About Us
We help maintain the ecological health and economic vitality of our communities.
The Northern Rivers Land Trust was founded in 2006 by residents of Hardwick and six neighboring towns who were interested in preserving the area’s rural character by protecting farms, forestland, water, and wildlife habitat. NRLT is a private, nonprofit 501(c)3 land conservation organization supported by its membership and governed by a volunteer board of trustees. We are not connected with local or state government
Our mission is..
To preserve and aid the preservation of all types of wild nature, including wetlands, wildlife habitat, and other significant natural areas
To conserve and aid the conservation of agricultural and forest lands and encourage their productive use
To protect and enhance the scenic natural beauty of the area
To acquire and aid in the acquisition of lands suitable for public recreation for the benefit of the public
To aid in the preservation of significant historic buildings, structures, and sites to maintain the cultural heritage of the area
To assist state and local housing authorities and non-profit community land trusts in the acquisition of land and buildings suitable for providing affordable housing to low- and moderate-income people
To promote educational, research, and related activities intended to bring about the conservation and proper use of our natural resources, particularly in land conservation
To provide technical assistance and advice to municipalities and local land trusts and pursue other cooperative endeavors to achieve these objectives
How we serve landowners
We are a small, volunteer-run organization interested in working with landowners who may be new to land protection. We help owners explore the different ways that they can meet their goals to conserve land they love, often before it is conveyed to new owners or the next generation.
NRLT operates primarily by accepting donated conservation easements on private lands. An easement is a tool for a landowner to conserve important resources, open space, wildlife, and recreation opportunities for the benefit of future generations. We assume the responsibility of monitoring to ensure continued protection of these resources.
We often serve as a “first stop” for landowners who seek information about the nature of conservation easements. We can determine whether their specific needs may be better met by another land trust in the region or by larger organizations such as the Vermont Land Trust or the Vermont River Conservancy.
How we serve towns
The NRLT can also partner with local towns interested in protecting town-owned forests and other landscapes. An easement on a working landscape can ensure that its conservation values are upheld in perpetuity in the event of changes in town governance. Recent initiatives in Vermont to partner with organizations such as The Trust for Public Lands have created and protected new town-owned community forests open to the public.
How we serve our region
We serve the following towns: Albany, Craftsbury, Greensboro, Hardwick, Walden, Wolcott, and Woodbury. Our bylaws allow trustees to work with landowners in towns adjacent to any of the seven towns. The parcel must have high conservation values that meet our mission, and no other land trust exists to work with that town.