Hudson Highlands Land Trust Inc

HUDSON HIGHLANDS LAND TRUST, INC. (HHLT) PROTECTS AND PRESERVES THE NATURAL RESOURCES, RURAL CHARACTER AND SCENIC BEAUTY OF THE HUDSON HIGHLANDS. OUR VISION IS FOR THE HUDSON HIGHLANDS TO REMAIN FOREVER A PLACE OF UNDIMINISHED NATURAL ABUNDANCE, SCENIC BEAUTY AND HISTORICALSIGNIFICANCE - SHARED AND PROTECTED BY ENGAGED COMMUNITIES FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL.

LAND CONSERVATION (ACQUISITIONS): HHLT ADVANCES THE CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES, OPEN SPACES, AND SCENIC BEAUTY OF THE HUDSON HIGHLANDS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC. AT SEPTEMBER 30, 2023, HHLT HELD 94 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS PROTECTING 2,594 ACRES OF LAND AND OWNED AN ADDITIONAL 978 ACRES, INCLUDING GRANITE MOUNTAIN PRESERVE, CANOPUS CREEK PRESERVE, A PORTION OF A FORMER GOLF COURSE, A FORMER FARM/CAMP, AND LAND ACQUIRED ON BEHALF OF AND TO BE CONVEYED TO NYS OFFICE OF PARKS RECREATION, AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION. WE HAVE ALSO HELPED OTHER LAND TRUSTS AND STATE AGENCIES CONSERVE THOUSANDS MORE ACRES. ALL OF HHLT'S LAND CONSERVATION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE RESIDENT PUBLIC AND SEVERAL MILLION VISITORS TO THIS FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED REGION.

PUBLIC POLICY & PLANNING: HHLT WORKS WITH LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES ON PLANNING INITIATIVES TO DOCUMENT THEIR IMPORTANT NATURAL RESOURCES AND BELOVED OPEN SPACES, THEN HELP THEM PLAN WAYS TO ACHIEVE AN OPTIMAL BALANCE BETWEEN PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THINGS LIKE COMMUNITY PRESERVATION PLANS, NATURAL RESOURCE AND OPEN SPACE INVENTORIES, AS WELL AS WATER RESOURCE STUDIES THAT CAN BE USED AS TOOLS TO GUIDE MUNICIPAL PLANNING. FURTHER, HHLT ALSO FOUNDED AND COORDINATES THE "NEW YORK HIGHLANDS NETWORK" A 16-MEMBER COALITION OF LAND TRUSTS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THAT CONSERVE LAND THROUGHOUT THE NEW YORK HIGHLANDS.

STEWARDSHIP AND NATURAL RESOURCES PROTECTION: HHLT IS INVOLVED IN A VARIETY OF PROGRAM INITIATIVES FOCUSED ON STEWARDSHIP AND NATURAL RESOURCES PROTECTION. THE LAND TRUST MANAGES ITS CONSERVATION EASEMENT INTERESTS THROUGH MONITORING AND ENFORCEMENT. STEWARDSHIP OF THE LAND THEY OWN ALSO INCLUDES ACTIVITIES TO PRESERVE AND ENHANCE CONSERVATION VALUES, AND TO FACILITATE PUBLIC ACCESS, WHERE APPLICABLE. IN ADDITION TO (1) ACTIVE STEWARDSHIP AND DEFENSE OF OUR CONSERVATION EASEMENT PORTFOLIO, AND (2) INVESTING IN THE ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF THE LAND WE OWN, HHLT WORKS WITH OUR PARTNERS TO ADDRESS ISSUES AS DIVERSE AS INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT, DRINKING WATER PROTECTION, BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION, AND SAFEGUARDING RESILIENT/CONNECTED NATURAL AREAS.

OUTREACH AND EDUCATION: THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION'S OUTREACH EVENTS AND PROGRAMS, HHLT SEEKS TO CREATE PUBLIC AWARENESS ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES (INCLUDING LAND CONSERVATION, FLORA/FAUNA BIODIVERSITY, CLIMATE RESIENCE, AND CONNECTIVITY), AND CELEBRATES THE NATURAL SPLENDOR OF THE HUDSON HIGHLANDS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES. OUR OUTREACH PROGRAMMING AIMS TO INSTILL A SENSE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF STEWARDSHIP IN RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO THE HUDSON HIGHLANDS, THROUGH A DIVERSE ARRAY OF ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS. MAJOR OUTREACH PROGRAMS INCLUDE: FREE WEBINARS AND TRAINING, HIKES AND VOLUNTEER DAYS ON CONSERVED PROPERTIES, AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH TRAIL GROUPS TO EDUCATE THE MANY VISITORS TO OUR AREA ABOUT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES.