Open Space Institute

Open Space Institute (OSI) is an organization that seeks to preserve scenic, natural and historic landscapes for public enjoyment, conserve habitats and sustain community character.

Background

OSI, established in 1964, achieves its goals through land acquisition, conservation easements, regional loan programs, creative partnerships, fiscal sponsorship, and analytical research.It seeks to do this by making land acquisition, establishing conservation easements and by making loans to, and creative partnerships with, other organizations. It is active in states including New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and New Jersey.

According to its website it has protected more than in New York State and has assisted in protecting over of forest in New England through its Northern Forest Protection Fund.

Activities

OSI’s New York Land Protection Program purchases land and easements in New York State, OSI's home and historic base of operations, where it has protected of land. OSI focuses on protecting scenic, historic, recreational and agricultural landscapes in the greater Hudson River Valley region, from the Palisades to the Adirondacks High Peaks. Working with state and local governments, land trusts of all sizes, and individual landowners, OSI has created and expanded more than 40 parks and preserves, protected family farms, helped develop appropriate land use policies, and increased public funding for conservation.

Through the Conservation Finance Program, OSI seeks to...
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