Land Ethic Vermont
Projects Engaging Communities in a Land Ethic Across Vermont
Background on Land Ethic Vermont
Aldo Leopold, who coined the term land ethic in his 1949 essay of the same name, described a land ethic as a philosophy that “changes the role of Homo sapiens from conqueror of the land community to plain member and citizen of it”. Leopold called on each person to live by a land ethic and believed this was accessible to everyone.
A group of Vermont organizations, self-titled as Land Ethic Vermont, began working in 2018 to develop this thinking community of Vermont environmental professionals. We do this by taking time to examine our personal land ethics, while practicing skills to support the evolution of a land ethic in our broader communities.
Land Ethic Vermont held a Land Ethic Leader training for 30 professionals in 2019, with a grant from the High Meadows Fund, guided by trainers from the Aldo Leopold Foundation. A second training will occur in 2020 or 2021.
It is the intention of Land Ethic Vermont that Land Ethic Leaders will become part of a network and bring these land ethic concepts and conversations into their workplaces, local volunteer boards, churches, schools, or other groups. The goal is for all Vermonters, no matter their background or circumstances, to explore and develop a land ethic, and to spark or strengthen partnerships that protect Vermont’s natural resources.
Land Ethic Vermont Organizations
Land Ethic Leaders Projects
Click on a point to view more details about land ethic projects throughout Vermont.
Project Spotlights
Leopold Bench Workshops
A number of Leopold bench workshops have been held throughout the state to teach participants about land ethic themes.
In October 2018, in a collaboration with the Forest Stewards Guild, Vermont Land Trust, and NorthWoods Stewardship Center, participants built Leopold benches and discussed land ethics. All benches were built from white pine harvested at NorthWoods Stewardship Center.
Leopold Bench at NorthWoods Stewardship Center in 2018
Two other Leopold bench workshops were run in 2019 in Groton and Craftsbury. All benches were built using lumber locally sourced from each location. Two more workshops are planned for 2020.
One of the Leopold bench workshops was done in collaboration with Sterling College and Craftsbury Academy. Students read excerpts from A Sand County Almanac and built benches from cedar milled at local sawmill in Albany. Before building benches students visited sawmill to see cedar being milled.
New Hunter Workshop
At the beginning of the Fall 2019 hunting season, partners from the Vermont Land Trust, Vermont Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, Vermont Dept. of Forests, Parks & Recreation, and Backcountry Hunters & Anglers held a workshop in Richmond to introduce new and beginner hunters to land ethic themes.
Boat Access Project on the Nulhegan River
In July 2019, the Nulhegan Youth Conservation Crew, NorthWoods Stewardship and staff from the Northern Forest Canoe Trail worked together to construct a stone staircase along the Nulhegan River. The river access project will allow for the safe portage of canoes and kayaks around a section of white water rapids on the Nulhegan River. The project was funded by the Tillotson Fund.
National Public Lands Day
In August 2019, conservation partners gathered at the Nulhegan Basin Division of the Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge to re-deck the largest public access bridge on the Refuge for National Public Lands Day. The lower black branch bridge is 75' long and provides the public access to more than 40 miles of gravel roads and 45 square miles of federally conserved lands. The project was an enormous success, with over 25 people working together to improve public access in Vermont.
Hinesburg Town Forest Walks
An ongoing series of themed public walks in the Hinesburg Town Forest explore the importance of Town Forests and healthy forest management on our landscapes and in our lives.
The VT Dept. of Forests, Parks & Recreation, Hinesburg Conservation Commission, and VT Dept. of Fish & Wildlife partnered together for this project, reaching 150+ people so far.
Land Ethic Leaders Group
- Audubon Vermont
- Backcountry Hunters & Anglers
- Craftsbury Outdoor Center
- Green Mountain Club
- High Meadows Fund
- Merck Forest & Farmland Center
- The Nature Conservancy
- Northern Forest Conservation Service
- NorthWoods Stewardship Center
- Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk-Abenaki Nation
- Richmond Free Library
- US Fish & Wildlife Service
- US Forest Service - Green Mountain NF
- USFWS Partners for Fish & Wildlife
- UVM Extension
- Vermont Coverts
- Vermont Dept. of Fish & Wildlife
- Vermont Dept. of Forests, Parks & Recreation
- Vermont Land Trust
- Vermont Woodlands Association
- Windham Regional Woodland Association
- Winooski Valley Parks District
- UVM Extension
