Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Protection topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Northeast Wilderness Trust outlines 're-wilding' approach for Lyme Town Forest; commission to seek comparative proposals
Summary
The Lyme Conservation Commission heard a June 8 presentation from Northeast Wilderness Trust (NEWT) on a potential conservation easement for the Town Forest emphasizing 'self-willed land' and strict use limits; the commission agreed to invite the Upper Valley Land Trust to present in July and to discuss trust selection in August with a vote planned for September.
The Lyme Conservation Commission invited Jon Leibowtiz, CEO and president of the Northeast Wilderness Trust (NEWT), to present options for serving as trustee of a conservation easement on the Lyme Town Forest.
Leibowtiz said NEWT, headquartered in Montpelier, Vt., focuses on protecting wilderness corridors and re-wilding forests so they develop characteristics of old forest stands. He described NEWT's approach as emphasizing "self-willed land," citing Jay Vest, and said that for forever‑wild parcels NEWT typically prohibits logging, structures and most trail infrastructure.
Commissioners pressed for practical details. Leibowtiz said public use on many NEWT properties is allowed only as "bushwacking allows," with limited or no permanent impact, and that some conserved lands are managed to allow educational trails but still restrict wheeled vehicles, horseback riding and, often, mountain bikes. He noted that some properties have grandfathered snowmobile trails but that such uses are generally discouraged. On responses to disturbances (fires, floods, pest invasions), he said nature is largely left to "heal itself," with only limited intervention for certain invasive species and restrictions on broad‑spectrum pesticides.
The commission also sought clarity about mixed management approaches. Leibowtiz said NEWT would not assume responsibility for parts of a parcel that a town wished to manage actively; those areas would need separate conservation arrangements and trusteeship.
After discussion, Meg Sheehan proposed a schedule to gather comparative information: invite the Upper Valley Land Trust (UVLT) to present at the July meeting, invite other candidate trusts as applicable in subsequent months, hold public discussion in August, and plan a commission vote on which trust(s) and conservation philosophy to pursue in September. Chair Blake Allison agreed to invite UVLT.
Next steps: the commission will receive UVLT's overview in July, continue public engagement, and expectedly consider a formal selection vote in September.
