NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT Ensuring a healthy environment

Sound management of Connecticut's forest, water, wildlife and recreational resources is a key concern of CFPA. Connecticut's 1.8 million acres of forest land provide watershed protection, wildlife habitat, wood products, recreation and economic benefits which all contribute to the state's high quality of life.

CFPA has long led the effort to assure that public and private natural resources are protected and enhanced through proper state and local land use planning, policies, laws, regulations, and on-the-ground practices. Working cooperatively with a wide range of agencies, organizations and groups enables CFPA to accomplish these objectives.

RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES Promoting parks, trails and greenways

CFPA is the "father" and "watchdog" of Connecticut's parks, trails and greenways. The Association maintains a close vigil over Connecticut's public and private parks, and works with state and local agencies and organizations to maintain and enhance them. CFPA also promotes efforts to acquire more land for outdoor recreation.

The well-known Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails are available for Connecticut residents to use, thanks to CFPA's volunteers who have worked for decades in cooperation with public and private landowners to maintain them. Guided hikes are offered on "Connecticut Trails Day" each year, which is a statewide event coordinated by CFPA.

CFPA is also dedicated to the acquisition and development of greenways throughout rural and urban Connecticut. These offer a variety of recreational and educational experiences for people of all ages, as well as those with disabilities.

LAND PRESERVATION Providing for the future

CFPA assists land acquisition efforts of the state, community land trusts and conservation organizations by providing technical expertise and, when necessary, by acquiring land. A strong advocate for acquiring more public and privately owned open space land in Connecticut, CFPA has been in the forefront of this issue.

The Association works cooperatively with many groups statewide, including the Land conservation Coalition for Connecticut, to protect and preserve land for future generations.

EDUCATION Informing the public, training future leaders CFPA is committed to providing a variety of high quality environmental education programs to a wide audience, including landowners, municipalities, teachers, students, natural resource professionals, and the conservation-minded public. Special  programs and events are held for members and the general public. Visit our Education page for more information about professional development workshops for formal and informal educators, student programs, scout bage programs as well as adule and family activities for members and the public.

ADVOCACY Making our voice heard for Connecticut's land and people In 1895 the founders of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association looked at the land about them and did not like what they saw, a landscape nearly devoid of trees and forest, a place where wildfires consumed what trees there were. they advocated for forest establishment, management and conservation, and succeeded admirably. so that we may enjoy this scenic landscape, they established the Blue Blazed Hiking Trail system, and this year will mark the 75th anniversary of this extraordinary, open to the public 700 mile trail network maintained entirely by CFPA volunteers. The Association's efforts have born fruit for over a century, but the gains have come to an end.  Connecticut is now losing forest land - and farmland - rather than gaining.  We lose potential for new Blue trails systems as our open space land gives way to sprawl. It is against these challenges that Connecticut Forest & Park Association sets its legislative priorities for 2004.  We will continue to advocate for the enactment of Land bank legislation (the community conservation Act) to allow connecticut communities to establish a reliable revenue stream for open space acquisition and use those funds to acquire and manage conservation land.  We also seek funding of existing state open space and farmland protection programs, and will pay close attention to Public Act 490.  This year we ensure the long term status and funding of the Connecticut Department of Agricultural, which under current plans, will be merged with the Department of consumer Protection.  We seek better funding of our Department of Environmental Protection, especially its state parks, and of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and the University of connecticut cooperative Extension System.  As always, the Association will work steadily on other conservation issues outlined on this page. For a complete copy of the Environmental Agenda 2004 please contact the association by e-mail at  CFPA , or call at (860) 346-2372

CFPA's Environmental Agenda 2004 Priorities Conservation Agencies   support and fund Department of Agriculture fund Department of Environmental Protection fund Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station fund UCONN Cooperative Extension System Land Conservation support land bank legislation fund Purchase-of-Development Rights program fund Open space and Watershed Matching Grants Program fund Recreation and Natural Heritage Trust program Watch Public Act 490 issues General Conservation support further study of all-terrain vehicles support trespassing, vandalism and littering legislation support efforts to recognize the birthday of Frederick Law Olmsted and the establishment of an Olmsted Trail support bottle deposits on bottled water and juice support return of bottle escheats to DEP  oppose Sunday hunting

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