VERMONT – The Buffalo Mountain Town Forest project was among seven Vermont conservation projects that received funding from the The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Vermont. Of $500,000 in funding to support the protection of 1,460 acres of critical habitat across the state, $100,000 was awarded to the Hardwick project, the maximum available in this round of grants.
The award to Northern Rivers Land Trust for Hardwick’s Buffalo Mountain Town Forest noted its walkability from downtown Hardwick and hosting 15 rare plant species. “Conserving this 329-acre area will bolster the protection of a corridor stretching from the vast Woodbury Mountain Preserve down to the Lamoille River,” said the TNC announcement.
“Locally owned and managed town forests are essential to the lives of Vermonters,” said Northern Rivers Land Trust Board Chair Jack Travelstead. “Buffalo Mountain Town Forest will give Hardwick residents and visitors ready access to outdoor recreation, contributing to community vitality while protecting clean water and preventing forest fragmentation.”
In its announcement, TNC said its Vermont Biodiversity Protection Fund (VBPF) supports land protection projects in priority regions across the state. This round of the VBPF, leveraged $2,792,423 in funding from other sources that will maintain regional forest connectivity, support biodiversity and improve Vermont’s climate resilience. These grants build upon the first round of the VBPF, bringing the total awarded to $1 million.
“Vermont has a goal of conserving 30% of its lands and waters by 2030, which requires a strong network of conservation partners, including local land trusts, state agencies and community supporters. The Vermont Biodiversity Protection Fund is an investment in Vermont’s conservation landscape to catalyze critical land protection work in key areas,” the TNC information said.
The six other projects awarded funding this winter are:
Funds for Wennberg Forest in Waterbury were awarded to The Vermont Land Trust for a 226-acre site that adds to a critical connectivity zone between the Mount Mansfield Forest Block and Worcester Range.
Ledge Brook Headwaters in Grafton received funds to Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association for a 130-acre property that is an expansion to a block of more than 3,000 acres of existing conserved land.
The Clyde River Conservation Connection in Charleston project received funds awarded to Vermont River Conservancy for a site with freshwater benefits. The 155-acre riverfront parcel will protect 1.5 miles of river corridor along the Clyde River, and 105 acres of wetlands.
Funds for Simpson Brook Stepping Stone in Townshend were awarded to Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation for protection of a 309-acre property to secure permanent public access rights, ensuring community members can access the area for activities like hiking, hunting, fishing and cross-country skiing.
For Pinneo Forest in Bolton, the award to Trust for Public Land will add 278 acres in Bolton to Mount Mansfield State Forest.
For Maple Crossing in Weston, the award to Mount Holly Conservation Trust will conserve a forested, 33-acre property to protect more than 2,000 feet of tributaries to the West River, improving the flood resilience of the area.
The next round of VBPF funding will open to applicants in Spring 2026. Land trusts, municipalities, and state agencies are eligible to apply. For more information on the Vermont Biodiversity Protection Fund visit nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/vermont/stories-in-vermont/vermont-biodiversity-fund/
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.
