At the end of 2025, Trust for Public Land, in partnership with the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation (FPR), successfully protected a 344-acre parcel at the center of Vermont’s Eden Forest. By filling in the last piece within a protected landscape, they completed a conservation effort that began more than a decade ago. The acquisition secures the integrity of a 6,064-acre working forest while preventing future fragmentation from development.
The conserved land strengthens flood resilience and water quality, supports wildlife habitat and regional connectivity, and safeguards critical forest resources in the Northern Green Mountains. Eden Forest borders a four-mile stretch of the Long Trail, the country’s oldest long-distance hiking trail, and contributes to a broader network of more than 70,000 acres of conserved public and private land. By conserving this parcel, there will be enhanced access to hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, and cross-country skiing.
The success of this project was in large part due to support from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB), along with funding from The Conservation Alliance and other philanthropic partners. Funds received for this project will serve as a match for federal Forest Legacy Program funds secured by TPL and FPR for the protection of an additional almost 2,000 acres in nearby towns.
The parcel will remain privately owned and managed by Greatwoods LLC under a working forest conservation easement co-held by FPR, and VHCB, ensuring long-term sustainable management alongside permanent public access for recreation. With Eden Forest now fully conserved, the project delivers lasting benefits for wildlife, clean water, climate resilience, local economies, and outdoor access.
