The Conservancy is a not - for - profit corporation organized exclusively for the purpose of promoting, for the benefit of the general public, the protection and stewardship of natural and cultural resources in Albany, Schenectady, and Montgomery counties, and other counties in the Mohawk Valley not served by a land trust. It does this by public education regarding land preservation, and by acquiring (through donation or purchase) conservation easements on or title to land. When determining whether to purchase or accept an interest in a parcel of land the Board of Directors will use the following criteria to determine the extent to which the land satisfies the purpose of the Conservancy. In addition, it is the intention of the Board of Directors to coordinate acquisitions with other organizations whose objectives coincide with those of the Conservancy.

General Land Categories of Interest to the Conservancy

To be of interest to the Conservancy, a parcel of land should first satisfy the requirements of one or more of the following land categories.

Scenic vistas and view points. Locations exist throughout the counties that provide views of distant mountains, forests, rolling farmland, rivers, and the dramatic City of Albany skyline. Lands which command these views are in great demand as building sites. The Conservancy places emphasis on acquiring areas which protect scenic vistas that have particular value to residents throughout its service area.

Geologic and other scientific resources.
Geologic and other scientific resources. This category includes lands of geologic importance (such as significant karst or glacial features) or lands which offer educational or research opportunities of particular value to the scientific community.

Stream corridors. This category includes land which would provide public access to streams, allow for the creation of streamside trails, contribute to the protection of water resources, or protect important aquatic or terrestrial habitat.

Trail corridors.The Conservancy is interested in land which would guarantee long  term access to trails, extend or link existing trails, provide for new trail networks, or buffer trails from conflicting land use. For example, the Conservancy is interested in current plans to construct two major regional hiking paths through Albany County: the Long Path; and the Hudson River Trail

Working landscapes. This term applies to lands being utilized for their natural resources, particularly farming and forestry. Working landscapes provide wildlife habitat and scenic value, and can also be a source of recreational and educational opportunities.

Wetlands. Wetlands of interest are those which provide valuable plant, fish or wildlife habitat, flood protection, aquifer recharge, or educational or recreational opportunities. Despite wetland laws at both the State and Federal levels, conservation easements or ownership of wetlands are the most effective protection.

Significant habitats. This category includes significant aquatic or terrestrial habitats, corridors to link larger areas of significant habitat; areas used by migrating wildlife, lands containing exemplary ecosystems, or habitats which offer important educational or recreational opportunities.

Historic or Archaeological Areas. The Mohawk Hudson Region has a rich history due to its location at the confluence of two of the regions great rivers. It was one of the first areas of New York State to be colonized by European settlers and was a focal point of Native American activities prior to the arrival of Europeans. Areas of interest include those which would contribute to the preservation of important cultural resources.

Specific Open Space Resources of Interest to the Conservancy

Several open space resources within the service area are especially important to the people of the region, and are therefore of particular interest to the Conservancy. These are the Hudson and Mohawk River corridors, the Pine Bush, Hoffmans Fault, and the Helderberg Escarpment. These open space resources are prime examples of at least one of the above land categories, and generally meet the definitions of multiple categories.

The Hudson and Mohawk Rivers have played a key role in the development of Albany, Schenectady, and Montgomery Counties and surrounding areas. In addition, they are important water, recreational, ecological, cultural, and scenic resources. For these reasons, groups like Scenic Hudson, the Hudson River Valley Greenway Council and the NYS Canal Recreationway Commission have been formed to promote and protect the waters and river corridors. The Conservancy will cooperate with such organizations in their preservation goals.

The Pine Bush is one of Albany County's most unique ecological and geological areas. The nature of pitch pinescrub oak communities requires intensive management to maintain this carefully balanced habitat. It has been the focus of numerous preservation efforts, including efforts by the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission and the Nature Conservancy. The Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy will cooperate with such organizations in their preservation goals.

