Land conservation provides many lasting benefits that help us mitigate and adapt to climate change, including forest and soil carbon sequestration, flood mitigation, watershed protection, and biodiversity conservation. Yet while climate change is on the minds of most Americans, land conservation is rarely at the fore. This panel will highlight two exciting examples of how conservation organizations are taking a lead on mitigating and adapting to climate change. Speaker: Charlie Hancock, Cold Hollow to Canada.
Lye Brook Wilderness is one of eight wilderness areas in the Green Mountain National Forest and comprises over 18,000 acres of forests, streams, and wetlands, mostly above 2,500 feet in elevation. It provides habitat for a diverse array of wildlife species, including those with large home ranges and solitary habitat needs. Many hiking trails, including the Long Trail and Appalachian Trail, enable access and enjoyment of this land. Photo copyright Scott Wixsom.
Woodbury Mountain Wilderness Preserve, owned by Northeast Wilderness Trust, is one of Vermont’s newest Wildlands and the largest nongovernmental wilderness in Vermont at over 6,000 acres. It lies in a critical wildlife linkage and provides safe movement for bears, fishers, bobcat, and moose. A mere half-hour drive from the state capital of Montpelier, it provides opportunities for hiking, nature study, and hunting. Photo copyright Elizabeth H. Thompson.
Peacham Bog Natural Area in Groton State Forest protects one of Vermont’s largest peatlands within a multiuse area in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. A boardwalk and interpretive sign offer easy access to visitors and researchers who can safely enjoy and study the bog without causing damage. The peatland, underlain by several feet of partially decomposed organic matter, has been the subject of ecological research and has provided a living classroom for countless students of ecology. Photo copyright Elizabeth H. Thompson.
