Program marks 100 years of conservation

The state of Vermont recently established its 100th Wildlife Management Area, an announcement which also comes during the state's 100th year of conserving these natural habitats in the Green Mountains. 

A 526-acre property in Shrewsbury got this milestone designation on Aug. 4, with the Vermont Land Trust as a major partner in this local effort. The many animals inhabiting this vast area include black bear, bobcat, moose and deer, as well as upland bird species and migratory songbirds. 

“The 100th Wildlife Management Area represents a key parcel in a strategic, state-significant wildlife corridor, connecting state land to the north with federal and privately conserved land to the south,” said Vermont Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Louis Porter in a statement. 

Officials also noted the property welcomes public recreational uses like hunting, hiking and wildlife viewing.

The Vermont Land Trust's major gift backing this project was supported through funds bequeathed by the late Joan Sibley for conservation in Shrewsbury. 

"The donor who made this possible lived just down the road from this property in a little log cabin,” said Donald Campbell, Vermont Land Trust’s southern regional director. “She loved nothing more than knowing that bears, bobcats and moose were using the woods around her. Fortunately, many Shrewsbury residents share her love for this land — enough to protect it.”

The Shrewsbury Conservation Commission began the long effort to conserve the property in 2008. 

“For many years, we didn’t think conserving this land was possible, but it is possible, and reaching out to different agencies and working in partnership allowed this to happen,” said Commission Chair Louise Duda.

The conclusion of this significant project is made even more important by the double-milestone it represents: 100 Wildlife Management Areas in 100 years. It's inspiring to think of all the work that went into conserving so much of our precious landscape in Vermont over the last century. To know that 526 more acres of it are safe for future generations to enjoy is remarkable. It brings home the fact that we can't assume our natural surroundings will always be here. We have to work to protect them. 

— Gareth Henderson