Every year, autumn feels in many ways like “event season” at the Vermont Natural Resources Council. Just last week, some 200 people attended the 7th Annual Wild and Scenic Film Festival at Main Street Landing in Burlington. Co-sponsored by VNRC and Patagonia Burlington, the evening of food, drink, short films and a silent auction was a big success, according to the feedback we’ve received.

“We were pleased with the turnout and by all accounts, attendees had a good time, enjoyed the films, and were inspired,” said Keil Corey, VNRC’s Membership and Outreach Coordinator and key organizer of the event.

This Saturday is Button up Day of Action and the AVCC Annual Meeting and Conservation Summit (see details on both below). And, mark your calendars for the Vermont Energy and Climate Action’s annual conference Dec 6.   As always, thanks for all you do!

Speaking at a recent symposium on the Endangered Species Act, VNRC’s Forest and Wildlife Program Director Jamey Fidel said that the current trend of forest fragmentation – the division of large forest blocks by roads, buildings, power lines and other development – could have significant impacts for maintaining wildlife habitat in the coming years.

The symposium was co-sponsored by the Agency of Natural Resources, VNRC, Audubon Vermont, UVM’s Rubenstein School and other groups.

In addition, if the climate continues to warm, animals like the lynx, which relies on deep fluffy snow to outcompete animals like fisher and coyotes for food, is at risk, a state wildlife biologist noted recently.

Speaking last week on the WDEV’s Mark Johnson Show, Fish and Wildlife Department biologist Kim Royar said a changing climate will likely have an impact on species in Vermont. VNRC’s Brian Shupe, on the same show, noted that the current decline of forest cover in Vermont also poses a risk.

Vermont Conservation Voters recently released its 2013-2014 Environmental Scorecard to let Vermonters across the state know how their senators and representatives voted on key environmental issues over the past two years. The organization also endorsed candidates for this year’s election, coming up Tuesday, Nov. 4. (Don’t forget to vote!)

Scored votes include bills that aim to: promote a clean, efficient, renewable energy future; protect shoreland habitat and water quality; reduce people’s exposure to toxic chemicals; label Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs); and more. “The legislative process can be complicated,” said Lauren Hierl, political director for Vermont Conservation Voters. “Our Scorecard highlights important environmental votes from the past legislative session, making it easier for Vermonters to see if their elected officials are voting for a clean, healthy future for Vermont – or not.”

Heating season is here, and it’s time to button up.

Standing before a display of weather stripping, caulking and other heat-saving materials at Montpelier’s Aubuchon Hardware store, Gov. Peter Shumlin recently urged Vermonters to pitch in on Button Up Vermont Day of Action on Nov 1.

“Button Up Vermont is a rallying day for us all to come together and tighten up our homes for winter,” he said. “This is important: it will put money in your pocket, it’s good for the planet and it’s good for our kids and grandkids.”

This second annual Button Up Day of Action is aimed at complementing Vermont’s successful “Green Up Day,” with the goal of motivating Vermonters to do something simple – or significant – to stop wasting heat (and money). 

Spearheaded by the Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network, Efficiency Vermont, VNRC and other organizations, the goal is to engage Vermonters with simple as well as more advanced solutions that will help them stop hemorrhaging heat out of their drafty homes and start saving money.

VECAN is the growing network of over 100 grassroots energy committees and organizations in Vermont working to help people and communities stop wasting energy and start transitioning to clean, renewable energy supplies.

To learn more about Button Up day visit www.vecan.net or buttonupvt.org and on Twitter: #buttonupvt, @buttonupcontest  or visit the Button Up Vermont Facebook page.

A new book is available to help you track and identify animals in the woods, even if you don’t see the critters.”Mammal Tracks and Scat: Life-Size Pocket Guide,” by Lynn Levine, is a year-round, waterproof book, with life-size illustrations of both tracks and scat. Both track and scat sections are organized with original keys to help determine the species of animal and become a detective gathering evidence to discover the “story” at the scene of the mystery.

Levine, a consulting forester and environmental educator, is also co-author of “Working with Your Woodland” and “Snow Secrets,” a fiction nature detective book for ages 8-12. Click here for more information.

Do you care about land, air, water and wildlife in your community? Do you want to tune up your knowledge and skills for your conservation work? Join the Association of Vermont Conservation Commisisons this Saturday for its 2014 Annual meeting and Conservation Summit. The event takes place at Montpelier High School from 8 am to 4 pm.

There will be workshops on the new lake shoreland protection law, how you can create or expand a town forest in your community, how to determine if your town is “flood ready,” how you can use game cameras for wildlife conservation, and how conservation commissions can help review development projects, and more. For dues-paid members of AVCC, the conference fee is $10 to cover conference expenses. If you are not an AVCC member, the conference is $30. (You can also join AVCC – $20 for individuals, $50 for a full conservation commission – and get the $10 member rate for the conference.)

Whole Foods has introduced a new program known as Responsibly Grown,https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/responsibly-grown that rates the impact of produce and flowers it sells. The rating system – using the categories good, better, best – is based on factors including soil health, air quality and climate impact, waste reduction, and farm worker welfare, ecosystems and biodiversity, pest management, and water conservation.

“This is the latest example of our commitment to transparency and sustainable agriculture,” said Matt Rogers, who handles standards and sourcing at Whole Foods.

The move by Whole Foods is one of many similar programs being launched recently by big food retailers around the country. Read more.