MLTN Infoline – December 13, 2023
|
Best Wishes to All and Thanks For a Great Year
|
|
|
This will be our final newsletter of 2023. As the year comes to a close, we want to thank all of you for your support during this year of transition. The past twelve months have felt like a whirlwind. In addition to planning both a virtual conference and our first in-person Maine Land Conservation Conference since 2019, we learned our longtime Land Trust Program Director Warren Whitney would be retiring. While we conducted a search to fill his large shoes, we also embarked, along with the rest of Maine Coast Heritage Trust staff, on a strategic planning process. It was also a very active legislative session in Augusta, where we saw some important victories for Land for Maine’s Future and other conservation-related legislation.
Suffice it to say, it’s been a busy twelve months. Thanks so much for your support and good wishes throughout the year, as we found our way AND a new Land Trust Program Director. We’re looking forward to an exciting 2024. Until then, we wish you a safe and joyous holiday season.
May your homes be merry and bright,
Angela, Jeff, and Donna
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LMF Conservation and Recreation Request for Proposals
|
|
Last Friday, the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Land for Maine’s Future Program (LMF) announced its next call for Conservation and Recreation proposals. The latest requests are for Projects of Statewide Significance and Community Conservation Projects.
This is the third year of funding made possible with the $40 million appropriated by Governor Mills and the state legislature in 2021. Thus far, the LMF Board has allocated over $26 million in support of more than 60 conservation and recreation, water access, farmland, and working waterfront projects.
Eligible LMF applicants include nonprofit land conservation organizations, cities, towns, state agencies, or other eligible holders of conservation easements under Title 33 MRSA, Section 476(2). An application must include full knowledge and agreement from the landowner that their project is up for consideration for LMF funding.
A copy of the LMF Workbook, which contains all the information necessary to apply for LMF funds, is now available on the LMF web page.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date Set for Western & Inland Maine Regional Land Trust Meeting
|
|
|
Wednesday, January 10, 2024 10:30am-12:30pm
Bethel Inn, Bethel
This will be the last of our regional meetings for the season. The Western & Inland Maine group covers the largest area of the state and we appreciate your willingness to travel the distance to gather together with your peers!
If you’d like to attend, please RSVP. We look forward to a lively conversation with the group!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2024 Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative Request for Applications
|
|
|
Applications Due: Friday, January 12, 2024
Over the last two years, the Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative has included thousands of students throughout Maine in its Coastal Ecology and Inland Forestry Programs. Now the program is accepting applications for 2024. Funded programs will run from mid-winter until September 1st, 2024. Schools, private and nonprofit organizations, municipal parks and recreation departments that are current members of the Maine Recreation and Park Association, and libraries can apply for the 2024 Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative grants through the Maine Department of Education (DOE). These grants support hands-on, engaging, interdisciplinary outdoor learning and career exploration opportunities that connect students with Maine’s amazing natural environments and landscapes. This funding can potentially be used to facilitate outdoor learning programs before, during, or after school; on weekends; during school breaks and/or over the summer. Check out past programs here.
For more information, explore the 2024 Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative Request for Applications here. See RFA 202311223.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conservation Landscape Certification Program
|
|
|
Are you interested in developing your backyard or woodlot to improve it for wildlife and ecosystem health? Would you like to learn easy ways to improve soil and water quality from your backyard? Do you want to see a larger diversity of pollinators in your gardens but don’t know where to start? This program might be right for you!! This free certification program, developed by Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) in Androscoggin, Sagadahoc, Waldo, and Lincoln-Knox counties, helps landowners implement conservation practices in an easy to follow, systematic way.
Interested landowners can start by looking at their checklist to see what criteria their property already meets, and get ideas for new practices or plantings to improve the space. Landowners can also request guidance and ideas from SWCD staff and receive free one-on-one help on their property.
For more information on the Conservation Certification Program, click here. For now, the program is limited to landowners in Androscoggin, Sagadahoc, Waldo, and Lincoln-Knox counties. Questions can be directed to your SWCD contacts below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Free Foundations of Sustainable Trails e-Course Series
|
|
|
American Trails is proud to announce the newly launched Foundations of Sustainable Trails, developed and hosted in partnership with the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands and the U.S. Forest Service. These short self-directed courses are perfect for new crew members, volunteers, and students heading into in-person programs in trail planning, design, maintenance, construction, and management. The course curriculum focuses on core trail concepts, emphasizing what it means for a trail to be sustainable. The introductory course describes the lifecycle of sustainable trails, and four self-assessed mini courses cover the basics of trail hydrology, structures, tools, and tread and alignment.
Find out more about the Foundations of Sustainable Trails online training on the American Trails website. Click the links to go to the ProValens website to register for the free courses. CEUs are available for a nominal fee. Visit the Career Pathways Portal on the American Trails website to find these courses and more!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic Risk Management – Tips from Terrafirma
|
|
|
Thursday, January 4, 2024 via Zoom 3:00-4:00pm
Cost: FREE
Leslie Ratley-Beach will review trends from over 2,200 claims submitted over the past eleven years of Terrafirma conservation defense liability insurance and respond to your comments. Bring your questions and suggestions about conservation challenges, Terrafirma Risk Retention Group or anything else regarding lasting conservation for your preserves, trails and conservation easements. This is an opportunity for discussion about ways to enhance our collective response to challenges.
