Woodstock Land Conservancy (WLC) has secured funding to purchase 65 acres near the top of Mt. Tobias in Woodstock for $310,000, assuring it will forever remain protected.
WLC was able to fund the land acquisition with donations ranging from $5 to $105,000.
“Our primary mission as a land trust is the preservation of lands for habitat and carbon sequestration,” WLC Executive Director Andy Mossey said in a press release.
“Thanks to the generous support of more than 40 donors, this sensitive ecosystem is going to remain wild. It was our dream, but they made it a reality.”
The funds aided the purchase, appraisal, survey, title search and environmental report. The staff and board will develop a land management plan to preserve the land for wildlife and prepare it for future recreational use.
Plans include working with the Department of Environmental Conservation to add the land to the Catskill Forest Preserve, advancing a state goal to connect the top of Mt. Tobias to the Maurice D. Hinchey Catskills Visitor Center via public trail.
“Without the support from our community, this acquisition and the future protection of this land would not have been possible,” Mossey said.
“Notably, one generous donor had the great idea to help us drum up more support by requesting that their donation be matched dollar-for-dollar. I am so proud of the team at WLC who worked hard to make sure we could match each and every one of those $50,000.”
There was some initial concern about launching a large fund drive given the current economic uncertainty. “Given the tumultuous times in which we live, one could argue this was not the best time to launch a significant fundraising campaign,” said Kevin Smith, chair of WLC’s board. “We are inspired and gratified at how our community responded — and in record time.”
WLC board president Patty Goodwin noted she was confident Conservancy supporters would feel empowered by helping to protect land locally, as many want to make a demonstrable difference protecting the environment even as federal bureaucrats are gutting those protections nationally. “We’re going to stay true to our mission to conserve land,” she said, “and we’re thrilled to have community members who want to help us ‘keep Woodstock wild’.”
The land acquisition is due to be completed in May.
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