Rensselaer Land Trust, one of the Capital Region’s leading land conservation organizations, announces that Troy resident John Winter has been hired as its Executive Director. In this role, Mr. Winter will advance and expand RLT’s longstanding mission of protecting key lands and bringing people together through conservation.

As RLT’s new ambassador, Mr. Winter will spend the summer months engaging supporters and partners as the organization continues its preparation of a countywide land conservation plan. Once completed, the plan will guide RLT in its conservation priorities over the coming years.

“We are very excited to welcome John to the RLT family,” says Board President Kristina Younger. "He represents all we had in mind when we sought a leader to guide us into our fourth decade as a conservation organization. John is a natural people person and an experienced and enthusiastic champion of conservation. We are looking forward to a bright future with him.”

Mr. Winter has a Masters of Environmental Management degree from Duke University. He has experience in land trust management having previously served as executive director of two land trusts in New York. He also has experience in conservation finance, corporate social responsibility, and public housing.

"I am grateful to RLT’s Board of Directors for trusting me with this important role," says Mr. Winter. "Our land and water here in Rensselaer County mirror our people – hard-working, diverse, and generous with their gifts. I look forward to connecting with RLT’s many friends and to making new friends for land and water conservation.”

Learn more at John's staff bio here.

Rensselaer Land Trust has received a $7000 grant through the New York State Conservation Partnership Program to support the expansion of the Mud Lake Preserve in Sand Lake.  The Conservation Partnership Program (a partnership between the Land Trust Alliance and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, with funding from the Environmental Protection Fund) announced $1.8 million in grants awarded to land trusts across the state.

The Rensselaer Land Trust was one of 58 nonprofit land trusts in New York to receive a grant award this year from this program.

Funding will support the transaction costs associated with the purchase of a parcel last year that expands the Mud Pond Preserve in Sand Lake - home to one of the few remaining kettle bog wetland complexes in Rensselaer County. The purchase itself of the new parcel was funded through a generous private contribution that will be honored at an event in September.  The Preserve will be renamed in honor of the donor's family. Stay tuned!

We thank the State Legislature and Governor Cuomo for their support of increased funding for the Conservation Partnership Program and the Environmental Protection Fund.

The Rensselaer Land Trust is proud to be celebrating 30 years of land conservation work in Rensselaer County. We are taking time to reflect, reorganize, and regroup as we prepare to enter the next chapter in our organization’s history. The opportunity to hire new staff in a leadership position provides a chance to explore possibilities. We have a strong Board of Directors, loyal supporters, an engaged and active volunteer corps, and a solid foundation to build on.

As members and supporters of the Rensselaer Land Trust, you can continue to expect that we will stay focused on our land conservation mission, while presenting programs and resources to increase appreciation and use of Rensselaer County’s natural beauty. Our County-wide Conservation Plan, which is well into development, will provide direction based on data and public input for preservation priorities. We will partner with others that share our goals to get even more done. We will do this while upholding the standards and practices that our accredited status recognizes. We will manage the organization, and the trust that you place in it through your loyal contributions, so that we are financially sustainable and here for the long term.

Kristina Younger, President