Karen Totino, Licensed Real Estate Person at Monticello Real Estate recently met up with Maria Trabka, Executive Director, from Saratoga PLAN. You can watch the video below.

Saratoga PLAN is dedicated to preserving the rural character, natural habitats and scenic beauty of Saratoga County so that these irreplaceable assets are accessible to all and survive for future generations. We help landowners conserve their farmland, woodlands and natural habitats to sustain the county’s “quality of place” and the environment, economy, and public health. Saratoga PLAN helps communities create plans that balance growth with conservation to sustain the Saratoga Region as a great place to live, work, visit and farm.

Maria explained that Saratoga PLAN has protected over 7,000 acres and they currently manage 5,000 acres. She says, “land is essential to our lives. It provides our water, our air, our food, our quality of life, our outdoor recreational opportunities.”

PLAN, which stands for “preserving land and nature,” connects people to nature through an extensive trail network with over 200 miles of trails in the county. They have found over the years that a good “plan” leads to the ability to take advantage of opportunities as they arise and accelerates results.

Saratoga PLAN is a community-based conservation organization, conserving “places for people.” Although not all conserved lands are open for public access, they provide health benefits and environmental services far beyond their borders. These lands are very much conserved by the people, too! PLAN’s roster of student interns and volunteers are the heart and soul of the organization, consisting of 250+ individuals finding ways to advance the conservation of Saratoga County’s unique places and natural resources. Volunteers help develop and implement plans at all levels of the county. PLAN’s staff of six provides support and coordination for the volunteers.

Maria says, “We have hundreds of people who work in different ways to support the organization. The work that Saratoga PLAN does is forever. So, although it benefits us today, it also goes on for generation after generation, after generation.”

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