Winnakee Land Trust and New York Forest Owners Association Launch The Woodland Stewards Collaborative
A new program partnership putting conservation-forward landowner education at its center
Winnakee Land Trust and the New York Forest Owners Association (NYFOA) are pleased to announce the formation of The Woodland Stewards Collaborative, a joint program partnership dedicated to empowering private landowners across New York with practical, trusted guidance on forest stewardship education and activities.
The Collaborative connects two organizations with a common cause: supporting the private landowners who are essential to the future of New York’s forests, watersheds, and climate resilience.
How The Collaborative Began
The Collaborative grew out of several joint conferences and programs, where the consistent message Winnakee and NYFOA kept hearing from landowners was a desire for more programming around wildlife, water quality, aesthetics, and long-term stewardship.
Those are exactly the conversations Winnakee was already having about our work,” said Uri Perrin, Senior Director of External Affairs at Winnakee Land Trust. “Active management of the lands we protect is central to our mission, and this Collaborative is a natural extension of that commitment. After piloting programs with NYFOA in 2025 with strong responses, it was clear there is a real audience of landowners looking for trusted, conservation-forward guidance. The Woodland Stewards Collaborative is our way of answering that call, and we are thrilled to partner with the New York Forest Owners Association to connect with a broader community of committed landowners.”
For NYFOA, the partnership deepens its commitment to the family woodland owners at the heart of its membership while expanding the range of programming available to them.
“The Woodland Stewards Collaborative reflects exactly the kind of partnership NYFOA has been looking for,” said Edward Neuhauser, President of the New York Forest Owners Association. “Winnakee shares our deep respect for family woodlands and the people who have nurtured them, and they bring a hands-on, practical approach to education that our members have been asking for.”
What The Collaborative Offers
Programming through The Woodland Stewards Collaborative focuses on land management topics surveyed directly from landowners interests: wildlife habitat, water quality, forest regeneration, aesthetics and quality of life, and long-term conservation legacy. Content is delivered through statewide webinars as well as on-site demonstrations on Winnakee and NYFOA member properties, making it accessible to landowners wherever they are in New York.
Whether someone is just beginning to think about the future of their land or is deep into a long-term management plan, The Collaborative is designed to meet them where they are. The aim is to serve as a trusted, conservation-first based resource for landowners at every stage of their stewardship journey.
“Private landowners are New York’s largest stewards of forested land, and our goal is to help them become its strongest ones,” said Bob Davis, CEO of Winnakee Land Trust. ” In partnership with NYFOA, we intend to provide resources that landowners can use to actively manage their lands, so they can feel confident that the land they’ve cared for will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.”
The Woodland Stewards Collaborative will debut at the New York Forest Owners Association Annual Conference on May 16th at SUNY ESF in Syracuse. To be added to upcoming announcements on the program, please join the Collaborative eblast list here:
Join The Collaborative eblast list
About Winnakee Land Trust Winnakee Land Trust is a regional land trust based in the Hudson Valley, committed to protecting and stewarding the lands, waters, and natural communities of the region for current and future generations.
About the New York Forest Owners Association The New York Forest Owners Association is a statewide membership organization that supports and advocates for private forest landowners across New York, providing education, resources, and community for those who manage and care for family woodlands.
Photo header: Bob Davis, CEO, Winnakee Land Trust; Ed Neuhauser, President, New York Forest Owners Association; and Stacy Kazacos; Immediate Past President, New York Forest Owners Association touring Ed’s woodland.
To learn more about The Woodland Stewards Collaborative, please reach out to Uri Perrin, Senior of External Affairs at uri@winnakee.org.
