MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury Area Land Trust, known as MALT, will celebrate another year of conservation and stewardship in Addison County at its annual meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 1, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Congregational Church of Middlebury. With over 3,500 acres conserved, MALT will highlight its successes in 2017 and share a vision of strengthening local conservation, stewardship, and recreation in years to come.
The event will include a welcome from MALT’s new executive director, Jamie Montague, who will carve the paths of growth for MALT in coming years.
“I’m honored to lead MALT at a time when conservation is a critical ingredient to a strong environmental ethic in our community,” Montague said.
During the social hour, a small silent auction will include mounted historical photographs and original turn buckles from Belden Falls Bridge, as well as light refreshments and desserts. Mark LaBarr, Audubon Vermont’s conservation biologist, will give the a keynote presentation on habitat restoration for Golden-winged Warblers in the Champlain Valley.
MALT has partnered with Audubon Vermont to restore Golden-winged Warbler habitat on several conserved properties, including Wright Park. LaBarr will share field stories from his research. Using geographic information system modeling, light level geolocator technologies and good old binoculars, Audubon biologists have identified where these birds are breeding and habitat conditions they need.
RSVP to [email protected] or 802-388-1007. The event is free and open to the public.