Norfolk land board named commission of the year

NORFOLK — At its annual meeting in Wallingford on Nov. 12, the Connecticut Association of Conservation and Inland Wetlands Commissions (CACIWC) presented the Norfolk Conservation Commission with its 2011 Conservation Commission of the Year award.CACIWC President Alan Siniscalchi said, “We are pleased to recognize the efforts of one of Connecticut’s youngest conservation commissions during the 50th anniversary of the enabling legislation authorizing the formation of these commissions in Connecticut.” He added that, to his knowledge, this is the first time a Northwest Corner town has received the award. Norfolk’s battle against invasive species is what attracted CACIWC’s attention. Calling it “innovative vegetation management,” Siniscalchi cited the Commission’s work removing invasive burning bush and barberry plants at Norfolk’s Town Hall and replacing them with beautiful, thriving native shrubs, and the commission’s annual plant exchange giving native replacements to landowners who remove invasive shrubs from their own properties.Invasive plants and animals out-compete and displace natives, reducing biodiversity. For example, few native insects eat Japanese barberry. As barberry colonizes the forest floor, birds and animals that depend on caterpillars and other insects have less to eat. The Norfolk Conservation Commission tries to spread awareness, and encourages all landowners to remove the invasives and cultivate the natives.CACIWC also praised Norfolk’s Natural Resources Inventory, published in 2009, and recognized Norfolk’s success in separating the Conservation Commission from its Inland Wetlands Agency: “In 2005, Norfolk’s combined Conservation Commission/Inland Wetlands Agency established a subcommittee to create a natural resources inventory for Norfolk. The NRI Subcommittee became the separate Conservation Commission in 2009. The young commission worked to not only inventory Norfolk’s natural resources, but to conserve its pristine habitats through many outreach and educational initiatives.”Members of Norfolk’s Conservation Commission are Shelley Harms, chairman; John Anderson, vice chairman; Adair Mali, secretary; Libby Borden, Nash Pradhan, Elizabeth Potter, and Molly Ackerly. Former Chairman Sue Frisch stepped down from the commission in February.