Welcome to our Conservation News Room. We hope you'll visit often to stay informed about conservation projects and big wins that we are reporting on from around Connecticut. Thanks for reading!
November 2024
Tidings and Buoys
It’s one of the most wonderful times of the year, full of celebration and traditions—like the lobster trap trees made of buoys in two local towns. This year, The Nature Conservancy contributed buoys that will be hanging on the Stonington Lobster Trap Tree and the Milford Holiday Buoy Tree. The bouys were painted by Tebben Gill Lopez, TNC's marketing and communications manager in Connecticut.
The “trees” in Stonington and Milford are built with stacked lobster traps, and buoys hang from every inch. We love that they represent our beautiful Connecticut coastline, our local marine life and ecosystem, and the ways they all contribute to our state. They also represent an opportunity to highlight the importance of removing lobster traps from the water once they’re no longer being used, to protect Long Island Sound and marine life.
Stonington Buoy
The Biodiversity Buoy is decorating Stonington’s tree, depicting essential pollinators and pollinator plants native to our state. Pollination is important for a strong, healthy ecosystem. Most food for humans comes from flowering plants, and more than 80 percent of flowering plants need pollination.
Milford Buoy
The Reconnected Waterways Buoy will hang on Milford’s tree, highlighting the importance of migratory fish like alewife, as well as mollusks like clams and oysters, to Connecticut’s waterways. These species play a crucial role in our aquatic ecosystems, serving as a vital food source for many predators and helping to maintain the health of our rivers and streams. They also improve water quality and contribute to healthier and more resilient marine environments.
July 2024
On the Move!
The Nature Conservancy is turning over a new leaf in Connecticut! After 16 years at 55 Church Street in New Haven, we have moved down the street to the 16th floor of the One Century Tower at 265 Church Street.
Our team is pleased to remain in downtown New Haven, where we have long partnered with Yale University and its students, conducted work focused on the nearby Long Island Sound, expanded an urban conservation program, collaborated with local nonprofit organizations and much more. New Haven also provides a centralized location, as TNC’s work spreads throughout the state to conserve 50+ preserves, 80+ easements, and carry out freshwater and coastal work. Access to train stations and public transportation is an additional benefit, and staff who live nearby enjoy biking to the office.
While this was a team effort, a special shout-out goes to TNC volunteer Jane Aldieri, who was instrumental in so many ways, including finding new homes for furniture that was no longer needed! The new space features a smaller footprint, more collaborative workspace, and recycled materials from a past building tenant.
April 2024
Time is ticking on climate action.
The Nature Conservancy and supporters in Connecticut have been asking Governor Lamont for a special session to pass the climate omnibus bill. TNC has been urging representatives to complete the work this summer—let’s not go another year without any major climate legislation being passed!
Connecticut’s climate omnibus bill (HB 5004) didn’t come up for a Senate vote before the end of the regular legislative session, despite being passed in the House. Call Governor Lamont’s office today to voice your support for the special session at 860-566-4840, ext. 1. You can also email his office at governor.lamont@ct.gov.
The state’s greenhouse gas emissions are trending upwards, and the growing costs of rising temperatures and extreme weather events are impacting our communities. Nature, Connecticut residents and our economy cannot wait another year for progress. The clock is ticking!
October 2024
Offshore Wind Energy 101
Did you know the world’s largest offshore wind farm can power over a million homes? Offshore wind energy is transforming the global energy landscape, and Connecticut has a big opportunity to join in—if we act now.
This affordable, long-term energy source offers a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. It’s essential for tackling climate change in the Northeast, potentially reducing annual CO2 emissions by 42%. This translates to $362 million in annual public health benefits from avoided pollution.
Have questions about costs and impacts? Here are three key facts about offshore wind energy:
- Cost-Effective Energy: Offshore wind can hold the line on energy bills despite initial construction costs. Advances in technology, economies of scale, and wind as a free energy source make it competitive with traditional sources. Despite potentially higher “list prices” (quoted cost per kilowatt hour) the way offshore wind affects energy markets means offshore wind can actually help hold the line on electric bill costs. More energy options can also mean lower costs overall. See a study on this topic by research firm Synapse.
- Stable Prices: Offshore wind is a secure, local energy source, especially during winter. New England currently relies on a volatile global market for oil and gas. To prevent winter energy shortfalls, New England subsidizes oil and gas, costing rate-payers hundreds of millions annually.
