Conservation Commission

The Greensboro Conservation Commission (GCC) is established under Title 24 of the Vermont Statutes and its role in our town is defined in Chapter 118 of that Title which can be found at this link. The GCC Communications Policy provides additional guidance on public communication.

The GCC collaborates with other bodies including the Greensboro Planning Commission (GPC), the Watershed Stewards of the Greensboro Association (GA) and the Greensboro Land Trust (GLT) in the fulfillment of our work.

Information on our work that will be of interest to town residents and visitors is regularly updated in the program information which follows and the recordings and minutes of our meetings below provide a comprehensive record of our work.

1. Events

The GCC organizes a number of events throughout the year. By following the links below you can find out more about upcoming events to look forward to and others that we have run in the recent past:

Butterfly Atlas Inventory and Identification Event, Dana Williams, Vermont Center for Ecostudies, Saturday July 18 2026, 9.30am to 2.30pm (Location TBD)

Join the Vermont Center for Ecostudies and the Greensboro Conservation Commission for a fun, collaborative day in the field as we kick off Year 4 of the Second Vermont Butterfly Atlas! 

This half-day butterfly “scavenger hunt” will be led by experts and is open to all skill levels. After a brief morning orientation, participants will split into small teams, carpool to nearby fields and forests, and spend a few hours searching for and identifying as many butterfly species as possible. It’s a great opportunity to learn butterfly ID, explore local landscapes, and contribute to an important statewide conservation effort.

We’ll wrap up by sharing our findings, followed by an optional local meal. Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or just curious to learn, come join us for a hands-on day of discovery. Stay for as long as you’re able!

Echos in the Dark: Understanding Vermont’s Bats, Alyssa Bennett, Small Mammals Biologist with VT Fish and Wildlife, Sunday August 30 2026, 3pm to 5pm at the Highland Center for the Arts

Bats are some of Vermont’s most mysterious and beneficial wildlife. Join us to explore the lives of these remarkable nighttime flyers. Learn how bats use echolocation to hunt insects, why they are vital to healthy ecosystems, and what scientists and conservationists are doing to help them recover from disease and habitat loss in Vermont and beyond. 

This program will begin with a 45-minute talk by Small Mammals Biologist Alyssa Bennett, of VT Fish and Wildlife, followed by an optional afternoon walk to listen for bats outside. Acoustic detectors will be set up so participants can hear the otherwise inaudible echolocation calls bats use to navigate and hunt. This is a a rare chance to experience the hidden soundscape of Vermont’s night skies.

Invasive Plant Management Panel Discussion, Summer 2026, details will be published in advance.

Past events:

Moose Habitat, Behavior and Conservation in Vermont: Josh Blouin, August 23, 2025

Don’t Poison Their Dinner: Learn why you should NEVER use Anticoagulant Rodenticide and understand the alternative options. Anna Morris, VINS, August 3, 2025

How to Love a Forest: Ethan Tapper, October 13, 2024

The Great Greensboro Bird Event!, August 17, 2024

2. Bird Walks

The GCC partners with the Greensboro Free Library in leading guided bird walks every Spring. The dates for 2026 will May 17th (Bathtub Rock Road and Porter Brook Nature Trail) and May 24th (Bear Glen Trails). More details can be found here and registration is again at the Greensboro Free Library with each walk limited to 20 people.

3. INATURALIST

The iNaturalist Town of Greensboro Species Inventory is a community-based project set up by the GCC documenting the incredible diversity of life in Greensboro, Vermont. From wildflowers and birds to insects, fungi, and everything in between, each observation will help to build a living record of the species that share our landscape. By gathering locally sourced citizen science observations, this project will help to build a clearer understanding of Greensboro’s biodiversity through the collection of valuable data. This data can be used to support conservation, education, and research.

Community participation is at the heart of this effort. Each observation adds to our growing understanding of Greensboro’s biodiversity, while giving everyone the chance to explore and celebrate the natural beauty that makes Greensboro special.

Participating is simple:

• Download the iNaturalist app to your phone or tablet
• Set up an account
• Snap a photo of a plant, animal, bird, reptile, or fungus you see in town
• Upload your observation and photo to iNaturalist and add it to the Town of Greensboro Species Inventory project
• Help us to grow a record that will benefit our community and future generations

Have fun sharing your photos and observations with citizens and scientists in Greensboro and around the world!

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/town-of-greensboro-species-inventory

You can find our more information about iNaturalist here https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/about

4. REDUCING ANTICOAGULANT RODENTICIDE USE

The GCC is collaborating with towns, both locally and across Vermont, to encourage local residents to stop using Anticoagulant Rodenticides because of their impact on local wildlife such as Birds of Prey and Bobcats, not to mention domestic animals such as dogs and cats being poisoned as a result of eating rodents killed in this way. Poisonous rodenticides used to kill rodents have safer alternatives as this article from Audubon explains. Meanwhile ‘RATS’ provide useful hints and tips you can use, for example at home or on your farm, to address a rodent infestation without resorting to Rodenticides.

