Fund honors Andrea Morgante, champion for land conservation

Thanks to a passionate group of conservation-minded Vermonters, more resources for community conservation will soon be available. Open spaces, trails, forests, and waterways define our communities. For some people, these amenities are close at hand. For others, these amenities might require a car to find, or an able-body to explore.

A new fund aims to address this gap, and bring the benefits of conservation to more people in more communities. It was established in honor of conservationist Andrea Morgante who is a founding member of the Hinesburg Land Trust. For close to 40 years, Morgante has championed the conservation of roughly 3,000 acres in the town, including the expansion and conservation of the 1,125-acre Hinesburg Town Forest.

“Sledding hills, walking paths, town forests, and community gardens bring us together and strengthen our communities,” said Nick Richardson. “This fund helps us expand conservation to more communities across the state, particularly in underserved areas where access to these lands are sparse.

“Andrea is an unrelenting force for conservation and community building,” Richardson continued. “Creating this fund honors her leadership while forging stronger relationships between land and people throughout Vermont .”

We are still seeking donations in hopes of growing the fund to over $100,000. You can donate online or by mailing a check to us with ‘Community Conservation Fund’ noted in the memo line.