ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) – The Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) has acquired property near Connecticut Hill.

On Tuesday, the Ithaca-based conservation group announced the purchase of 30 acres along the Finger Lakes Trail and Cayuta Creek. The land is located off of Oak Hill Road in the Town of Catharine, Schuyler County.

“This latest project is the fourth we’ve completed in this area,” stated FLLT President Andrew Zepp. “Connecticut Hill encompasses one of the largest intact forests remaining in our region and hosts a diversity of wildlife. Places like this are increasingly important for many reasons – from water quality to carbon sequestration and providing the opportunity for people to connect with nature.”

FLLT officials say it will eventually be transferred to the DEC to be added to the Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area. With over 11,000 acres, it’s the largest wildlife management area in the state and is a key component of the Emerald Necklace, a proposed green belt of 50,000 acres of conserved land in an arc around Ithaca.