The GCC proposed a non-binding resolution to declare Greensboro a “Wildlife Friendly / Anti-Coagulant Rodenticide Free Community” at the 2026 Town Meeting. The resolution was unanimously approved.

5. MAPPING GREENSBORO’S PUBLIC TRAILS

The GCC has developed maps to encourage more people to make use of our public trails. Click here for a map that includes an overview of all of the public walking trails in town.  You can also find detailed maps of each trail at Greensboro Public Trail Maps. The maps are in pdf format so can be used online or printed out to take with you. They can also be uploaded into a trail map App such as Avenza so you can see your location on the trail as you walk it.

The Glover Trails Committee has also published mapping of a number of trails in Glover. The Black Hills Trail system is mapped and available on their web site and is partly located in Greensboro with trail head parking accessible off Highlander Street. The latest Black Hills Trail mapping can be found here and is also Avenza compatible.

6. ENCOURAGING POLLINATORS

At Town Meeting Day in March 5th 2024 the GCC proposed a Pollinator Resolution which was passed by a significant majority. The resolution declares the Town of Greensboro to be a Pollinator-Friendly Community and recommends the adoption of a number of policies and practices that protect and support pollinator health by minimizing the use and sale of insecticides.

The GCC is now working with other town initiatives such as the Greensboro Community Trust and the Pollinator-Friendly Greensboro Group to establish additional Pollinator beds and pathways in our town.

7. Managing Invasive Plants

The GCC is working to support the Greensboro community in identifying and managing invasive plants. We have created this Guide to Invasive Plants to help community members identify invasive plants and learn about best practices for their removal.

We have also established a tool library with the help of a grant from the Association of Vermont Conservation Commissions which community members can access to borrow specialized tools for the removal of invasive plants. Community members can access the Tool Library by using this sign out sheet.

The GCC is also collaborating with Highland Lodge on a demonstration Knotweed removal project on Craftsbury Road opposite the Lodge and also working with property owners in Greensboro Bend on the removal of Knotweed on the banks of the Lamoille River.

The GCC is planning a public event on the topic of Invasive Plant Management in Greensboro during the Summer of 2026. This will be publicized well in advance once all details have been coinfirmed.

8. Community Engagement in Maintaining Culverts

The GCC is jointly sponsoring (with the Watershed Stewards of the Greensboro Association) an initiative to engage our community in supporting our town in ensuring our Culverts are clear of blockages that might cause additional damage to our road network and increased water pollution during future storm events. You can find out more and sign up as a volunteer here Town of Greensboro Adopt-a-Culvert Program

9. Watershed Protection

The GCC collaborates with the Greensboro Association to protect our watersheds through programs such as Lake Wise and Stream Wise. More information can be found at this link on work being done in the greater Greensboro community on Watershed Protection. The Orleans County Natural Resources Conservation District has also developed the Caspian Lake Watershed Action Plan in collaboration with the Watershed Stewards of Greensboro (part of the Greensboro Association)

The VT Department of Environmental Conservation provide information on lake water quality in lake scorecards (currently through 2022). More detailed and recent water quality data can also be accessed through that same page or directly here. Select “Lamoille” as the Basin for Caspian Lake, Horse Pond and Long Pond or “Lake Memphremagog” as the Basin for Lake Eligo.

10. NATURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY

The Greensboro Natural Resource Inventory was developed with the support of the Greensboro Land Trust in 2019 and provides an inventory, analysis and maps of natural resources in our town.

You may also find the Vermont BioFinder resource useful. The BioFinder is a database and mapping tool for identifying Vermont’s lands and waters that support important ecosystems, natural communities, habitats, and species. It features Vermont Conservation Design and was developed by the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife and partners to support stewardship, conservation, and land-use planning. BioFinder highlights networks of forests, streams and other features that together create the heart and backbone of Vermont’s landscape and biodiversity.

11. WILDLIFE CAMERA PROJECT – “NEiGHBORWOOD WATCH”

The Greensboro Conservation Commission have launched a community-based wildlife camera project – “Neighborwood Watch” – to enhance public engagement with local wildlife and collect data on species presence to support conservation efforts. Maintaining ecological corridors is critical, as Greensboro is one of Vermont’s top 10 connectivity focus areas (VFWD citation). Despite strong conservation efforts (28% of the land is already protected), there is still a pressing need for more community engagement and locally sourced data to inform local and statewide conservation strategies.

Building public support for wildlife habitat conservation often begins with cultivating a personal connection—helping community members witness firsthand the wildlife that share our yards and broader landscapes. When we develop a deeper appreciation for the natural world, we are more likely to become active stewards of its protection. Cameras and other wildlife monitoring tools can play a key role in strengthening this connection by providing tangible, visual insights into the presence and behavior of local species.

A compilation of some of the wildlife footage captured by the Neighborwood Watch project can be found here.

This project will also providing important on-the-ground insights that will directly contribute to Greensboro’s ongoing Natural Resource Inventory update. If you are interested in participating please contact Emily Cayer at emmancayer@gmail.com.

A recording of our most recent Greensboro Conservation Commission meeting can be found here.

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