Our Projects
It all starts with the land.
The Trust is authorized to work anywhere in the continental United States. As a practical matter, that operational “footprint” will be limited in the early years to eastern and more particularly northeastern areas, beginning with New York State. Our initial goal is to acquire 2,000 acres on which to start new woodlots and otherwise improve existing stands where proper management has been inadequate or nonexistent.
Stitts Hill Road, Catlin, New York
The 71 acres near Horseheads, New York was the Trust’s first acquisition, late in 2021. About half of this site consists of over-pastured open land. It was planted with a combination of Norway Spruce and Larch in the Spring of 2022. Most of the new seedlings failed due to a combination of drought, defective seedling stock, and compacted soils. We replanted using auger technology and hand planting techniques. Meanwhile, a second field of approximately eleven acres was planted in the Spring of 2023. In the Spring of 2024, we planted the remaining open acreage with Norway Spruce and Larch. A third field of approximately eighteen acres of reverting brushland and a fourth, eight recently logged acres, are being selectively managed to increase regeneration and sequestration.
County Road 15A, Grove, NY
The Trust acquired a new 67-acre site in July 2024. The land was actively farmed and is suitable for planting beginning Spring of 2025. Our foresters expect the primary species will be Norway Spruce. We are working to overcome supply chain issues by negotiating multi-year advance commitments with nurseries throughout the USA.
Andover Road, Andover, New York
The Trust acquired this 89-acre parcel near Wellsville, New York in 2023. Approximately 50 acres were previously used as hayfield. We planted 48 acres with Norway Spruce and Red Pine in the Spring of 2023. Three more acres will be planted in the Spring of 2024. The remaining acreage is overgrown or wooded to varying degrees and is being managed to improve forest health while optimizing sequestration.
Rochester Transplant Nursery
Land Expansion, Gifting & In Memoriam
In addition to its other work, the Trust is working with two partners, Ibero American Development Corporation and the Rochester Housing Authority, to establish a two-acre nursery in Rochester, New York. The concept is to establish a transplant nursery. First the site’s environmental condition will be restored, then it will be secured and equipped with water, electricity, drainage, and other essential infrastructure. A “potting shed” or small barn will be constructed. The Trust will work in collaboration with neighborhood groups, using its network of foresters and nurseries to acquire seedlings to plant and nurture until they reach viable transplant size. The trees will then be made available for use throughout the City and will augment efforts already underway to improve the overall canopy and contribute to neighborhood beauty, cooling, and health.
More sites are under study and will be acquired by purchase, gifting or in memoriam in the near future. If you would like more information on gifting land or our land expansion efforts, contact the Trust here.