Saving Special Places

SESSION 1 WORKSHOPS

9:25 - 10:55 AM
 

1A : The History of the White Mountain National Forest 

David Govatski (Friends of Pondicherry National Wildlife Refuge)

Why is an understanding of the key events and people that led to the creation of the White Mountain National Forest important today? We will start the story in 1831 and cover a century of forest conservation history and the creation of today's 194-million-acre national forest system. The emphasis will be on the White Mountain National Forest, but we will also cover the regional and national level events relevant to current events. 

1B: Defending Conservation: The Terrafirma Experience

Deborah Goard (Southeast Land Trust of NH) & Alex Metzger (Monadnock Conservancy)

In 2011, the Land Trust Alliance created Terrafirma, a charitable risk pool, as a way to insure member land trusts against the legal costs of defending conservation. After more than a decade of experience, we will explore what has been learned, current trends in challenges to conservation lands, and how coverage through Terrafirma can help. Examples of covered claims from the Monadnock Conservancy and SELT will describe how coverage from Terrafirma helped them successfully defend challenges to both conservation easements and fee-owned lands.

1C: Three Strategies for Better Boards

Jen Plowden (Land Trust Alliance) & Karen Grey (Wildlands Trust)

Board recruitment is essential for the sustainability of any organization. In this session, we’ll cover effective strategies to build the board you need, including identifying gaps on your board, drafting clear roles and expectations for new board members, and establishing an onboarding process. This workshop will introduce these critical concepts and provide practical tools you can bring home.

1D: Conserving Plant Diversity Under a Changing Climate

Mark Anderson (The Nature Conservancy)

Conserving Plant Diversity in New England (2021) is a new report resulting from a two-year collaboration between Native Plant Trust and The Nature Conservancy. The report provides a scientific framework and detailed roadmap for conservation action and land protection aimed at sustaining the diversity of plant species and habitats under a changing climate. In this talk, co-author Mark Anderson will discuss the key concepts, methods, goals, and results from the report and demonstrate the web tool for users to explore the results in detail across New England.

1E: Most Land Trusts Underestimate Philanthropic Potential: Let's Change That!

Robert Demont (Demont Associates) , Eric Arnold (Hale Education), Ted Darling (Cape Elizabeth Land Trust) and Beverly Shadley (Southeast Land Trust of NH)

With alarm bells sounding loudly about the repercussions of climate change, why has U.S. philanthropy not responded with upticks in giving for land trusts and other conservation organizations? A panel of high-performing pros with a deep bench of campaign fundraising and institutional advancement experience will address how we can move toward vibrant and generous conservation giving through more ambitious fundraising campaigns. The panel will also answer questions about what it really takes to build a strong fundraising program and culture of philanthropy at and with your organization. All participants will receive get a free copy of Bob Demont's book, "People Give to People" and other take-a-ways.

1F: Leading With Health and Mind: Building Resilient Teams

Leia Lowery (The Climate Initiative)

"Our people are our greatest asset,"—but are we investing in them? This interactive workshop offers practical strategies for building stronger cultures, fostering communication, preventing burnout, and supporting team growth. Designed for emerging and experienced leaders, supervisors, and those navigating upward, this interactive session features real-world stories from an executive director and small group problem-solving. Join the conversation to cultivate a thriving team and resilient organization.

SESSION 2 WORKSHOPS

11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
 

2A: ATLAS: Inclusive Nature Based Education for Future Conservationists

Lizzy Franceschini (Southeast Land Trust of NH) & Kristin Eberl (UNH Cooperative Extension)

All-Terrain Learning Adventures (ATLAS) is a partnership between the Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire (SELT) and UNH Extension to create the next generation of conservationists through social-emotional wild play and high-quality nature-based education. Come learn about the logistics of creating such a partnership program, what we do for student and teacher programming, and the impact we have seen the program have so far. Leave with ideas, materials, and an action plan for replicating an ATLAS program within your organization.  

2B: Utilizing Fee Owned Lands for Community Needs

Cassie Bernyk (Upper Valley Land Trust) & Rika Henderson (volunteer, Upper Valley Land Trust)

Join us to explore how conservation land can be used to combat food insecurity. The Upper Valley Land Trust will present their Food Pantry Gardens program, a model for utilizing fee owned lands to provide fresh produce to those in need. We will cover program development, community partnerships (including collaborations with various hunger relief programs), and volunteer engagement. Discover how your organization can make a difference by creating a sustainable program that benefits both the community and the land.

