United States & Canada Seminar

Session sponsored by the Sweetwater Trust and Ben & Jerry’s

The landscape of the Northern Appalachian region reflects an incredible story of recovery. After centuries of massive clearing, the forests are returning and wildlife rebounding. While cause for hope, this recovery is incomplete. The natural heritage that defines this region is at risk. With less than four percent of the Northern Appalachians protected as wilderness, the preservation of more wild land is critical to ensuring long-term ecological integrity. The most common model for wilderness preservation in the United States is public land designated as Wilderness under the Wilderness Act. However, more than 90% of the northeastern United States is privately owned; thus, this model is insufficient. Therefore, preservation of wilderness through private land acquisition and protection is the most prominent tool used by conservationists in the northeastern Untied States.

Over the past decade approximately 10 million acres of land in the northeastern US have changed ownership. These changes put the region at risk; while at the same time provide an opportunity for conservationists to purchase land. This session will review, explore and highlight: the natural and political history of the Northern Appalachian region; the changing landscape; status of conservation lands; specific land transactions; tools used to advance private wild land preservation; successful and unsuccessful models; funding private land conservation; and bi-national collaboration.

Panelists – Presentations and Q&A
Tom Butler, Vermont, author of forthcoming wildlands philanthropy book, confirmed
Kathleen H. Fitzgerald, Massachusetts, Northeast Wilderness Trust, Director, confirmed
Joe Martens, New York, Open Space Institute, invited
Terri Monahan, Quebec, Appalachian Corridor Appalachien, Directrice Générale, invited
James Sullivan, Nova Scotia, Two Countries One forest, Executive Director, invited
Karin Tilberg, Maine, Maine Department of Conservation, Deputy Commissioner, invited
Steve Trombulak, Vermont, Middlebury College, Professor and conservation biologist, confirmed

For details: Northeast Wilderness Trust, 14 Beacon Street, Suite 506, Boston, MA 02108
617-742-0628, www.newildernesstrust.org