Answers to frequently asked questions about the Columbia Land Conservancy. Have a question you don’t see answered here? Contact us at [email protected].

How long has CLC existed, and what are some key accomplishments?

• CLC started in 1986, and is a 501c3 nonprofit organization accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. We have a Platinum rating on Guidestar for our organizational transparency.
• CLC owns and manages eleven public properties, with nearly 30 miles of trails and 90,000 visits per year.
• CLC has secured over $27 million on behalf of local farmers, conserving over 12,000 acres of land.
• CLC collaborates with 250 easement landowners owning 29,984 acres of conserved land.
• CLC and partners recently completed The Plan to Conserve Columbia County, which outlines strategies for advancing land protection for the next forty years – and beyond!

What is a land conservancy?

Land conservancies, also known as land trusts, are nonprofit organizations that are dedicated to conserving land. Land trusts often use a tool called a conservation easement to protect properties. An easement is a permanent legal restriction that ensures land can’t be developed in the future. Learn more about the kinds of tools CLC uses to protect land here.

Can CLC help me manage or permanently protect my land?

While we can’t provide one-on-one assistance for every interested landowner, we can point you to some trusted resources. Check out the caring for land page to learn more about conservation practices like farming, grassland management, invasive species removal, woodland management, and more.

How can I contribute to land conservation?

Great question! You can sign up to become a volunteer, attend an event, or visit one of the properties CLC manages to just have fun outside!

What can I do at a CLC property?

CLC owns and manages eleven public properties that are open for free from dawn to dusk every day. Click here to view a map.

These properties are open for all kinds of recreation – bird watching, biking, sledding, hiking – and more! No restrooms or trash cans are located on site, so please remove all trash. We also ask that visitors keep dogs on a leash for their safety and the safety of others. Visitors may not camp, swim, create open fires, or consume alcohol.

Can CLC tell me if you have conserved a certain property?

CLC does not share information about specific properties, but you can look up more information about them in the New York Protected Areas Database.