Adirondack Land Trust
Established in 1984, the Adirondack Land Trust (ALT) is dedicated to protecting open space, working landscapes such as farmlands and managed forests, as well as other lands contributing to the quality of life of Adirondack residents.
The Nature Conservancy and ALT The Nature Conservancy's Adirondack Chapter and ALT are separate organizations that operate under one roof. Each have their own volunteer Board of Trustees who direct the activities of the organizaion. In 1988, ALT and the Conservancy solidified their partnership to become a combined local conservation force distinguished by its ability to accomplish a broad range of ecological goals while also preserving local people's livelihoods.
Example Projects:
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Essex Country Farmland Protection Program ALT and the Farmland Bureau have been instrumental in securing state-funded agricultural easements co-held by Essex County and ALT. The program preserves the landscape and eases the tax burden on farmers, helping them and their heirs stay in business while preserving important wildlife habitat. ALT has helped protect more than 3,000 acres of productive agricultural lands through this program.
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Upper Saranac Lake On Bartlett Bay, ALT conserved 1,800 feet of pristine shoreline bounded on two sides by "forever wild" Forest Preserve (part of the 67,000-acre Saranac Lakes Wild Forest). The property, which had been approved for a four-lot subdivision, will remain unspoiled, and the bay, which is part of the historic Bartlett Carry canoe route, will remain a place of quiet beauty for this and future generations.
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Lake Placid Working with a private landowner and New York State, ALT helped protect 380 acres of land containing more than a mile of shoreline. This highly developable shoreline will remain unbroken forest in perpetuity, which will also help protect the high water quality of Lake Placid. |
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 Lower Saranac Lake © Harold E. Malde |
Adirondack Facts:
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Size: Six million acres. Approximately 2.5 million of those are state-owned and 3.5 million are privately owned.
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Natural features: The Adirondacks contain the largest old-growth forest in the Northeast; more than 40 mountains above 4,000 feet; 2,800 lakes and ponds; and 30,000 miles of rivers, brooks, and streams.
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Residents and recreation: More than 131,000 year-round residents live in the Adirondacks, and 70 million people live within a day's drive of the area's boundaries.
Places to Visit:
 Adirondack region © Richard Pasley |
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