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CLC
has helped more than 100 landowners protect their
land to meet their families' conservation goals,
ensuring
their conservation vision will be upheld forever.
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Nestled
between the foothills of the Taconic Mountain Range and the Hudson
River, Columbia County has long been considered one of the
most agriculturally important and ecologically diverse
landscapes in the Hudson River Valley.
However,
as more and more people choose to live in the county (or own a
second home here), the very characteristics that have inspired
and attracted people to Columbia County—scenic vistas,
historic rural communities, beautiful woodlands, and working
farms--are increasingly at risk from haphazard development.
Public
Land Protection
Recognizing
that the county’s landscapes are in jeopardy, the Columbia Land
Conservancy is committed to helping assure that these
irreplaceable natural and agricultural resources will become a
permanent feature of Columbia County. As part of this
effort, the Conservancy works with landowners, towns, and
municipalities to create open spaces that are available
to the public for a variety of educational and recreational uses,
allowing people to experience and reconnect with their natural
surroundings.
The Conservancy owns and manages a number of public
conservation areas throughout the county, balancing habitat
protection with non-motorized recreational uses such as
hiking, bird watching, cross country skiing, kayaking,
canoeing, and fishing. In addition, CLC uses public
conservation areas as "outdoor classrooms"
providing hundreds of free educational
and recreation programs
for people of all ages throughout the year. Click here
for more information about our public conservation areas.
Private
Land Protection
In
addition to public land protection, the Conservancy works with
private landowners to help them achieve their conservation
goals by protecting their land with conservation
easements.
Conservation easements are legal agreements
that allow landowners to ensure permanent
protection of the natural characteristics of their property while continuing to live on,
utilize, and enjoy their land. This includes carrying
out agricultural and forestry activities.
The Conservancy also serves as a community
resource
for landowners, developers, and municipalities, helping guide site development
that minimizes impact on the county's important natural
resources.
If
you own land that you would like to protect, contact one of
CLC’s project managers at (518) 392-5252 or e-mail info@clctrust.org.
CLC staff can help you explore the different land conservation
options available to you and provide general information
about tax benefits and
legal considerations. Whether you want to protect a small
meadow or an entire forest, CLC is here to help.
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