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Long Island Water Education Program Reaches 15,000 Students
Long Island Water Education Program Reaches 15,000 Students Educator Beth Finger helped celebrate a milestone in spring 2025: as of spring semester the Long Island Water Education Program had reached 15,000 students since its inception. The goal of this hands-on program, supported in part through funding from the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation, is for students to understand where their drinking water comes from, the values of our ground and surface water resources and how they are threatened, and how land conservation and stewardship can protect them. The series was launched in 2014 by Karen Mossey, who handed over the reins to Beth in 2023. Under both women’s outstanding talent and leadership, the program has thrived, having reached 36 schools in 18 school districts across Long Island. If your school would like to participate in the Long Island Water Education Program and provide students with engaging, hands-on environmental learning experiences, please contact us at liwep@northshorelandalliance.org.
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Laurel Wilt: A New Invasive Threat to Forests on Long Island
Laurel Wilt: A New Invasive Threat to Forests on Long Island In September 2025, the presence of laurel wilt was confirmed in Suffolk County. Laurel wilt is a disease caused by a fungus, Harringtonia lauricola, carried by the redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus). The redbay ambrosia beetle was first discovered in the US in 2002, and the laurel wilt disease was first documented in 2003. The beetle first came to the US in the wood of shipping crates. It soon started to infest trees in the Laureacea (Laurel) family. A few examples of tree and shrub species in this family include sassafras (Sassafras albidium), northern spicebush (Lindera benzoin), redbay (Persea borbonia) and avocado (Persea americana). In the southeast this disease has done irreparable damage to the forests and has forced many avocado farmers to close their farms. The species in our area that are at risk are sassafras and northern spicebush. The Harringtonia lauricola fungus triggers an immune response in the vascular tissue of the trees it infects. It restricts the movement of water through the tree causing it to wilt. Once infected the tree can die in a matter of months. Up until this year, the disease was mostly contained in the southeast, with North Carolina being its northernmost location. A few months ago, it was found in Northport. The carrier beetle was likely to have been transported to the area in untreated firewood. It is important to remember that unless you are purchasing kilntreated firewood, you should never transport firewood further than 50 miles from its original location. Remembering this rule will help prevent the spread of laurel wilt and other invasive insects and diseases. How to Report Suspected Laurel Wilt If you suspect that a tree on your property is infected with laurel wilt, take pictures and create a record of the observations in iMapInvasives.org. iMapInvasives is a database used by community scientists and environmental professionals to document the presence and spread of invasive species. This website is free; to help us combat this disease just create an account and submit observations. All potential observations of laurel wilt made in New York and submitted to iMapinvasives will be sent to the DEC forest pathology lab for review. If you have questions about how to submit a potential laurel wilt observation, please email us at info@northshorelandalliance.org.
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Your Land, Your Legacy: How Conservation Easements Protect Your Property
Your Land, Your Legacy: How Conservation Easements Protect Your Property The Land Alliance is one of 465 land trusts accredited by the Land Trust Alliance. We are proud of our accreditation, which fosters public confidence in land conservation and helps ensure the long-term protection of land. The Land Alliance was founded by community members who cared deeply about protecting our natural habitats and environmental resources and wanted to provide a way for others to do the same. Land trusts have conserved 61 million acres of private land across the nation — more than all of the national parks combined! Privately-owned land makes up 60% of the United States land mass, but only 3% of it is protected for conservation. Astonishingly, 1.5 million acres on average are converted annually from natural or agricultural use to urban and suburban development. Private conservation leverages the increasing interest of the private sector to take part in conservation and allows property owners to control the destiny of their land. Landowners who wish to protect their land so that its special scenic, historic and natural features remain intact have various tools at their disposal. They include conservation easements, gifts of land, and bargain sales. Although gifts of conservation-worthy land are wonderful ways to create a conservation legacy, not all landowners are in a position to donate their land. For those who would like to permanently conserve their land and maintain ownership, the most widely used method is through a conservation easement. A conservation easement is a voluntary agreement between a landowner and a land conservation organization, such 22 as the North Shore Land Alliance (Land Alliance), that is permanently binding on the land, no matter who owns it. The landowner retains all rights to own, sell, and use the land according to the provisions of the easement. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has set up the following qualifying criteria for a conservation easement. • The preservation of land areas for outdoor recreation by, or the education of, the general public. • The protection of a relatively natural habitat of fish, wildlife, or plants, or similar ecosystem. • The preservation of open space (including farmland and forest land) where such preservation is – (I) for the scenic enjoyment of the general public; or (II) pursuant to a clearly delineated Federal, State, or local governmental conservation policy, and will yield a public benefit. • The preservation of an historically important land area or a certified historic structure. Preserving your land is a personal choice. Landowners who choose this path feel a deep sense of connection to their property and are inspired to leave a lasting positive impact on their community for generations. There may be potential tax deductions for donating your land. For more information, or to better understand if this may apply to you, please call the Land Alliance at 516-922-1028. We will be happy to help you.
