The Land Trust acquired 5.5 wooded acres in the town of Hector, Schuyler County. The property includes more than 1,300 feet of shared boundary with the Finger Lakes National Forest (FLNF) and approximately 1,000 feet of frontage on Vesa Road.

Protection of this parcel prevents future subdivision that would fragment wildlife habitat connectivity and disrupt recreational opportunities.

The acquisition was made possible by the organization’s “Opportunity Fund,” a dedicated account created by the Land Trust to make time-sensitive acquisitions possible. The fund will be replenished when the property is sold to the U.S. Forest Service in the future.

This latest project is the Land Trust’s fourth land acquisition within the national forest, where the organization also holds three conservation easements conserving private property. Spanning more than 16,000 acres, the FLNF is located between Cayuga and Seneca lakes. It is well known for its miles of multi-use recreational trails and dirt roads. The forest’s patchwork of fields and woodlands also provides habitat for a diversity of wildlife and is recognized as one of New York State’s Important Bird Areas.