Middletown, NY (OCLT): Given the current economic climate, Orange County Land Trust Executive Director Jim Delaune said he is especially grateful for donations the nonprofit received recently in response to their 2009 annual year end fundraising drive and is confident the Land Trust will remain committed to the completion of several land protection projects in 2010.
Despite a second year in which the Land Trust saw a slight drop in donations from its year end appeal, the Land Trust will continue to work with landowners to protect critical landscapes, valuable farmland and important wildlife habitats throughout the county. Special projects for 2010 include partnering with health and human service agencies and organizations to create urban community gardens in Newburgh, Port Jervis and Middletown, and continuing to create a universal access rail trail for the handicapped at the Trust’s Hamptonburgh Nature Preserve in partnership with Independent Living, Inc.
“We are very grateful for the generous donations we received from our supporters in communities throughout the county,” said Delaune. “The work we do to protect and preserve our local landscapes, wetlands and working farms remains a priority for the people of Orange County,” he said. “This year, however, like most charitable organizations, we have seen another 5% drop in our end of the year donations, which we attribute to the economic situation faced by so many.” He added that the Land Trust, which relies on nearly half of its support from individual donations, is “doing our part to reduce costs, minimize expenses and become more efficient as an organization, while still working diligently to protect and steward our important natural and working landscapes for future generations.”
Delaune said in addition to their scenic value, the protection of these lands helps ensure a clean water supply, provides recreational opportunities that encourage healthy lifestyles, helps farmers continue to provide fresh local produce, and protects corridors of natural areas for wildlife habitat, all which helps to reduce our carbon footprint.
The Orange County Land Trust is the only county-wide land trust and to date has helped protect nearly 4,000 acres of land and working farms throughout the county. Working with landowners, the Land Trust’s area of expertise is preserving land through the placement of conservation easements, working with individual property owners and municipalities to secure funding for the purchase of development rights (PDR’s), accepting donations of land, and purchasing land for public access. The Land Trust operates nine preserves in the county which are open to the public, free of charge, for hiking birding and other forms of passive recreation. The Land Trust also works closely with Orange County Planning Office to help implement the county’s open space plan and spearheaded the formation of the Orange County Open Space Alliance (OCOSA), an alliance of 20 area conservation organizations dedicated to preserving the county’s rural and agricultural heritage.
For more information, and for volunteer opportunities and ways of giving to the Orange County Land Trust, please call us at (845) 343-0840 or visit the website at oclt.org.