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Celebrating the Lands That Bring Us Together
Celebrating 22 Years and the Lands That Bring Us Together As the North Shore Land Alliance approaches 22 years of land conservation, we would like to reintroduce you to the places that have shaped our story. They are the public preserves that connect us to nature, to our community and to one another. Throughout the Land Alliance’s history, we have worked to protect a remarkable mosaic of landscapes, each with their own beauty, biodiversity and history. Together, these lands form a living network of green spaces that safeguard wildlife, purify our air and water and offer a peaceful getaway for people seeking time in nature. As you explore our open meadows, tranquil forests, vibrant wetlands and thriving gardens, you become part of an ongoing relationship, one that has endured for thousands of years. When you spend time in nature, the land becomes part of your story, and you, in turn, become part of its legacy. This year, we celebrate not only the land we have protected but also our community. It continues to care, explore and advocate for our future. We invite you to visit our preserves, explore the trails and see firsthand how conservation can bring us together. Because our lands need us just as much as we need them.
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Pulling Campaign: Protecting the Lands that Matter Most
Pulling Campaign: Campaign to Acquire Five Acres of Critical Land Adjacent to the Red Cote Preserve in Oyster Bay Cove. When people think about land conservation, they often picture vast preserves or large working farms. But here on Long Island, every acre counts — and sometimes, protecting a five-acre parcel can make an enormous difference. That’s why the North Shore Land Alliance is committed to permanently preserving not only large tracts of land, but also smaller properties that play vital roles in our local community and in the environment. One such property is in Oyster Bay Cove — the beautiful and ecologically important Pulling Property on Yellow Cote Road. For the past year, the Land Alliance has been conducting a grassroots campaign to acquire the property, which is adjacent to the Red Cote Preserve, for conservation purposes. We are proud to share that over 100 local families and foundations have joined the effort thus far, raising nearly $1M of the $1.52M needed for the Land Alliance to purchase and permanently protect this land. You may be asking yourself, why are so many in this community investing in a relatively small plot of land? Besides its significant historic and nostalgic value (just one family has owned the land over the last 100 years), it also has considerable value for the health of our natural environment. A Haven for Nature – On an island where open space is rapidly disappearing, a five-acre parcel of wood, meadow, or wetland can provide a critical refuge for wildlife. The Pulling Property offers habitat for native plants, birds and pollinators. It also serves as a vital green connection between other conserved lands. By protecting this property, the Land Alliance will help maintain biodiversity and ensure that wildlife continues to thrive along the North Shore. Protecting Our Water – Long Island’s drinking water comes from a single underground aquifer — what happens on the surface above directly affects what we drink. Conserving the Pulling Property will allow natural soils and vegetation to filter rainwater before it seeps down to replenish our groundwater. Permanent protection of this parcel will also help reduce runoff and safeguard the health of both nearby wetlands and Oyster Bay’s coastal waters. Moreover, this property is particularly significant as it sits within the Oyster Bay Special Groundwater Protection Area, as designated by New York State. Strengthening Climate Resilience – As our communities face stronger storms and rising seas, natural areas like the Pulling Property that are on high ground offer invaluable protection. Trees and native vegetation on this land absorb stormwater, reduce flooding and store carbon — small but powerful contributions to a more resilient future for our region. To learn more about the Campaign to Grow Red Cote Preserve, visit www.northshorelandalliance.org/campaign-to-grow-red-cote-preserve/ or contact the Land Alliance at 516-922-1028 or info@northshorelandalliance.org. #gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-1 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-1 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
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