Otsego
Land Trust
We’re celebrating 35 years of safeguarding local forests, fields, and waterways!
Act with impact - donations go to real conservation projects!
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We're adding new trails on the north side of Brookwood Point.
In addition to fixing up the footbridges, we are extending the walking trails at Brookwood Point Conservation Area to the North side.
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We have ongoing projects on our conserved lands that are open for public recreation
At Brookwood Point, Compton Bridge, Deowongo Island, Fetterley Forest, Lordsland, and Parslow Road, we conducted a Hazardous Tree Assessment and Removal installed new trail markers and signs, graveled the parking areas at trailheads, added bog bridges, extended trail loops, and continue to look for ways to enhance recreation in these beautifully conserved spaces.
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We partnered with the American Farmland Trust to boost efforts to protect working agricultural lands.
We actively are working to protect farmland - help us save our farms! New York has lost over a quarter of a million acres of farmland since 2001, half of which was nationally significant (American Farmland Trust).
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This year we are protecting 1,000+ additional acres of private land
We have over 100 private landowners who want to protect their land and are already in the process of putting their property into conservation easements, keeping it as it is forever while still living on their land and using it. This includes farmland, forest, wetland, fields, and many other unique ecosystems.
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We protected an additional 293 acres with conservation easements last year
Since the Fall of 2022, Otsego Land Trust, in partnership with private landowners, has protected an additional 293 acres this winter – keeping the rolling views of Bedbug Hill beautiful, and a small portion of the forests of Spoonerville healthy. Importantly, Otsego Land Trust is contributing to the resilience of the Otsego region, as it faces climate change in the coming decades.
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We are fostering a direct appreciation of natural resources through community events.
From Woodcock bird walks at Parslow Road Conservation Area, to a kids area at an Earth Festival, we’re working to encourage our communities to appreciate our lands and help us protect them!
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We are using staff time and community power to encourage the use of NYS environmental funds to protect 668 acres of forests and wetlands on Crumhorn Mountain.
The former scout camp is one of the largest undeveloped tracts of land remaining in Otsego County. The property is currently listed for sale and there are no constraints on how the property can be sold, subdivided, or used. The property offers a major opportunity for a collaborative effort to protect and conserve significant natural resources in perpetuity. The entire property has high conservation value that can help build climate resiliency in the region, strengthen the tourism economy, and improve the quality of life for residents and visitors.
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We're maintaining a historic building that's part of the Glimmerglass Historic District and planting the gardens for public enjoyment
The garden house and Brookwood Point Conservation Area is in need of many repairs - we hope to fundraise enough to fix the leaking roof, wood rot, and other needs to keep the historic building in usable shape. Our goal is to get it in good enough condition that it could be used as a public space or for private events like weddings! Additionally, we plant and maintain the accompanying gardens and stone walls. This gets expensive!
Be a Conservation Hero!
Right now, ONLY 5.6% of the land in Otsego County is protected from commercial or residential development.
You can make a real impact by protecting land forever. Donations to Otsego Land Trust go directly to conserving fields, forests, and waterways in our own region. THE TIME IS NOW to save our scenic views and beautiful hillsides, the waterways we love, the farms that feed us, and the forests that give us clean air. Conservation easements help private landowners protect their land FOREVER. They still own and use their land, knowing that it will remain intact no matter who owns it in the future. Help us conserve more of the Otsego region’s natural resources. Thank you for all that you do!
A community-based non-profit
How you can help:
We’re embarking on a huge connective corridor project - it’s our region’s best chance to stay climate-resilient, scenic, and healthy! The time is now before development pressures become too strong. Protecting land secures basic human needs like air and water. Let’s be intentional about our future.
Many property owners are interested in protecting their land under conservation easements, but we need money to cover these costs. Conserving a piece of land requires a survey, legal consultation, and other professional services, just as in any real estate transaction. These expenses add up quickly. As a community-based nonprofit that relies mostly on individual donations, covering the expenses associated with conserving land is always a challenge. We are raising funds to help pay for these costs.
Help us create a legacy - a connected corridor that keeps our communities vibrant and beautiful. Will you help protect hundreds of acres simply by contributing to some of these expenses?
