Causes: Environment, Land Resources Conservation

Mission: The mission of the rensselaer land trust is to conserve the open spaces, watersheds and natural habitats of rensselaer county for the benifit of our communities and future generations.

Geographic areas served: Rensselaer County, New York

Programs: Easements: a large part of the organizations activities involves negotiations between governmental and private parties to establish easements within rensselaer county. These efforts result in land easements, providing public fishing access and preservation of water quality non-point pollution sources. The primary costs associated with these undertakings has been the time invested by our executive director and staff.

wetlands and forest protection: rlt works together with private landowners and municipalities on wetlands and forest protection initiatives. We also hold in fee nature preserves composed of forests and wetlands. One of our priorities is watershed protection. Our work in protecting drinking water quality and quantity focuses on protecting and conserving wetlands and forest areas that filter and buffer drinking water sources, insulate the larger landscape from flooding, provide public recreational opportunities, and protect wildlife habitats and wildlife diversity. Additionally, we work to protect forestland as working forests. Quality drinking water, wetlands and forest lands are vital to the health and welfare of rensselaer county.

land stewardship: maintained properties and easements on approximately 790 acres of conservation land in rensselaer county.