Forest owners helping forest owners

Saving the world, one tree at a time

ECLFA/WDLT HOLDINGS

Did you know that 3,000 acres of open space are lost each day in the United States, mostly due to development?

The goal of the Wolf Den Land Trust (WDLT) is to preserve diverse habitats and open space for future generations, and to demonstrate healthy stewardship activities on this land. We are a private, 501-(c)(3) nonprofit, incorporated organization, which enables us to hold title in real estate and accept charitable donations.

ORIGIN AND STRUCTURE

Typically, a land trust is organized as a private, nonprofit, incorporated organization, enabling it to hold titles to real estate and to accept charitable donations. The purpose of land trusts in the U.S. is to preserve diverse habitats and open space for future generations. It is also an opportunity to demonstrate healthy stewardship activities for this land. The open land and natural resources found in these land trusts are very important to the communities and regions where they operate. Land trusts in the United States have been increasing by 23% a year or at a rate of one per week. In spite of this growth, even more are needed because in the USA we are losing land at the rate of 3000 acres per day, much of it to development.

More than half of the existing land trusts have been formed in the past 15 years. The Eastern Connecticut Forest Landowners Association (ECFLA) was founded in 1978.As of 2003, Connecticut is fortunate to have 115 land trusts or about 10% of the total in the United States.

In order to help carry out its mission of providing forest education and preserving open space, ECFLA founded and incorporated The Wolf Den Land Trust on September 17, 1984. Raymond “Rad” Ostby was our land trust chairman for many years. Dr. David Schroeder, Chairman of the Natural Resource Department at the University of Connecticut, was our Land Trust chairman. WDLT’s Shoemaker Forest was the first land trust property in Connecticut to have an approved Forest Stewardship Plan written for it under the federal Stewardship Incentive Program. The organization rapidly acquired land donated by local citizens.

Please refer to the map below for dates of acquisition, location and size of each parcel. A steward was appointed for each parcel for the purpose of managing the land and carrying out the wishes of the donor. The stewards meet on a regular basis to address management issues concerning the parcels for which they are responsible. “Stewardship classrooms” are scheduled where ECFLA members and our community can view stewardship practices on the ground.

ECFLA and WDLT are anxious to communicate and work closely with the community they serve, welcome new members and encourage inquiries concerning activities and suggestions as to how to better serve you.

HOLDINGS – see MAPS and more information

As of May 2014, Wolf Den Land Trust holdings in Fee Simple or Conservation Easements include 17 properties totaling 885.2 acres. They are listed below in order of acquisition. All are actively managed by professional foresters. Properties # 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 and 9 currently have a trail system, and are open to the public for passive recreation such as birding and day hiking. No motorized vehicles are allowed.

Management plans can be viewed by clicking on the link in the table below. Free Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed to open PDF files. Download Acrobat Reader.

A steward has been appointed for each property to manage the land and carry out the wishes of the donor. The chair of the land trust committee is listed on our CONTACT page. Our Stewardship Coordinator position is Joyce Meader at 860.230.4395.

#
NAME TOWN ACRES
Management Plans (PDF)
1
Shoemaker Demonstration Forest, Brooklyn Pike Scotland
51.4
2
Lester B. Williams Memorial Forest (1), Herrick Road Brooklyn
59.0
Management plan 1993-2003
3
Lester B. Williams Memorial Forest addition (2), Pomfret Road Brooklyn
15.0
4
Ferguson Conservancy, Pomfret Road Brooklyn
78.6
5
White Brook Sanctuary (Townsend), Darby Road Brooklyn
41.0
6
Mildred Bicknell Memorial Forest, Westford Hill Road Ashford
30.0
Plan currently unavailable
7
Merritt Gardner Memorial Forest, Ashford Center Road Ashford
17.0
8
Ostby Memorial Forest, East Old Route 6 Hampton
83.5
9
Rainsford B. Sherman Memorial Forest, Breakneck Hill Road Killingly
77.9
10
Blue Flag Meadow Hampton
92.7
Maps | Plan |  Wildlife Habitat Plan
11
Joseph J. Brumbach Memorial Forest, Eastford Road Eastford
22.0
Map
12
George F. Cloutier Memorial Forest, Ballamahack Road Windham
100.6
Info
13
Lehtimaki, Stetson Road Brooklyn 13.0
14
Caliendo Property, Lowell Davis Road Thompson
11.3

TOTAL ACREAGE: 693.0

Wolf Den Land Trust also holds conservation easements on three properties. ECFLA is not responsible for preparing management plans for these properties. None are open to the public.

PROPERTY TOWN ACRES
1
Frank C. Koch Memorial Forest Canterbury
50
2
Racy Cantebury
110
3
Ostby Hampton
40
TOTAL ACREAGE
200

For More Information:

8: Gardner 7: Bicknell LB Williams, Ferguson 9: Ostby 6: Eliassen Shoemaker 10: Sherman 5: Townsend