VERGENNES — Habitat is the key limiting factor for wildlife. Maintaining and connecting habitat is important for the movement of wildlife. With that in mind, Vermont Coverts will offer a Woodlands for Wildlife 2020 Cooperator Training workshop to teach landowners and others about how to improve habitat for wildlife, maintain connected landscapes and improving forest health May 8-10 at the Common Ground Center in Starksboro. 
The weekend retreat provides an opportunity for those who care about woodlands and wildlife to learn about the resources available to help them define and reach their land management goals. The intensive two-and-a-half-day session features presentations by state and local experts in wildlife and forest management and Coverts alumni from past sessions. In lectures, demonstrations and field tours, participants will learn about topics such as wildlife and forest ecology, habitat management, invasive control, and land conservation. 
The mission of Vermont Coverts is to maintain and enhance diverse wildlife habitat and healthy ecosystems. Cooperators are those individuals that have attended the training and work together to share what they have learned through local programs and outreach. The aim is to ensure that wildlife have a place on the landscape. 
Once trained, Coverts Cooperators become part of a statewide network connected through newsletters, field trips, reunions and workshops. Through their outreach efforts they are part of a team working to spread the land stewardship ethic. Past participants have become active in their conservation commission, made changes to their woodland management, hosted a workshop on their land or just talked to neighbors about wildlife habitat. 
Coverts training is for anyone who loves woodlands, enjoys seeing wildlife, and wants to learn how a healthy forest can enhance wildlife habitat as well as provide recreational and timber benefits. Visit vtcoverts. org to download an application or contact Lisa Sausville at [email protected] or 802-877- 2777.