win

A recent ruling by a state court that two backcountry trails in the Town of Halifax could not be reclassified to public roads will have important implications for the rural southern Vermont community and other towns working to control sprawl. The decision will help make rural lands along trails, which include significant wildlife habitat, working forests and recreational opportunities, less vulnerable to development.

VNRC Convenes Unprecedented Forest Roundtable

VNRC is currently conducting a roundtable discussion with over 60 experts in the state to identify the causes of forest fragmentation and parcelization and create workable solutions for landowners, municipalities, and state government to adequately plan for appropriate forestland conservation.

VNRC Helps Safeguard Critical Bear Habitat

VNRC successfully halted a plan by Central Vermont Public Service Corporation (CVPS) to build a new utility line through a regionally important black bear travel corridor known as the “Sage Hill Corridor” in Stratton and Jamaica. In an important decision which makes a strong statement about the value of protecting fragile natural areas as important habitat for wildlife, the District Environmental Commission #2 denied CVPS’s motion to alter the decision last week.

Forests, Wildlife Communities Project: Working Locally to Conserve Habitat

Habitat loss, due to degradation, conversion and, fragmentation, is one of the leading threats to Vermont's wildlife. To address this problem, VNRC, Audubon Vermont, the Northern Forest Alliance, Vermont Coverts and the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department have partnered together in a project aimed at helping landowners and communities reduce fragmentation, parcelization, and wildlife habitat loss – all central strategies in Vermont's Wildlife Action Plan. This partnership – called the Forests, Wildlife, Communities Project is interested in partnering with local and regional planning commissions, conservation commissions, and interested parties in key regional areas to share information and comprehensive conservation strategies at the town level.