- Infrastructure Upgrade: Electricity demand will double by 2050. Offshore wind can play a major role in meeting this demand, mitigating the need for new, costly, and polluting fossil fuel infrastructure upgrades and/or power plants.
The cost of inaction is high. Building offshore wind now will save New England money by 2030. Offshore wind is an investment in our future—for nature, and for people today and generations to come.
September 2024
Renowned marine biologist, Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, joined The Nature Conservancy for Nature Talks.
We were thrilled to be joined by Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson for Nature Talks at the Branford House on University of Connecticut's Avery Point campus in Groton. Along the beautiful and poignant backdrop of the Connecticut coastline, Johnson engaged in conversation with The Nature Conservancy’s director of climate and strategic initiatives, Sally McGee and moderator Rachael Jay, about our relationship with the ocean and the power we have to save it.
According to Dr. Johnson, voting, protesting, donating and lowering our carbon footprints does help. However, to ease the current climate crisis, she invites us to harness our individual talents—“our superpowers”—to create the radical changes we need. We invite you to watch the recording in case you missed it!
November 2024
Nature Without Limits: Burnham Brook's New All-Terrain Wheelchair
We are thrilled share that our Burnham Brook Preserve has a new all-terrain wheelchair that makes the preserve accessible to more visitors. To make this happen, The Nature Conservancy collaborated with Starr Adventures, owned by Suze and Scott Trager, on acquiring the All-Terrain Track Chair (manufactured by Action Trackchair). Starr Adventures works with a sister corporation, SOAR, that specializes in outdoor access for people with mobility impairments. With the chair on-site, TNC is working with Starr Adventures on developing a program to ensure that volunteers are present to host visitors who are interested in using the chair.
Since the delivery, TNC’s Dave Gumbart and Martha Rice have hosted friends who require the use of a wheelchair to explore trails at Burnham Brook in order to gather feedback on the All-Terrain Track Chair and the wheelchair-accessible trails. And some reviews are in:
“You have no idea how nice it is to get outside and have this control.” – Deb Lees, after using the chair on the trails
“I can’t wait to come back and experience this at different times of the year.” – David Gephard, after his ride
The all-terrain wheelchair will be available through reservation by Spring 2025.
August 2024
A new kiosk awaits visitors to TNC's Lucius Pond Ordway – Devil’s Den Preserve.
At Lucius Pond Ordway – Devil’s Den Preserve, a digital kiosk waits in the parking area for interested hikers who want to learn more about the trails or conservation policies. From digital maps to videos sharing hiking best practices, this tool is a valuable asset for you as a visitor, and for The Nature Conservancy’s Connecticut stewardship team.
A culmination of many team members’ efforts, this kiosk increases TNC’s presence at the preserve. You may see land stewards, but if they are busy, the kiosk is there to fill you in. It heads off safety and conservation concerns, while also offering more in-depth information to help enhance visitors’ experiences.
With one click on the home screen, you are able to change the kiosk language between English and Spanish. Not only does this give you access to trail directions in a different language, but all the informational videos are also subtitled in Spanish to ensure preserve visitors can access all the information available.
Inspired by a kiosk installed by at TNC’s South Cape May Meadows preserve in New Jersey, our Director of Saugatuck Preserves, Cynthia Fowx, brought the idea to life in Connecticut. Our Preserve Visitor Safety and Engagement Specialist, Ben Croll, helped with design and informational videos.
We hope you will check out the kiosk the next time you visit Devil’s Den Preserve. Download a map to your phone, and see how this tool can make your time with nature even more enjoyable!
June 2024
Local students forge new paths, through trail building and hands-on training in a conservation career.
Students from Franklin Academy recently joined The Nature Conservancy at Burnham Brook Preserve in East Haddam to help clear a trail. TNC's Connecticut River Preserves Manager David Gumbart showed them how to begin preparing for a new path and about the safe use of hand tools and proper pruning techniques. The group also enjoyed a preserve walk and discussion about how the worlds of conservation and equity, inclusion and access intersect and benefit each other.
Our staff enjoys welcoming the students to help with various projects. Last year, they attended an educational program and guided hike before building bluebird houses as part of a Capstone Project. This partnership is made possible through a grant from the Community Foundation of Middlesex County.
May 2024
They came. They saw. Actually, they chain-sawed.
