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's (alt) conservation program focuses on the efficient and effective conservation of lands that further our mission and ensure 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 efforts include the acquisition of lands for alt preserves or as additions to the public lands of the adirondack park as well as the acquisition of conservation easements to permanently protect private farms, forests and natural areas. (continued on schedule o) (continued) during the year ended june 30, 2025, the trust completed four fee simple land protection projects including the acquisition of a 67-acre tract on willsboro point in partnership with the town of willsboro, ny marking the organizations first municipal park partnership project. In addition, alt added an 80-acre tract to its preserve in westport, ny and purchased a 41-acre tract in wells, ny along the scenic griffin gorge as future addition to ny's forest preserve. The trust also worked with paul smith's college to protect 2,800 acres in the northern adirondacks, home to the college's visitor interpretive center (vic), a hub for education and outdoor recreation. The permanent conservation easement recorded in december 2025 limits development and other land uses to ensure that the vic forestlands remain forests forever. Total land and conservation easement stewardship responsibilities for fiscal year 2025 included management of 15 fee simple title lands totaling 1,249 acres, and 56 conservation easements that protect 16,788 acres. Stewardship of the conservation easement portfolio included assisting several easement landowners to better manage their lands and working with others to correct conservation easement violations. Stewardship on fee owned lan
Outreach and education program: the adirondack land trust (alt) outreach and education 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 toward sustainable management and a sustainable future for their lands; publicizes the broad 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 educational field trips to protected lands to increase engagement in conservation and bolster nature appreciation; releasing a parkwide report on accessible wildland trails (continued on schedule o) (continued) that allow people with mobility disabilities to experience nature; partnering with local libraries to provide free birdwatching field kits that can be checked out like a book; finalizing a community-based effort to make major upgrades to a popular hiking trail in lake placid estimated to attract more than 15,000 hikers per year; refining a cultural due diligence process to incorporate cultural history into land protection and stewardship practices; continuing to facilitate connections to nature through trail camera footage of wildlife; and engaging different audiences in our conservation work through summer events. Staff also advise and collaborate via the new york state forest preserve advisory committee, adirondack food system network, land trust alliance new york program, new york state ornithological association, and other ongoing partnerships and programs to strengthen environmental stewardship, identify wild land and farmland protection priorities, and improve quality of life in the adirondack region.