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Community Conservation in North Carolina

Teetering on the brink of a large-scale residential development project, the breathtaking southern face of Whiteside Mountain in western North Carolina is now protected forever. Thanks to the swift action of the Open Space Institute, Highlands Cashiers Land Trust, and a group of dedicated local donors, one of southern Appalachia’s most scenic and ecologically significant landscapes will remain wild and free. The Peregrine Tract represents a critical puzzle piece in a region of national conservation significance, safeguarding clean water, wildlife diversity, and outdoor recreation.

OSI's Catskill-Gunks Connector Project Advances

The Shawangunks and Catskills are among New York’s most environmentally important—but threatened—regions. OSI recently completed its latest acquisition project toward its goal of establishing a 2,000-acre green corridor between the Gunks and the Catskills, leaving less than 100 acres to go. The entire assemblage will ultimately become a new state forest that safeguards this ecological hotspot and offers new outdoor recreation opportunities.

In South Carolina, Saving Forests for Education

In the face of rapid population growth and development pressure, OSI is saving some of South Carolina’s most stunning and critical landscapes. In December, OSI acquired 8,400 acres in Florence and Darlington Counties that will ultimately be transferred to Francis Marion University to enhance its forestry and environmental sciences programs. FMU plans to establish an expansive research forest and outdoor classroom for students, researchers, and local schools—a resounding win for conservation and education.

OSI Partners with New York State to Save 1,800 Adirondack Acres

In the newest step in its long partnership with New York State, OSI completed two projects to permanently protect more than 1,800 acres in the Adirondacks. In December, OSI conveyed to the state approximately 1,600 acres in Clinton County and 210 acres of the Upper Works site in the Town of Newcomb, Essex County, where OSI has worked for more than two decades to create a welcoming southern entrance to the High Peaks region that showcases the area’s rich cultural history.

A Lifeline for Clean Water in the Lowcountry

More than 1,700 acres in coastal South Carolina were recently acquired by OSI to bolster protection of the critical ACE Basin and Port Royal Sound watersheds. OSI’s newest step to strengthen the region’s ecological connectivity and safeguard water quality advances years of conservation activity that previously led to OSI and partners saving more than 12,000 acres to create the sprawling Coosawhatchie Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area, which opened in 2024.  

Protecting a Critical Migration Corridor in Pennsylvania 

Through its Appalachian Landscapes Protection Fund, OSI supported the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy in saving 260 acres in southern Pennsylvania along the Kittatinny Ridge, a critical migration corridor that is part of the globally important Appalachian Mountain Region. The newly conserved forest secures public access to part of the popular Tuscarora Trail, safeguards a high-quality cold-water stream, and strengthens the region’s ability to withstand extreme weather. 

OSI Recognized for Conservation Excellence

OSI was honored to earn its third reaccreditation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission – a recognition of the organization’s longstanding commitment to excellence. OSI was among the first land trusts ever to earn accreditation and has now maintained this prestigious distinction for nearly twenty years.

OSI and Land Trust Alliance Drive Climate Action

Through their long-running joint effort, OSI and the national Land Trust Alliance have invested more than $1.6 million since 2020 to help communities harness the power of nature to plan for and mitigate the impacts of climate change and extreme weather. In the most recent round of grants, OSI and the Alliance awarded more than $200,000 to groups from Alaska to Maine for climate-smart projects that will benefit people and the planet for many decades to come.