Q&A with Charlotte Land Trust president Kate Lampton

For 10 days in the beginning of July, red signs will mark conserved land around town. These signs are a reminder that many of Charlotte’s farms, forests and best views are undeveloped thanks to conservation. But what does conservation really mean? To help explain some of the basics and how conservation affects Charlotte, Kate Lampton, president of the Charlotte Land Trust, answers a few questions.

You’ve volunteered for the Charlotte Land Trust for over 20 years. Why is conservation and this organization important to you?

The scenic beauty of Charlotte remains as wonderful as when I first moved here 50 years ago and conservation has been a key reason for that. But the impact of conservation goes much deeper than that. Conservation of our forests, waterways and wildlife habitats helps preserve the ecological health and diversity of this landscape. Conserved farmland has fueled a vibrant, varied farm economy in Charlotte. Five of the farms in the view from my house are conserved. They are part of the patchwork of fields and forests that make up the iconic Vermont landscape.

How much land in Charlotte is conserved, and what is the long-term goal for conservation in town?

Approximately 5,200 acres in Charlotte are conserved. That’s about 20 percent of the total land in town. In the long term we aim to conserve the best of our agricultural soils. We want to protect our waterways by buffering them with conserved land. And we want to protect high quality forest blocks which provide habitat for wildlife and help slow climate change.

What type of land is appropriate for conservation?

We don’t conserve just any land. Land trusts, including the Charlotte Land Trust, acknowledge that housing and commercial development are part of a well-functioning town. We always consider the location of a property and how it relates to the goals and objectives of the Charlotte Town Plan. An essential part of the conservation process is to assess a property using a wide array of ecological and agricultural data. Connectivity — creating larger blocks of protected forest or farm land — is also a key factor.

What does it mean for land to be conserved? How does it work in layman’s terms?

When we conserve a property the land trust acquires an easement with certain rights in that property. A conservation deed states the goals of our easement and the permitted and restricted uses of a property. Those uses are tailored to the individual properties and the features that are to be protected. Conservation easements run with the land, so they continue with whomever owns the land in the future.

Why doesn’t conserved land always have public trails?

For some of our conserved land, such as the Charlotte Park and Wildlife Refuge, Raven Ridge and Williams Woods, public access is an important feature. However, the majority of conserved land in Charlotte is privately owned and not publicly accessible. In addition to respecting the landowners’ wishes for their property, often what made the property worth conserving also makes it unsuited for public access. For example, wildlife habitat, endangered plant species and wetlands are sensitive and could be negatively impacted by public access.

Once land is conserved, what does Charlotte Land Trust do next? How do you make sure it stays undeveloped?

We inspect conserved properties every year to ensure that the terms of the easement are being upheld. This process, known as stewardship, is important as properties change hands. While original owners are familiar with the easement terms, subsequent owners may not be, so we provide education along with our annual inspections.

How is the Charlotte Land Trust funded?

The Charlotte Land Trust is a 100-percent volunteer, non-profit organization and the generosity of our donors is the main source of the funds we use to conserve land. We are also fortunate to have the Charlotte Conservation Fund which funds conservation projects and helps us successfully apply for other sources of grant funding. Charlotte Land Trust frequently partners with the Vermont Land Trust and other larger land trusts on projects in Charlotte, and the conservation fund is an essential part of those projects as well.

How can I find out what Charlotte land is conserved?

A map showing conserved land and land covered by an open space agreement, a tool to protect land as part of certain subdivision approvals, is available on the Charlotte Land Trust website.

Imagine Charlotte in 50 years. What would you like to see?

If I think forward to the landscape my grandchildren will see, I think there will have, of course, been growth, but Charlotte’s landscape will look more like today than we would have ever predicted when I first moved here 50 years ago. Conservation has been a huge factor in the landscape of today and in what we’ll see in 50 years.

(Jessie Price is a member of the board of directors of the Charlotte Land Trust.)