Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions

Boyce Hill, managed by the Fayston Conservation Commission and protected via a Vermont Land Trust conservation easement, was once a hill farm. This project created a video walk through of the 93-acre property where landscape historian Samantha Ford interprets the remnant stone structures to help viewers understand how the land was once used. Conservation commissioners discuss the longer-term management goals for the property and the challenge of striking a balance between ecosystem needs and .. Read More

With an eye towards enhancing habitat and reversing the declining population of the kestrel in the Lake Champlain Islands, the project focused on community engagement and citizen science in partnership with the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS). Building on earlier work (two nest boxes were installed on conserved farmland in March 2024), the recently formed South Hero Conservation Commission (SHCC) held events to inform and inspire residents and encourage their participation in wild.. Read More

The Ripton Conservation Commission (RCC) began a new project during the Spring of 2024. Working with the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE), the RCC ventured out to find where vernal pools are located in the town of Ripton. This project will be ongoing and each Spring we will look to add a couple of additional vernal pools to our list.

To get us started, Vermont Center for Ecostudies recommended viewing some obvious spots along the Ripton-Goshen Road. While those spots turned out t.. Read More

Based on our recently conducted Natural Resource Inventory, and with the help of concerned local citizens, the Guilford Conservation Commission identified a stretch of Guilford Center Road that was particularly susceptible to collisions between motor vehicles and wildlife attempting to cross the road. The road divided two forest blocks that included a power line and a wetland. A Conservation Commissioner worked with the town's Road Commissioner to research what kinds of signage were available.. Read More

The Jericho Conservation Commission is always looking for ways to expand our existing public Pollinator Gardens. The first component of our AVCC Tiny-grant project is a new garden located near the sidewalk in front of our Town Hall. During Phase 1 (2022) after several diseased Red Maples were removed by the Town we replaced them with four new Serviceberry Trees purchased from the Native Plant Trust. During Phase 2 (funded by the AVCC grant) we added a section of pollinator plants to the beds.. Read More

The Preston Pond Conservation Area (PPCA), our much loved and visited Bolton Town Forest, was acquired and conserved by the Town in 2003 with help from the Vermont Land Trust. Changing circumstances along the main Notch Rd. trailhead into the area created an obstacle, a stewardship issue, which led us to this management project.

As you leave the Notch Rd. parking access point on the trail into the PPCA, the land slopes down to a point where the packed path on solid ground crosses betwe.. Read More

Thanks to the novel AVCC Tiny Grant support in the 2021 season, the Hartford Salamander Team (HST) was able to formally join the North Branch Nature Center’s ARC project. This new partnership secured vital professional training and data services to guide and ensure the safety of Salamander Team volunteers, as well as to bolster the scientific value of team efforts. 

The virtual training hosted by North Branch Nature Center’s ARC staff attracted over 60 Salamander Team volunteers a.. Read More

The purpose of this project by the Shrewsbury Conservation Commission (SCC) is to identify important wildlife road crossings in our town, and educate townspeople about the number and variety of animals whose travel corridors intersect our roadways. This will be with an eye towards convincing landowners to conserve/protect these areas and understand the importance of conserving forested land on each side of the roadway. The ultimate goal is to increase safety for the wildlife that must venture.. Read More

Our GCC applied to the Greensboro Selectboard to allocate $2,000 from the Greensboro Conservation Fund to complement other sources that were funding a conservation easement at the Green Mountain Monastery. The Selectboard agreed.

Updated research to help communities address the arrival in Vermont of the emerald ash borer was gathered to revise public service announcements developed in 2015-16 when EAB surrounded Vermont but had not been detected. The need to plan ahead and work together to address a problem is a message that can be helpful to all conservation goals.