If your organization is a Terrafirma member and anyone on your staff or board attends this webinar, your organization will receive the Terrafirma risk management discount for the 2024 policy year.
For more information and to register, visit LTA’s website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Convert Information to Data to Streamline Monitoring
|
|
|
Thursday, January 11, 2024 via Zoom 3:00-4:00pm
Cost: FREE
Land trusts hold multiple complex conservation easements. To limit risk across a land trust’s portfolio of properties, land trusts should implement procedures to assure that the person monitoring a property has available detailed information about the terms of that specific easement to assess the landowner’s compliance with the unique terms of the easement. Michael Sonnenfeld, the managing director for Casa Funding, LLC, will cover how land trusts can build a database of detailed information regarding the terms of each of their conservation easements to streamline the monitoring process.
This event is part of the Land Trust Alliance and Terrafirma’s annual risk management webinar series. If your organization is a Terrafirma member and anyone on your staff or board attends this webinar, your organization will receive the Terrafirma risk management discount for the 2024 policy year.
For more information and to register, visit LTA’s website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operate Intentionally to Grow Sustainably
|
|
|
Tuesday, January 16, 2023 via Zoom
10:00am-12:00pm
Cost: $35 This event is possible thanks to a partnership between Maine Association of Nonprofits and Common Good Vermont
Growth can be exciting and is often a major goal for mission driven organizations and their funders. Yet many growing organizations find themselves facing internal challenges, as the operational practices that met their needs when they were small begin to fall short. Despite thriving by many measures – with expanding budgets, staff, and programs – growing organizations often find themselves grappling with decreasing effectiveness and increasing staff burnout and turnover.
This session aims to help organizations that are growing or planning to grow avoid common pitfalls and build a people-centered operations foundation that supports sustainable organizational growth. Some topics that will covered include:
Intended Audience
Executive Directors and any staff directly responsible for managing operations (including finance, facilities, technology, data, risk, internal communication, and human resources) in an organization that’s growing or planning for growth.
For more information and registration instructions, visit MANP’s website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal Tax Issues: The Latest and Greatest for 2024
|
|
|
Tuesday, January 30, 2024 via Zoom
2:00-3:30pm
Cost: $75 for LTA members, $115 for non-members
As usual, there is a lot going on at the tax and appellate courts and at the IRS that land trusts need to know about. The Land Trust Alliance’s conservation defense network and tax manager Diana Norris will bring everyone up to speed on the latest developments in case law and on any new Treasury regulations. This will include:
For more information and to register, visit LTA’s website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jobs in the Conservation Sector
|
|
|
Does a new job await you in 2024? Check out the latest job postings below or view the full list on our website. Senior Planner (Landowner Outreach Forester) – Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry
Associate Director of Finance – Maine Coast Heritage Trust
Youth Conservation Corps Leader – National Park Service
Digital and Technical Coordinator – Northeast Wilderness Trust
Marketing & Communications Director – Laudholm Trust
AmeriCorps Field Team Leader – Maine Conservation Corps
Public Lands Ecologist (Biologist II) – Maine Natural Areas Program
Outdoor School Naturalist Educator – Maine Outdoor School
Botanist (Biologist II) – Maine Natural Areas Program
Appalachians Protection Director – The Nature Conservancy
Loon Restoration Seasonal Wildlife Technician – Maine Audubon
Cathy and Jim Gero Acadia Early-Career Fellowships – Schoodic Institute
Field Coordinator (Field Team Program) – Maine Conservation Corps
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trails Capacity Program
|
|
|
Applications Due: Monday, January 15, 2024 by 11:59pm
The Trails Capacity Grant Program is targeted for projects on all federal public lands, as well as state, local, and private lands accessible to the public. Project applicants may include nonprofit organizations, businesses, or agencies at the state or local level. American Trails administers the grant program and is soliciting applications for funding, with awards between $5K and $10K per project.
The Trails Capacity Program funds projects that strategically improve the abilities and capacity of the trails community as a whole, with a focus on trail research, stewardship, and maintenance projects that are inclusive, foster improved trail user behavior and connect trail assets to a broader spectrum of users. Visit American Trails website for details. If you have questions or need clarification, please don’t hesitate to reach out to them at .
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Resilient and Connected Appalachians Grant Program
|
|
|
Applications Due: Monday, February 24
The Nature Conservancy is pleased to announce a new grant program across six states in the Appalachian region to support conservation partners.
The Resilient and Connected Appalachians Grant Program provides funding opportunities for nonprofit organizations, municipalities, Tribes, and other partners to engage in conservation efforts in the Appalachians— a center of climate resilience and a critical migration corridor for wildlife. The program offers grants of up to $50,000 to support projects that result in the permanent protection of resilient and connected lands in pivotal landscapes. For the 2023-24 grant cycle, funding is available in portions of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Jersey (similar grants are available in NY through a related program).
The fund’s overall areas of focus include:
This program is focused on focal landscapes within the Appalachians and the Conservancy’s Resilient and Connected Network (see map linked on program website).
For more information, including project and eligibility criteria, visit the program website.
|
|
|
|