The Helderberg Escarpment is one of the most prominent natural features of Albany County, and a geologic resource of international importance. Its distinctive profile, bisecting much of the County, defines the physiographic separation between the hilltowns and the river plane communities. Inappropriate land uses on or near the Escarpment can have tremendous negative impact due to shallow soils, Karst aquifers, and the high visibility of the area both above and below the Escarpment. A priority of the Conservancy is to acquire interest in lands which would preserve the scenic, natural, and cultural values of this resource.

Hoffmans Fault displays a broad outcropping of rock that traverses the Town of Glenville from the Mohawk River through the Town of Charlton. A significant part of the Fault is Wolf Hollow, a mile long ravine that was created by a massive geological displacement of 1000 feet in the earth's surface. The geology of the Hollow is responsible for its diverse plant communities given the differing bedrock material and differing sunlight exposure along its steep slopes. Its geology is also responsible for creating a natural cleft through the Glenville Hills that Native Americans used as a shortcut to the upper Hudson and Atlantic coast. Today the lands that make up Wolf Hollow, including Chaughtanoonda Creek that flows along its base, and Hoffmans Fault are of great beauty and are significant for their natural and cultural resources.

Evaluation of Candidate Lands

Whether a site falls into one or more of the above categories is only the first step in the process of deciding whether the Conservancy will acquire interest in the land. Once it has been determined that the site does qualify in one or more of the above categories, then the Board of Directors must consider the following questions.

A. Public benefit assessment:

What public benefit would result from the Conservancy's involvement in securing the property?
Has the area been identified in a State, regional, or local master plan, guide, study, or inventory as being of special environmental, aesthetic, recreational, educational, or historic significance?
Is the property important to a community as open space because of its significance in defining the character of the community?

Is the property large enough to protect the resources associated with the site, or is there potential for protecting additional adjacent acreage in the future?
What are the surrounding land uses, and to what extent might they affect the conservation value of the property?
Is the property contiguous with, or proximate to, a publicly or privately protected resource, or a resource likely to be so protected in the near future? Would the property extend, buffer, or provide better or less damaging access to the protected resource?

Would development of the property obstruct or diminish scenic views or interfere with views across already protected open space?

To what extent is the property in a natural, undisturbed condition?

If the purpose of the property is primarily a scenic view point, or a recreational or educational resource, will the public have adequate access?

B. Stewardship considerations:

Considerations for all property:

Is the Conservancy the best organization to protect the values of the property?
Does the site have the potential for having a sound but costeffective management plan? This may be a particular problem for certain cultural resources.

Does the need for public access require outright purchase of the land?
Do the soil or topographic characteristics of the land detract from the intended purpose of the property or limit opportunities for public use?

Is there reason to believe that stewardship would be unusually difficult because of irregular land configurations, or problems with trespass or other inappropriate unauthorized intrusions?

Would development on adjacent or nearby land significantly diminish the property's conservation values?
Has the property ever been used for the storage or landfilling of hazardous or other waste materials?

Additional considerations for easements:

If the easement is for a limited duration, can permanent protection be acquired within a reasonable time?
Does the landowner insist on provisions in the easement which would significantly diminish the property's conservation values?
If the easement involves a working landscape, do economic conditions favor continued operation?
Would the easement be unusually difficult to enforce because of multiple or fractured ownerships or fencing restrictions?

C. Acquisition considerations:

Does the Conservancy have the resources, or access to resources, for acquisition and longterm stewardship of the property? See the Conservancy's Stewardship Fund Policy.
Has the owner of the property agreed to contribute to the stewardship endowment?
Is there an existing mortgage or other encumbrance on the property, and if so, will the mortgage holder agree to the terms of the easement?
Are there transaction costs involved in the land transfer that could be prohibitive?
Can the land be acquired with reasonable effort in relation to its value or purpose?
Is the proposed open space part of a development proposal which, overall, is likely to have significant adverse impacts on conservation resources?