2C: Maximizing Volunteer Project Impact Through Professional Partnerships

Andy Crowley (Conservation Trail Services)

Learn how partnering with professionals can reduce staff workload, enhance volunteer effectiveness, and improve project outcomes. This workshop explores how expert support streamlines logistics, boosts volunteer engagement, and maximizes impact—especially for grant-match hours. Through real-world examples, participants will see why investing in professional guidance leads to more successful, sustainable projects. Whether you're seeking better efficiency or stronger results, this session provides practical strategies to elevate your volunteer programs and stewardship events.

2D: Best of Both Worlds: Conservation and Housing in the North Country

Leah Hart (The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire's Forests), Harrison Kanzler (Affordable Housing Education and Development) & Sally Manikian (The Conservation Fund)

There is no one solution to meet the need for housing across the State, but there are models for partnership where organizations can bring together their skills in conservation, community development, and land acquisition to achieve big things. Learn more about a particular example in Berlin about how 800 acres is serving community need for conserved land and housing.

2E: Remote Monitoring is in the Budget! Now What?

Naomi Brattlof (Society for the Protection of NH Forests) & Micah Tilles (Upper Valley Land Trust)

Two land trusts with established remote monitoring programs will share experiences with implementing a monitoring program for the first time (or how to give your existing program a tune up). The stewardship staff will dive deep into documenting remote monitoring observations and managing the data, and how to ensure consistency, increase efficiency, and reduce risk. We’ll also discuss how a remote monitoring program can build resilience within an existing stewardship program. The focus of this workshop is easement stewardship. 

2F: Prioritizing Land Protection and Freshwater Projects in a Changing Climate

Charles DeCurtis & Ben Wallace (The Nature Conservancy)

Update on TNC's Resilient and Connected Network (RCN) and the more recently developed Freshwater Resilient and Connected Network (FRCN). The session will include an overview of the scientific criteria and data that drive these models, how to use the tools for screening land protection and river restoration projects, and potential future applications of the tools. We hope this will be an opportunity for new users and seasoned practitioners to bring questions and suggestions for discussion.

SESSION 3 WORKSHOPS

2:00 - 3:00 PM
 

3A: Maintaining Easement Owner Relationships

Naomi Brattlof (Society for the Protection of NH Forests), Deborah Goard (Southeast Land Trust of NH) & Dan Ewald (Piscataquog Land Conservancy)

This panel of Easement stewardship staff from three different sized land trusts will address easement landowner relationships. They’ll answer questions including (but certainly not limited to): “How to prioritize relationship building when there are none?”; “How to maintain relationships despite staff turnover?”; and “What resources are other land trusts providing to their land owners?” We’ll also leave time for participants to share success stories of their own. Landowner relationships are a priority, so let’s dig in together!
 

3B: Land Conservation: How Are We Doing?

Peter Steckler (Northeast Conservation Services, LLC)

We'll look at land conservation status and trends in New Hampshire following a major update to NH GRANIT's Conservation/Public Lands data layer in 2024. Where are we making progress? Where are we falling behind? We'll also look at land cover change trends in relation to land conservation progress.  No wordy PowerPoint slides here, just maps and graphs (some tables too)!   
 

3C: Drafting Conservation Easements for Beginners

Lisetta Silvestri (Ransmeier & Spellman P.C.)

What is going on with tried and true conservation easements? Get a refresher on definitions. Learn whether solar is allowed in conserved areas. Consider if an Option to Purchase at Agricultural Value is part of or different than a Conservation Easement. Talk about what the IRS and courts are doing on Conservation Easements lately. Bring your questions and experiences!
 

3D: Understanding NRCS Agricultural Land Easement Funding Opportunities

Tracey Boisvert (NH Natural Resources Conservation Service) & Susie Howard (Upper Valley Land Trust)

Interested in pursuing Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) easement funding and don’t know where to start? Join NRCS and land trust staff to dive into what makes a successful ACEP-Agricultural Land Easement project.  We’ll review the types of projects suited for this funding source, how to apply, and what happens next if your project is selected. We’ll provide some helpful tips, potential pitfalls, and time for collaborative discussion and to answer questions.

3E: Good Forestry in the Granite State

Karen Bennett & Steve Roberge (UNH Cooperative Extension) 

Many easements refer to "Good Forestry in the Granite State" as a resource to guide management. This presentation will focus on how this resource helps us protect and manage the special places we care for across the state. This session will also highlight many of the new additions to Good Forestry in the Granite State.