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Founded 1895 		CFPA's Land Conservation Program

Conserving Connecticut's Landscape since 1895!

Land Conservation

CFPA's leadership over the years set a national example for successful forest conservation and reversed the damage to Connecticut's natural resources. When the organization began its work, Connecticut was 20% forested: today it is 60% forested. CFPA maintains a vigilant role in the sound management and protection of our land, water and wildlife resources.

Over the past century, CFPA has been instrumental in the acquisition of more than 100 state parks and forest for public use and enjoyment.
  • CFPA continues to champion the needs of these public recreational facilities to assure that agencies responsible for their stewardship receive the funding, personnel and equipment necessary to maintain these natural treasures.
  • CFPA is working to protect forest and working lands by obtaining conservation easements and property by gift or purchase.
  • CFPA continues efforts to protect the Blue Blazed hiking trail system in partenership with laocal communities and landowners.
  • CFPA has established the Hibbard Trust for Land and Trails to be used for accomplishing these efforts.

 Goodwin Conservation Center
CFPA's Headquarters building -
The James L. Goodwin Conservation Center Rockfall, CT.
This page will be expanded soon to include all  of CFPA's land protection activities.



To assist in the purchase of this property and to contribute to the Hibbard  Trust contact CFPA.
CFPA Plans to Conserve Willington Forestland

CFPA is pleased to announce that it has entered into a purchase-and-sale agreement to buy 80 acres of hemlock and hardwood forest along the Fenton River in Willington.  These 80 acres, known as the North Property, are currently owned by the Town of Willington.  The town was given the land as a gift so that the land could be sold and the revenues generated be put toward the construction of a new public library.

CFPA will buy the land from the Town of Willington for $250,000.  CFPA will contribute $30,000 from its Hibbard Trust for Land & Trails and will pay the remaining $220,000 with a loan from the Norcross Wildlife Foundation.  CFPA is commencing a fundraising effort to raise the $220,000 needed to repay the loan.  CFPA is seeking contributions from conservation-minded individuals, foundations and corporations.  Once the loan is repaid, CFPA will place a permanent conservation restriction upon the North Property.

“This land conservation effort is unlike any other because your donation will help in two ways,” said Adam R. Moore, CFPA’s Executive Director and Forester.  “First, your contribution is saving land, and second, your contribution is building a library.  As charitable giving goes that’s hard to beat.” 

“The North Property is perfectly suited to conservation,” added Mr. Moore.  “It is crossed by a beautiful stretch of the Blue-Blazed Nipmuck Trail, it is located along the Fenton River, it is in the watershed of the University of Connecticut and Willimantic, it has a lovely hemlock grove and abuts 300 acres of forest owned by UCONN.  It is on a dirt road in a rural part of town yet is just a few minutes from the Storrs campus.”

CFPA is also working with UCONN to explore the possibility of conserving all or a portion of its abutting 300 acres of forest and the possibility of establishing a forest research station on the premises.

“This conservation effort would not be happening without the dedication of Dan Donahue of the Norcross Wildlife Foundation and Mike Eldredge, First Selectman of the Town of Willington,” said Mr. Moore.  “We wish to thank Mr. Eldredge and the citizens of Willington for working with CFPA to save this land.”

CFPA can provide additional information and contact information for Messrs. Eldredge or Donahue upon request.
nipmuck trail

Nipmuck Trail on the North Property




fenton river

Fenton River on the North Property

 
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