Our Environment, Animal Tips & the Great Outdoors

Membership Gives GMF Access to International Natural Conservation Union

On February 10, 2021, Great Mountain Forest (GMF) in Falls Village, CT, was granted membership into the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a global organization dedicated to assessing the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.

Membership in IUCN connects GMF to national and worldwide efforts to conserve the natural world and hasten the transition to sustainable practices to aid that conservation.

The scientific research performed at Great Mountain Forest, its work in promoting sustainable forest management practices, and its entry into carbon credits are now accessible to a global audience. IUCN membership provides GMF access to best practices, science, and initiatives from around the world. This access can inform future activities, research, and partnerships and confirms GMF’s role as a significant local and global contributor to environmental stewardship and sustainability.

With her experience in global environmental efforts, Great Mountain Forest’s Executive Director Tamara Muruetagoiena believes IUCN membership validates GMF’s historical commitment to sustainable forest management and points to new possibilities. “Being a member of the IUCN provides an exciting opportunity for GMF to learn from organizations around the world, participate in an exchange of knowledge and science, and gives us a voice in issues that impact forests and their sustainable management,” she says. “This is part of GMF’s effort to expand its national and international reach.” Great Mountain Forest Corporation, located in Norfolk and Falls Village, CT comprises more than 6,000 acres of uninterrupted forest. It is the home to diverse tree and animal species and is a sanctuary for those who love the forest. GMF has been responsibly managed for over 100 years and continues to be the setting for important forest and environmental activities and research.

For more information, visit www.greatmountainforest.org

Photo credits: Tom Blagden