Opportunities for Community-based Initiatives in Connecticut

"Too often neighborhood groups feel isolated or overwhelmed by a situation. By introducing each of our groups to one another, realizing that many of our issues are similar, and being able to share experiences and ideas we will enable more to be accomplished in the future."

Matthew Mandell, Director, Partrick Wetlands Preservation Fund, Save Westport

"Cooperative land-use planning can strengthen communities and preserve the environment...[It] can encourage environmentally sensitive development, reduce inequalities, encourage regional economic-development efforts and expand the opportunities of the state’s most vulnerable residents."

Connecticut Metropatterns, March, 2003


Key opportunities for community-based environmental management in Connecticut include:

For groups working toward common objectives to explore ways to coordinate their efforts and realize efficiences, speed progress and enhance overall effectiveness.

To support and participate in the completion of a statewide, landscape-level resource survey that is informed by science and identifies areas critical to natural resource, habitat and wildlife conservation.

To assemble a "Bottom Up" vision for environmental management in the state based on the goals and priorities expressed by community-based groups.

To tap a groundswell of support for informed local decision-making to foster the adoption of voluntary stewardship and planned conservation & development on a community-by-community basis.

To support and participate in state-level initiatives such as the Office of Responsible Growth.

To set up systems to measure results and assess the efficacy of such approaches.


Next: The Connecticut Earth Network (CT EarthNet)