Cornwall conservation easement

Cornwall Conservation Trust led the way as the first land trust in Connecticut to participate in the Wildlands Partnership. Three adjacent properties totaling 375 acres are now protected with a forever-wild conservation easement granted to Northeast Wilderness Trust. Situated one town south of the Orr-Andrawes Wilderness Sanctuary, which was protected in 2012, the Cornwall easement marks the Wilderness Trust’s first conservation easement in Connecticut.

Nestled in the verdant and densely forested northwest corner of the state, this cluster of preserves contributes to connectivity at a regional scale. Their significance extends beyond their boundaries, forming a new forever-wild link in the ‘Green Mountains to Hudson Highlands’ wildlife corridor as identified by the Staying Connected Initiative. The preserves are adjacent to the 4,000-acre Mohawk State Forest, which itself is adjacent to part of the rugged and remote 4,000-acre Wyantenock State Forest.

A side-trail of the Mohawk Trail provides people with an opportunity to experience the landscape on its rewilding journey. Northeast Wilderness Trust is hard at work to expand partnerships in this ecologically important corner of Connecticut.

The Wildlands Partnership offers partner land trusts funding to protect land as forever-wild. Since its inception in 2020, the initiative has protected 8,954 acres.

Cornwall, Connecticut

375 acres

1 mile of the Mohawk Trail

Part of an 8-mile protected wildlands corridor

Whip-poor-will