Newly acquired OCLT land in Cornwall
SUGAR LOAF – The Orange County Land Trust has obtained 46 acres in the Town of Cornwall in Orange County. Located just outside of Black Rock Forest, the 46 acre parcel was donated by local developer Raffaele Leone and is visible from Schunnemunk Mountain State Park, Black Rock Forest, Storm King Arts Center, as well as other areas.
“When we were presented with the opportunity to acquire this land for preservation, our Board of Directors and staff met the idea with absolute enthusiasm,” said Orange County Land Trust executive director Jim Delaune. “The property is located within the viewshed of a number of destinations for tourism and outdoor recreation and people are drawn to these destinations by the beauty of the Hudson Highlands.”
The vacant parcel consists of mixed deciduous and chestnut oak forest with patches of pitch pine-oak heath rocky summit, which are considered to be ecologically-significant according to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.
William Shuster, Executive Director of Black Rock Forest Consortium said “Conservation of this property is important for retaining biological diversity in the Black Rock Forest – Schunnemunk Mountain region. It features a relatively complex landscape with habitats known to support wildlife species of concern and appears especially important for maintaining connectivity between populations.”
The Orange County Land Trust is dedicated to preserving Orange County’s rural character, natural heritage and working farms. Nearly 5,000 acres of forests, wetlands, wildlife habitat and farmland forever protected. www.oclt.org.
