The Northern Green Mountains span over 800,000 acres and feature sweeping forests that are critical for regional wildlife movement. They are a magnet for outdoor enthusiasts, particularly those drawn by the Long Trail, the nation’s oldest long-distance hiking path, and the Catamount Trail, a skiing trail traversing the length of Vermont. The Trust for Public Land is conserving four properties totaling 2,315 acres to expand protection of the Northern Green Mountains. No legal protections currently exist on any of these properties and local zoning allows for unbridled development potential.
This area is connected to 88,335 acres of conserved land and ensures connectivity across elevation gradients. With 99% of acreage identified as “Highest Priority” land for protection by Vermont Conservation Design, the project supports the VT Wildlife Action Plan, which calls for large, connected habitat blocks and regional linkages. Two of the project’s four properties are also in locations that rank in the 95th percentile for annual energy costs and considered Disadvantaged Communities by the Justice40 Initiative.
