The Orange County Land Trust (OCLT) has received a grant from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to create Orange County’s first federally-designated Community Forest. The funding enables OCLT to purchase the 136-acre Gibraltar Rock property in the Town of Warwick and implement a Community Forest program, which will allow for eventual public access, passive recreation, and educational programming on the property.
Gibraltar Rock is a 5-acre anvil of rock that has been a natural gathering site for centuries. Hundreds of years ago, Native Americans respected the unusual geologic feature as a sacred and ceremonial landscape. In the 19th and 20th Centuries, it became colloquially known as Gibraltar Rock, with newspapers describing its vital role in the local community; ranging from church picnics and social gatherings, to town proclamations and speeches. Conserving the forested property, amidst growing residential development proposals, has been a locally driven effort for well over two decades.
According to OCLT’s Director of Conservation, Kyle Sanduski, the grant from the U.S. Forest Service is intended to empower members of the community to assist in the management of the Community Forest and its abundant resources. “We are aiming to build a conservation constituency to guide the process over the next few years and ensure we restore its historical use and reconnect locals to a long-valued community asset,” stated Sanduski.
OCLT Executive Director Jim Delaune stated, “We envision Gibraltar Rock Community Forest as a vibrant community hub where residents, schools, and community groups can visit to learn about the natural, geological, and historical significance of the property, recreate, or spend quality time outdoors.”
Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus said: “Enhancing and expanding our parks, trails, and open spaces for public recreation, tourism, and quality of life is an ongoing priority for Orange County, so the addition of a USFS sponsored Community Forest is exciting. As 1 of 13 total projects awarded through this highly competitive grant program across the entire country this year, I applaud our partners at OCLT for ensuring that some of that funding can be invested right here in Orange County for the public’s benefit.”
The U.S. Forest Service describes the Community Forest Program (CFP) as “a competitive grant program that provides financial assistance to tribal entities, local governments, and qualified conservation non-profit organizations to acquire and establish community forests that provide community benefits. Community benefits include economic benefits through active forest management, clean water, wildlife habitat, educational opportunities, and public access for recreation.”
