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The strength of our communities is rooted in the lands we love. For 60 years, NCLC has been working with you, our members and partner land trusts, to safeguard the lands and waters we all depend on. These remarkable places are not only natural resources, but also the foundation of our well-being, good health, identity, and resilience.
As federal funding cuts to environmental and farmland conservation programs take effect, our work at the local level assumes new and exceptional importance. In this newsletter, you can read about the strong and essential outcomes your support delivers, including in our 2024 Impact Report.
Lastly, I hope you won't forget about our 60th Anniversary membership drive. Over 75% of NCLC's operating budget comes directly from individuals like you. Every gift matters. Every member makes a difference. To continue this work, we need your support like never before. You can donate securely, online here.
With gratitude,
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Catherine M. Rawson
Executive Director
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The NCLC 2024 Impact Report has arrived! We are making meaningful progress in protecting and preserving Northwest Connecticut’s environment, and your generosity makes these achievements possible.
From tripling the pace of conservation to safeguarding food security and strengthening our funding for partner organizations, 2024 was a banner year. We invite you to explore this report to see how your support is helping to save the places you love and the land we all depend on. Thank you for being a part of this vital work!
View the 2024 Impact Report
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NCLC Invests in the Future of Farming
Climate-Smart Agriculture
Grant Awards Announcement
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NCLC is excited to announce that we have selected the climate-smart agricultural awardees for the second, and final, round of implementation grants for the Building Resiliency on Northwest Connecticut Farmland (“Building Resiliency”) grant program. This initiative, made possible through a generous grant from the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry (CSAF) program, has distributed over $515,000 directly to farmers, land trusts, and municipalities across Northwest Connecticut to enhance sustainability, productivity, and climate resilience.
Connecticut’s farms are the fourth most at risk of loss in the country. Through the Building Resiliency program, NCLC has engaged with more than 300 farms and land trusts to help strengthen our agricultural community. Thank you to our Northwest Connecticut farmers for their care of the land and the nourishing agricultural goods they provide to our communities every day.
Read more
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Building Resiliency Awardee Spotlight | | Conundrum Farm (Kent) will receive $30,000 for energy efficiency upgrades in the greenhouse, including establishing an airtight seal, ridge vent, and automation software. These upgrades will lower the greenhouse’s energy consumption while improving growing conditions for year-round production. | | Rowledge Pond Aquaculture (Sandy Hook) will receive $23,000 for a fuel-efficient tractor and forestry and hatchery equipment. This equipment will lower fuel use and enhance the operation’s forest management, helping to offset greenhouse gas emissions. | | Hathor Hill Farm (Lakeside) will receive $20,000 to restore and relocate access roads, remediate a portion of pasture, and plant contour buffer strips. These improvements will reduce future erosion by enhancing the soil’s water infiltration, promoting healthier pastureland. | |
Member Spotlight
Nature thrives, with you
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NCLC's members are the quiet force behind the protection of Northwest Connecticut’s irreplaceable lands and waters. This month, we celebrate NCLC members and conservation easement landowners Gisellah Harvey and Joseph Klotz.
For the past eight years, Gisellah and Joseph have been dedicated stewards of the land—both as NCLC members and as conservation easement landowners. On their protected property, they take hands-on action by removing invasive plants and nurturing native habitats. We asked them what motivates their dedication to land conservation. Here’s what they shared:
"Nature has enhanced our lives greatly. We work in NYC and shed our stress as soon as we reach our corner of Northwest Connecticut. We’ve learned a lot about the trees on our land, and watching the resident beavers has become a big part of our lives. We support NCLC because of the positive results of their conservation efforts. Protecting land and wildlife habitats is crucial for future generations."
Thank you Gisellah and Joseph for all you do to protect nature and safeguard our communities! Your support brings conservation to life.
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Keep the Momentum Going
60th Anniversary Membership Campaign
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Save the Date
Midsummer Party for Conservation
Saturday, August 16
This year, NCLC is celebrating 60 years of land conservation! Join us for a delightful evening with friends at the Midsummer Party for Conservation, hosted by Leni and Peter May at Maywood in Bridgewater.
This annual fundraiser supports NCLC's conservation programs. It is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy delicious food and great company—all to benefit conservation in our community.
We look forward to seeing you there!
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Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy is a nonprofit regional land trust.
As a guardian of natural and working lands, public recreation areas, and drinking water resources,
NCLC permanently protects 13,400 acres (and growing) of vast, connected natural areas in
Litchfield and northern Fairfield Counties.
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