In order to make real change in your town it is not enough to just understand the science behind land use planning. Real and substantial change occurs when community members rise as leaders and set visionary goals in order to adapt for a changing future. Leaders are people who guide communities to complete tasks that no one individual could have achieved alone. Join the Community Wildlife Program and (partner) to explore what it means to be an environmental leader in your town. We will dive into a variety of leadership styles, phases of group development, and ways to effectively collaborate with diverse groups of stakeholders. In the words of the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, "When the best leader's work is done the people say, We did it ourselves."

Presenters:

• Jens Hilke, Conservation Planner, VT Fish and Wildlife Department 

Register Now

In order to make real change in your town it is not enough to just understand the science behind land use planning. Real and substantial change occurs when community members rise as leaders and set visionary goals in order to adapt for a changing future. Leaders are people who guide communities to complete tasks that no one individual could have achieved alone. Join the Community Wildlife Program and (partner) to explore what it means to be an environmental leader in your town. We will dive into a variety of leadership styles, phases of group development, and ways to effectively collaborate with diverse groups of stakeholders. In the words of the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, "When the best leader's work is done the people say, We did it ourselves."

Presenters:

• Jens Hilke, Conservation Planner, VT Fish and Wildlife Department 

Repeat sessions of this webinar will be offered on the following two dates: 

• Session 1: Friday, September 22, 2023 10:00am-11:00am.   REGISTER
• Session 2: Tuesday, October 31, 2023, 1:00p.m. - 2:00p.m.   REGISTER

Some of Vermont’s most visible community trees and forests are those within the 27,000 acres of municipal right-of-way vegetation lining our scenic backroads. Beyond their often pleasing aesthetics, these plants, trees, and forests play an essential role in storm water management, invasive species monitoring, forest connectivity, and wildlife movement. To better inform the management of roadside vegetation, the Vermont Urban & Community Forestry Program conducted a roadside assessment along 200 miles of rural roads in 10 case study municipalities. In 2020, the findings of this project were published in, “Resilient Right-of-Ways: A guide to community stewardship of Vermont backroads”, providing town planners, tree boards, conservation commissions and highway crews with best management practices to maximize the ecological and economic benefits of their roadside vegetation. The VT Fish & Wildlife Department Community Wildlife Program is excited to partner with Joanne Garton of the VT Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation and VT Urban & Community Forestry for a deeper look at the opportunities and challenges of roadside tree and forest stewardship.

Presenters:

• Joanne Garton, Technical Assistance Coordinator, Urban & Community Forestry Program, Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation

• Jens Hilke, Conservation Planner, VT Fish and Wildlife Department 

Register Now

Some of Vermont’s most visible community trees and forests are those within the 27,000 acres of municipal right-of-way vegetation lining our scenic backroads. Beyond their often pleasing aesthetics, these plants, trees, and forests play an essential role in storm water management, invasive species monitoring, forest connectivity, and wildlife movement. To better inform the management of roadside vegetation, the Vermont Urban & Community Forestry Program conducted a roadside assessment along 200 miles of rural roads in 10 case study municipalities. In 2020, the findings of this project were published in, “Resilient Right-of-Ways: A guide to community stewardship of Vermont backroads”, providing town planners, tree boards, conservation commissions and highway crews with best management practices to maximize the ecological and economic benefits of their roadside vegetation. The VT Fish & Wildlife Department Community Wildlife Program is excited to partner with Joanne Garton of the VT Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation and VT Urban & Community Forestry for a deeper look at the opportunities and challenges of roadside tree and forest stewardship.

Presenters:

• Joanne Garton, Technical Assistance Coordinator, Urban & Community Forestry Program, Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation

• Jens Hilke, Conservation Planner, VT Fish and Wildlife Department 

Repeat sessions of this webinar will be offered on the following two dates: 

• Session 1: Tuesday, October 24, 2023, 1:00p.m. - 2:00p.m.    REGISTER
• Session 2: Tuesday, November 14 2023, 10:00a.m. - 11:00a.m.   REGISTER

Vermont’s increasing demand for housing and love of our forests is an opportunity to rethink the relationship between development and conservation. Providing housing for those who need it most while maintaining a connected, intact, and diverse ecosystem requires strategic land use planning at the town and regional level. Zoning can steer development into downtown, village, and growth centers and prevent forest fragmentation in rural areas. Towns that have redrawn their zoning lines and adapted development standards have successfully conserved large forest blocks and maintained wildlife connectivity across boundaries. Regional Planning Commissions offer technical assistance and funding opportunities to all member municipalities interested in protecting their valued natural resources. The VT Fish & Wildlife’s Community Wildlife Program has partnered with the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission’s Senior Planner, Darren Schibler, for a deeper understanding of zoning in our state’s fastest growing county.

Presenters:

• Darren Schibler, Senior Planner, Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission
• Jens Hilke, Conservation Planner, VT Fish and Wildlife Department 

Register Now

Vermont’s increasing demand for housing and love of our forests is an opportunity to rethink the relationship between development and conservation. Providing housing for those who need it most while maintaining a connected, intact, and diverse ecosystem requires strategic land use planning at the town and regional level. Zoning can steer development into downtown, village, and growth centers and prevent forest fragmentation in rural areas. Towns that have redrawn their zoning lines and adapted development standards have successfully conserved large forest blocks and maintained wildlife connectivity across boundaries. Regional Planning Commissions offer technical assistance and funding opportunities to all member municipalities interested in protecting their valued natural resources. The VT Fish & Wildlife’s Community Wildlife Program has partnered with the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission’s Senior Planner, Darren Schibler, for a deeper understanding of zoning in our state’s fastest growing county.

Presenters:

• Darren Schibler, Senior Planner, Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission
• Jens Hilke, Conservation Planner, VT Fish and Wildlife Department 

Repeat sessions of this webinar will be offered on the following two dates: 

• Session 1: Tuesday, October 3, 2023, 2:00p.m. - 3:00p.m.  REGISTER
• Session 2: Thursday, November 9, 2023, 10:00a.m. - 11:00a.m. REGISTER