submitted by Annie Jacobs
The Rensselaer Plateau Alliance (RPA) announced today the acquisition of the 353-acre parcel from Kevin and Mary Albert. [private]
The purchase was funded by a grant from the U.S. Forest Service and a donation by the Albert family. RPA will raise funds to cover closing costs and install signs, a kiosk, trails, and a parking area.
“The generosity of the Alberts has made this vitally important project possible – implementing Rensselaer Plateau Regional Conservation Plan goals to conserve important ecological resources and support economic development through forestry, recreation, and tourism and protecting clean water and wildlife habitat, for our community,” said RPA President Fred DeMay. “This project will protect the land as forest forever.”
Mary Albert says, “We are gratified knowing the land we have loved for 30 years will be preserved for its natural, unspoiled beauty and will be shared with the community under the care and management of the RPA.”
The land will be managed as a Community Forest by a committee of local community members and will be open to the public for many types of recreation. There will be programs for the public and school children, forest landowner education programs, and training for professional loggers. These opportunities will be offered in partnership with a wide range of alliance members and local entities: Village of East Nassau, Town of Nassau, Town of Stephentown, local Boy Scout Troops, Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center, Rensselaer Land Trust, Flying Deer Nature Center, New York Forest Owners Association, Empire State Forest Products Association, New York Logger Training, Inc., and local schools.
This Community Forest was the top-ranked project of the 2016 U.S. Forest Service’s Community Forest Program because of the importance of the land and degree of community involvement. This purchase occurred after a year of preparation, planning, and consultation with local community members and local town officials by RPA.
For updated information on the progress of the Community Forest Project or to donate please visit www.rensselaerplateau.org. [/private]