Adirondack Land Trust Inc

TO FOREVER CONSERVE THE FORESTS, FARMLANDS, WATERS AND WILD PLACES THAT ADVANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF THE ADIRONDACKS.

LAND CONSERVATION PROGRAM:THE ADIRONDACK LAND TRUST (ALT) CONSERVATION PROGRAM FOCUSES ON THE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE CONSERVATION OF LANDS THAT FURTHER OUR MISSION AND THEIR LONG-TERM STEWARDSHIP AND WELL-BEING. OUR PROGRAM AREA COVERS NEARLY SEVEN MILLION ACRES CENTERED IN THE ADIRONDACK PARK AND INCLUDES NORTHERN CLINTON AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES, THE UPPER BLACK RIVER VALLEY TO THE WEST, AND THE UPPER CHAMPLAIN BASIN TO THE EAST. LAND PROTECTION INCLUDES FEE SIMPLE TITLE ACQUISITION OF LANDS AS ALT PRESERVES OR AS ADDITIONS TO THE PUBLIC LANDS OF THE ADIRONDACK PARK, AND CONSERVATION EASEMENT ACQUISITION TO PERMANENTLY PROTECT PRIVATE FARMS AND FORESTS. IN FY 2022, ALT DEVELOPED AND PURSUED 19 LAND PROTECTION PROJECTS TOTALING 4,215 ACRES. THESE INCLUDED FARMLAND PRESERVATION PROJECTS IN THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY, 'FOREVER WILD' CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, FEE AND EASEMENT TRANSFERS FROM OTHER LAND TRUSTS, AND ALT PRESERVE ADDITIONS. THE LAND AND EASEMENT STEWARDSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES IN FY 2022 INCLUDED MANAGEMENT OF 10 FEE SIMPLE TITLE LANDS TOTALING 1,552 ACRES, AND MONITORING OF 51 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THAT PROTECT 16,207 ACRES THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH 81 LANDOWNERS. STEWARDSHIP OF THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT PORTFOLIO INCLUDED ASSISTING SEVERAL LANDOWNERS AND PROSPECTIVE BUYERS WITH THE SALE OF EASEMENT-ENCUMBERED LANDS. STEWARDSHIP ON FEE OWNED LANDS INCLUDED THE PLANNING FOR IMPROVING OUR GLENVIEW PRESERVE AND OPENING IT FOR PUBLIC ACCESS, AND THE MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING OF FIVE PROPERTIES EXPECTED TO BE TRANSFERRED TO NYS FOR INCLUSION IN THE FOREST PRESERVE.

OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM:THIS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE VALUE OF LAND CONSERVATION IN THE ADIRONDACK REGION. IT ENABLES MUCH OF OUR LAND CONSERVATION WORK BECAUSE IT INSPIRES AND EMPOWERS LANDOWNERS TO TAKE STEPS TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT AND A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR THEIR LANDS; PUBLICIZES THE BENEFITS OF LAND CONSERVATION; BUILDS PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITIES, STATE AGENCIES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS; AND PROMOTES A LAND CONSERVATION ETHIC THROUGHOUT THE ADIRONDACKS. ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE PAST YEAR INCLUDE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH AGRICULTURAL SECTOR PARTNERS IN ESSEX COUNTY TO PROVIDE LAND-PLANNING RESOURCES TO FARMLAND OWNERS. STAFF ALSO PARTICIPATE IN REGIONAL FARMLAND STRATEGIC PLANNING AND SERVE ON THE ADIRONDACK FOOD SYSTEM NETWORK STEERING COMMITTEE. TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT IN CONSERVATION AND THE OUTDOORS, THE PROGRAM INCREASED IN-PERSON FIELD TRIPS, INCLUDING A WINTER ANIMAL TRACKING FIELD TRIP, AND VIRTUAL EVENTS, AS WELL AS CONTINUING TO COORDINATE A COMMUNITY EFFORT TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO COBBLE HILL TRAIL IN LAKE PLACID. STAFF ALSO ADVISE AND COLLABORATE VIA THE NEW YORK STATE FOREST PRESERVE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND OTHER ONGOING PARTNERSHIPS TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE ADIRONDACK REGION.