Teatown’s dedication to the protection, restoration, and long-term management of our region’s biodiversity is evident in the Environmental Leaders Learning Alliance (ELLA). Launched in 2007 and funded through generous grants, ELLA is a group of leaders from towns and villages across the lower Hudson Valley. Members of Conservation Advisory Councils, Conservation Boards, and Open Space Committees are among ELLA’s participants. These town-appointed volunteers serve as advisors to town councils, planning boards, and zoning commissions on critical land use decisions and other important environmental matters. To assist community leaders in environmental decision-making and best management practices, ELLA’s training programs have addressed such topics as site plan interpretation, wetlands, stormwater management, conservation planning, effective communication techniques, and biodiversity issues.