The Finger Lakes Land Trust is celebrating 20 years of conservation in Ithaca’s “Emerald Necklace” – a greenbelt of protected lands around the south end of Cayuga Lake.

As we look back on all we’ve accomplished together and imagine the next 20 years, the Land Trust has created an Anniversary Hiking Challenge to last throughout 2026. You can also explore the suggested Emerald Necklace locations below.

Overview

EXTENDING IN AN ARC from the Finger Lakes National Forest in the west to the Hammond Hill State Forest in the east, the Emerald Necklace initiative aims to link more than 50,000 acres of existing conservation land.

These lands host 78 miles of the Finger Lakes Trail, several state forests and parks, the Finger Lakes National Forest, and over 7,000 acres of Finger Lakes Land Trust nature preserves and easements on private lands.

They also include two National Audubon Society-designated Important Bird Areas, and dozens of Tompkins County-designated Unique Natural Areas. The Emerald Necklace is also recognized as a priority project within New York State’s Open Space Plan.

Photo: Deborah Littlejohn

Our Work

WHAT BEGAN AS A STRATEGY for prioritizing conservation projects has grown into a successful tool for protecting the ecological integrity of lands at the south end of Cayuga Lake. There are many reasons to celebrate and reflect on all that has been accomplished since 2006, including the protection of over 5,300 acres by the Finger Lakes Land Trust.

Through the use of land acquisitions, cooperative projects with government conservation agencies, and conservation easements, the Land Trust has steadily expanded this greenbelt, resulting in increased water quality protection for streams that enter Cayuga Lake; more outdoor recreational opportunities for residents and visitors to the area; and, a less fragmented landscape, allowing for the movement of wildlife and safeguarded habitats.

5,314 acres conserved by FLLT
since Emerald Necklace inception (2006)

7,126 acres conserved by FLLT
within the Emerald Necklace boundary since 1989

40 conservation easements
on lands in private ownership (3,046 acres)

14 FLLT nature preserves
open to everyone (2,461 acres)

22 miles of trails
on FLLT nature preserves

Nature Preserves

Over the last 20 years, the Land Trust has created or expanded 11 nature preserves within the Emerald Necklace that are free and open to the public. See the 20th Anniversary map above for a full list of FLLT preserves in the Emerald Necklace, and see our interactive map to see dozens of preserves across the Finger Lakes region.

Photo: Chris Ray

ROY H. PARK PRESERVE – The popular Roy H. Park Preserve in Dryden, Tompkins County, was opened in 2007 after the organization acquired 136 acres bordering Six Mile Creek, the source of drinking water for the city of Ithaca. The preserve contains diverse natural habitats including meadows, woodlands, and wetlands, and is adjacent to Hammond Hill and Yellow Barn state forests and a Cornell Botanic Gardens Natural Area.

Photo: Long Creek Photography

LINDSAY-PARSONS BIODIVERSITY PRESERVE – The 554-acre Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve in West Danby grew with the addition of four unique parcels including nine acres of wetlands that are home to river otters, Great Blue Herons, Kingfishers, and many other creatures. Due to the size and diversity of this preserve, students and scientists at Cornell University have used it to research biodiversity and chemical ecology. A network of nearly four miles of trails offers excellent hiking, cross-country skiing, and wildlife viewing opportunities.

Photo: Chris Ray

SWEEDLER & THAYER PRESERVES – The Sweedler and Thayer Preserves at Lick Brook are among the Land Trust’s most popular conservation areas. First opened to the public in 1993, the Sweedler Preserve provides access to one of the most remarkable waterfalls and gorges in the Finger Lakes region. Since then, the Land Trust has protected additional lands here, including the adjacent Thayer Preserve which features steep banks, low cliffs, and a bedrock stream bed with small waterfalls. The Lick Brook corridor remains a conservation priority area for the Land Trust. The perpetual protection of this area allows ample opportunity for hiking, including access to Buttermilk Falls State Park via a spur of the Finger Lakes Trail, and peaceful enjoyment of our natural world, while protecting the water quality of Cayuga Lake. Other nature preserves in Tompkins County opened since 2006 include the Tapan Mitra Preserve and the William and Marjory Thayer Preserve at Lick Brook in Ithaca, the Kingsbury Woods Conservation Area in Danby, and the Summerland Farm Preserve and Eberhard Preserve in Caroline.

Private Lands

Also within the Emerald Necklace, the Land Trust has implemented 32 conservation easements, securing land that remains in private ownership and on local tax rolls. These properties are often buffered by state forests or other existing conservation land, and their protection ensures a more connected natural landscape. Easements are voluntary legal agreements that permanently limit future development in order to protect the land’s conservation value but remain available for traditional uses such as forestry and hunting. Conservation easements also maintain the rural hiking experience as the Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) passes through many of these private properties.

Critical Partnerships

These achievements are possible thanks to the support of the Land Trust’s members, partners, and volunteers. Collaborations with the Finger Lakes Trail Conference, the Cayuga Trails Club, and partnerships with local governments, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation play a crucial role in securing time-sensitive land acquisitions. Thanks to these partnerships, the Land Trust also completed 19 cooperative acquisition projects in the Emerald Necklace since 2006. These partnerships have resulted in the expansion of Yellow Barn State Forest, Robert H. Treman State Park, and Danby State Forest in Tompkins County, as well as Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area in Schuyler County, and Robinson Hollow State Forest in Tioga County.

Hiking Challenge!

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Emerald Necklace, Finger Lakes Land Trust President Andy Zepp will be repeating a trek he completed 20 years ago, hiking all 78 miles of the Finger Lakes Trail that pass through the Emerald Necklace. Along some sections of the trail, Andy will be accompanied by friends, supporters, and conservation partners, and these hikes will be documented in an upcoming video this year.

The Land Trust invites you to explore the Emerald Necklace by also hiking these 78 miles along the Finger Lakes Trail! This hiking challenge can be done in sections, at your own pace, and over the course of 2026. Anyone who completes the challenge receives a hiking patch commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Emerald Necklace. See the Challenge Map →

See the Hiking Challenge →

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