Congratulations to our Executive Director, Shelley Harms!

An Invaluable Titan in Land Conservation. 

Shelley Harms has been an invaluable member of the Salisbury Association Land Trust (SALT) and the Cornwall Conservation Trust (CCT), serving as Executive Director for both organizations.

During her time at CCT, Shelley’s passion for land conservation helped the land trust secure over two million dollars in grant funding to conserve over 450 acres of forest and farmland. Shelley skillfully advocated and supported CCT in enrolling 375 acres in the Wildlands Partnership of the Northeast Wilderness Trust. She was instrumental in CCT’s accreditation and re-accreditation by the Land Trust Alliance. Her work has ensured the long term future of CCT and the preservation of Cornwall’s forests and farmland.

At SALT, Shelley transformed the organization to one with professional policies, standards, and efficiency while working only 10 hours per week. Through her efforts, SALT added or will add 460 acres of fee property and 257 acres of Forever Wild conservation easements. In the last four years, her state, federal, and private foundation grant applications raised over two million dollars for SALT’s land acquisition. Shelley has been a grant writing dynamo for the organization, resulting in important land preservation for Salisbury and the state. Without her leadership, most of the 717 new acreage added would not have been possible.

Shelley’s contribution to the State’s conservation efforts has not been limited to Salisbury and Cornwall. She has made major contributions to the Norfolk Land Trust, Sharon Land Trust, and others. The state’s conservation goals have made significant progress because of Shelley’s dedication.

The Conservation Hero Award is a discretionary award given by CLCC’s Board of Directors to an individual dedicated professionally and as a volunteer to the advancement of Connecticut land conservation.