Programs: Public conservation area management: clc owns 11 public conservationareas (pca). Nine pcas are open to the public for hiking and outdoorenjoyment. They are maintained for wildlife habitat, recreation, andclc's educational programs. The areas offer a diversity of experiencesand ecosystems. Two pcas are not yet open to the public. Clc alsomanages one public preserve for scenic hudson land trust, inc. Clc's pcas are visited by approximately 20,000 people each year.
community outreach and education: clc works to communicate its missionand the importance of conservation throughout the county with an activeand diverse program of public information and advocacy for conservation values. Among other things, clc provides numerous informational programs to community groups, issues frequent press releases about our programs and projects, maintains a substantive and active web site and facebook presence, and supports a monthly column about conservation matters in the major local newspaper. Clc also offers regular outdoor education and recreation opportunities for the general public to promote an appreciation for the natural resources and landscapes within columbia county. Clc provided 40 free educational and recreational programs, reaching 1500 people during 2014.
land protection activities: clc employs a three-pronged programmaticapproach to its land protection mission. Conservation easements: clc helps families and individuals protect privately owned land with high conservation value by creating, accepting and stewarding conservation easements, ensuring the owner's conservation vision will be upheld forever. Support of land use planning & community projects: working withmunicipalities, communities and conservation groups, clc encouragesland use planning practices and procedures that support protection ofthe county's rich conservation resources and helps to implement local conservation efforts, including fundraising, acquisition, site planning, and the like for creation of public open spaces, trail building, training of local officials and volunteers and stewardship of land for habitat, recreation, and education. In 2014 this program held 6 programs which served 135 individuals. Support for agriculture. Clc believes that a strong and vibrant farm sector is, among other things, an important conservation asset to thisarea, where centuries of farming have left an indelible mark on thecounty's lands, conservation resources and scenic attributes. Clcworks to find ways to support an active and resurgent agriculturalcommunity, including the development and implementation of innovativestrategies including conservation measures and other programs to help new farmers and farmers who want to expand their operation access farmland that might otherwise be unaccessible to them. This program served 1111 people during 2014.
easement stewardship and management: clc is responsibile to ensure thatthe goals of every conservation easement clc holds are respected inperpetuity. Clc monitors its easement properties (24,572 acres at theend of 2014) annually (all sites are aerially monitored and/or visitedin person by a staff person in alternating years) to ensure the termsof the easement are being upheld and appropriate action is taken inaccordance with best professional standards and practices if and whennecessary.
