Our Mission
Our Story
“I am proud to see that OBI has come such a long way. We could never have imagined so many important preservation and conservation achievements.” Maureen Barros, a founding member of OBI Land Trust in 1993.
OBI Land Trust got its start more than 25 years ago; all because of a handful of people who decided that the Jefferson County, NY shoreline communities needed a way to protect the land that makes our part of the North Country so special. Today, the important work they started continues as the mission of the region’s only all-volunteer land trust organizations.
Who We Are
Originally called Ontario Bays Initiative with a broader focus, the organization quickly honed in on land conservation as a way to preserve our region’s rural and scenic character. OBI Land Trust is a non-profit organization based in Chaumont, NY. We are led by a Board of Directors who shares a commitment to conservation. They donate their time and talents to our land trust and are the driving force behind its success.
Who We Serve
The communities of Lyme, Cape Vincent, Brownville, Hounsfield, Henderson, Ellisburg, Pamelia and LeRay are our service area. It is a part of northern New York State known as the “North Country” where agriculture and tourism are an important part of our way of life, and with a rural heritage that makes it a special place to live. It is fast-growing part of the state that makes development pressure a growing reality and the work of our land trust even more important. As we all know - once forestland, wetland and important habitats are lost to development, they are often gone forever.
What We Do
As a non-profit land trust, we are qualified to accept conservation easements. This is a legal agreement between a land trust and landowner that permanently limits or prohibits certain uses land in order to protect conservation values.
Conservation easements are a great way for people to preserve private land for lasting public benefit. It is important to note that once under an easement agreement, land can remain in private use, remain privately owned and can be sold or passed down to heirs.
Our Accomplishments
OBI Land Trust has preserved nearly 800 acres. This includes rare alvar habitat, a unique habitat for the endangered Indiana bat, a 184-acre wildlife reserve and 1700 feet of shoreline on Stoney Cove - one of the last remaining stretches of undeveloped shoreline in Henderson Harbor, NY. We are constantly working to preserve and protect our local ecological assets.
“I am proud to see that OBI has come such a long way. We could never have imagined so many important preservation and conservation achievements.” Maureen Barros, a founding member of OBI Land Trust in 1993.
OBI Land Trust got its start more than 25 years ago; all because of a handful of people who decided that the Jefferson County, NY shoreline communities needed a way to protect the land that makes our part of the North Country so special. Today, the important work they started continues as the mission of the region’s only all-volunteer land trust organizations.
Who We Are
Originally called Ontario Bays Initiative with a broader focus, the organization quickly honed in on land conservation as a way to preserve our region’s rural and scenic character. OBI Land Trust is a non-profit organization based in Chaumont, NY. We are led by a Board of Directors who shares a commitment to conservation. They donate their time and talents to our land trust and are the driving force behind its success.
Who We Serve
The communities of Lyme, Cape Vincent, Brownville, Hounsfield, Henderson, Ellisburg, Pamelia and LeRay are our service area. It is a part of northern New York State known as the “North Country” where agriculture and tourism are an important part of our way of life, and with a rural heritage that makes it a special place to live. It is fast-growing part of the state that makes development pressure a growing reality and the work of our land trust even more important. As we all know - once forestland, wetland and important habitats are lost to development, they are often gone forever.
What We Do
As a non-profit land trust, we are qualified to accept conservation easements. This is a legal agreement between a land trust and landowner that permanently limits or prohibits certain uses land in order to protect conservation values.
Conservation easements are a great way for people to preserve private land for lasting public benefit. It is important to note that once under an easement agreement, land can remain in private use, remain privately owned and can be sold or passed down to heirs.
Our Accomplishments
OBI Land Trust has preserved nearly 800 acres. This includes rare alvar habitat, a unique habitat for the endangered Indiana bat, a 184-acre wildlife reserve and 1700 feet of shoreline on Stoney Cove - one of the last remaining stretches of undeveloped shoreline in Henderson Harbor, NY. We are constantly working to preserve and protect our local ecological assets.
