History

In 1983, the Ruffed Grouse Society received a grant to look at ways of reaching the millions of private forest landowners throughout the United States with wildlife management information. The Coverts project was developed by Vermont's Extension Forester in cooperation with Connecticut Extension. The first Vermont Coverts Training took place in 1985.

Based on Everett Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations, the program sought to reach influencers in each community to share the concept of forest management.  The aim was to educate forest landowners about sound forest management and wildlife stewardship. With thoughtful planning, landowner goals could be achieved for the benefit of the forest and, therefore, wildlife. These trained individuals, called Cooperators, would then go back to their neighbors and communities and share what they had learned. Over time, this would improve wildlife habitat on a larger scale.

This program was so successful that it expanded to 14 states in the East and Midwest. States with Coverts-like programs include Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

In 1991, the Vermont Coverts program incorporated as Vermont Coverts: Woodlands for Wildlife, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It is the only Coverts program to do so.

In Vermont, more than 800 landowners and community members have attended the Cooperator Training, and they manage over 300,000 acres.

First class of Vermont Coverts Cooperators, 1985

Fall 2019 Coverts Cooperator class

Banner photo: moss covered log, by Tina Barney