The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut held a chainsaw workshop this spring, where TNC land stewards sharpened their skills and practiced safe cutting. The team is always prepared for times when storms cause damage, or fallen trees and limbs need to be cleared from trails. From safety checks of chainsaws, to different types of cuts, to laws, regulations and safety gear, TNC staff covered it all with Bill of Game of Logging at our Sunny Valley Preserve.
Sunny Valley Preserve Director Wayne Woodard explained why these workshops are essential, noting “The thing about clearing trails is we have all different types of storm damage. It’s not always simple, like if you just have a simple tree fall across a trail, so we’re learning how to safely come in. As a steward for The Nature Conservancy, we do have trails we maintain, but we also have entrances to maintain, and when we have to go into a piece of property, you just never know when a tree is going to be down, and so it’s all about safety.”
April 2024
Pitching In For Plovers
Volunteers and staff from The Nature Conservancy joined with the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) and Audubon Connecticut to set up string fencing along the coast at Griswold Point in Old Lyme to protect piping plover nests. The shorebirds lay their eggs in the sand—and they’re nearly impossible to notice when walking at a beach.
TNC has completed this work for decades—in partnership with the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds—particularly at Griswold Point. Volunteers like James Buchanan, Wesley Frank and Steve Olshewski join in every year and are dedicated advocates for shorebirds.
The New London Day also featured the work on the front page of the newspaper..
June 2024
An Extreme Start To Summer—Especially in Cities
June’s heat wave gave everyone across Connecticut a sudden and extreme start to summer. But cities faced an extra challenge: the “heat island effect.”
Drew Goldsman, The Nature Conservancy's urban conservation director in Connecticut, discussed the issue and its impact with News 8, Channel 3, NBC CT and Fox 61.
Urban heat islands occur when a large percentage of an area’s surface includes pavement and buildings rather than green space and trees. It can feel warmer in cities because these surfaces retain heat—and amplify and re-radiate that heat at the end of the day, Goldsman says. And because there can be fewer trees and greenery in cities, you don’t have the cooling effect that trees can provide through evapotranspiration.
The heat island effect increases energy costs, air pollution levels and heat-related illness and mortality.
It's one of the reasons why initiatives like the Connecticut Urban Forest Network for Equity and Resilience—which TNC will launch here in Connecticut—are so important for the overall wellbeing of our communities.
April 2024
Bridgeport students receive a special delivery.
Students at Beardsley School in Bridgeport recently took home a different kind of backpack--ones that were filled with supplies for spending time in nature.
Thanks to a donation from Milford-based Athletic Brewing Company, The Nature Conservancy visited the school and delivered Osprey Packs that held Hydro Flasks, rain notebooks, crayons, bandanas with animal track patterns, a compass and more. Ben Croll, Preserve Visitor Safety and Engagement Specialist at TNC's Devil’s Den Preserve, showed students how to use the tools and led outdoor activities under a bright blue sky.
Both TNC and the students are grateful to Athletic Brewing for its generosity and helping kids to explore, connect with the outdoors, and be curious.
July 2024
Great Meadows Marsh has attracted an army of local supporters over the past century.
Back in the 1920’s, Roger Tory Peterson and other prominent ornithologists living in the New York City area would take the train out to Stratford to visit what they considered one of the best birding sites in the Northeast. Later in the 1960s, when a developer proposed turning the area into a major deepwater port, the Connecticut legislature responded with the passage of the laws to protect these tidal wetlands. In the 1990’s, a bi-partisan group of legislators—including Rosa DeLauro, Chris Shays and Joe Lieberman—urged by thousands of conservationists around the state, secured over $12 million to add the Great Meadows Marsh to the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge.
More recently, in 2020, Audubon Connecticut, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service broke ground on a restoration project at the marsh, now a Globally Important Bird Area. The Nature Conservancy was one of many supporters that raised $3.07 million in additional funding for the project to restore 33 acres of Stratford salt marsh.
Great Meadows Marsh contains the largest block of un-ditched salt marsh remaining in Connecticut. The rare Snowy Owl can be seen in this special place and it is also an important habitat for horseshoe crabs and blue crabs, the endangered Marsh Pink flower, Saltmarsh Sparrow and other migratory animals like Striped Bass. However, this unique habitat faces numerous threats today. Along with losing 700 acres of the marsh, dredging, non-native plants and rising sea levels have degraded the marsh. In response, TNC's Volunteer Coordinator in Connecticut, Martha Rice, works with Connecticut Audubon to coordinate volunteers who plant native grasses and shrubs during at the restoration site.
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