Connecticut Sea Grant works toward achieving healthy coastal and marine ecosystems and consequent public benefits by supporting integrated locally and nationally relevant research, outreach, and education programs in partnership with stakeholders.

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The Connecticut Trail Census is an innovative statewide volunteer-based data collection and education program that encourages data-informed decision making and promotes active citizen participation in multi-use trail monitoring and advocacy. The Trail Census includes trail use counts recorded by infrared pedestrian counters, trail user intercept surveys administered by trained volunteers, and public education programs. The project is statewide and serves community leaders and decision makers including local elected officials, planners, economic development professionals, trail advocates, trail maintenance professionals, environmental, health and outdoor activity advocates, as well as the general public. The program was developed as a partnership program between the University of Connecticut, the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments, the Connecticut Greenways Council, and local trail advocacy organizations.

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Connecticut contains a wide variety of ecological habitats, ranging from the coast to the highest elevations in the northwestern part of the state. Our geological history, climate, and soils, as well as land use history, shape the habitats and vegetation we see today. The term “habitat” is used in a very broad sense here to encompass both the biological component of a particular place (such as a forest dominated by certain tree species) and the physical location where a particular species is likely to be found (such as a vernal pool, where fairy shrimp would likely be found) or a coastal sand dune (where American beach grass occurs).

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Connecticut’s trees and forests provide a multitude of social, environmental, and economic benefits every day. The Extension Forestry Program of the University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension System provides education for natural resource professionals, elected and appointed officials, volunteers, and private woodland owners who care for this valued resource and landscape. Extension educators—in cooperation with many organizational partners—seek to improve the health, care, diversity, and management of Connecticut’s trees and forests. Educational efforts reflect the wide diversity of the state’s forested landscape and ownership—from small-scale private woodlands, land trusts, and woodland cooperatives to state forests; from street trees, town greens, and parks to municipal watersheds.

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The GTP is a part of the Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR) within the University of Connecticut College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources. GTP collaborates with other CLEAR programs on various projects in an effort to create the most useful tools and resources for municipal officials.

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Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a sustainable and scientific approach to managing pests. IPM practitioners base decisions on information that is collected systematically as they integrate economic, environmental, and social goals. This approach applies to any situation, agricultural or urban, and is flexible enough to accommodate the changing demands of agriculture, commerce, and society.

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The guide was developed by the NEMO program at the UConn Center for Land Use Education and Research with funding from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). It is part of a broad outreach effort to provide guidance, training, tools, and other support to help MS4 communities and institutions comply with the requirements of the new MS4 general permit. This is a living/evolving website. Materials will be added throughout the five-year project period in response to permit timeline and community needs.

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NRCA is an innovative program in conservation and land use planning that engages Connecticut high school students, adult conservation volunteers, and teachers with conservation efforts at the community level. NRCA’s three interconnected efforts benefit students and adults by providing education on natural resource management and geospatial technology, and facilitating the use of these new skills in the implementation of local conservation projects that benefit the community.

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Connecticut Sea Grant is addressing the multi-faceted challenge of climate change through existing program initiatives. Climate change serves as an overarching area of emphasis, informing outreach and education activities. Strategies to determine climate change impacts and to adapt successfully have been developed.

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In 1998, UConn Extension Tree Warden Outreach collaborated in creating the Tree Warden School in cooperation with the Tree Wardens’ Association of Connecticut, Inc. More than 300 tree wardens, deputy tree wardens, community forestry volunteers, arborists, landscape architects, and chief elected and appointed officials have completed the program.

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The Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR) NEMO (Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials) program has been working with communities to protect water quality through better land use since 1991. The program has been adapted in states around the country forming a now informal network of like-minded programs—the National NEMO Network.

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