Frequently asked questions

We’re a certified land trust dedicated to conserving and restoring natural habitats across Long Island and the greater New York City area. We combine ecological restoration, land conservation, and youth programming to keep our region wild, healthy, and connected for generations to come.

LIC began in 2021 as a grassroots group of volunteers who shared one idea: Long Island’s natural places were worth restoring, and neighbors could do it together. Co-founded by Marshall Brown, now our President, and Frank Piccininni, the group went to work on its first project in July 2021. It turned a three-acre, sump in Massapequa into the Michael J. Sperling Memorial Bird Sanctuary. Since then, LIC has grown into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, welcomed its first Executive Director, Devon Giordano, and become a certified land trust. Our approach hasn’t changed: plant native, remove the invasive, and conserve our lands.

Yes. We’re the same team with the same mission and the same work on the ground. We’ve simply grown into a new name: Long Island Conservation Alliance. If you’ve supported or volunteered with the Long Island Conservancy, thank you. You’ve been part of this all along.

Three big things. We restore and connect habitat across the region, we grow the next generation of environmental stewards through hands-on youth programs, and we build the science behind the link between healthy land and healthy people. We currently steward an eleven-property portfolio.

We work across Long Island — Nassau and Suffolk Counties — as well as Queens and Brooklyn.

Through a mix of grants, foundation support, corporate sponsorships, and the generosity of individual donors who care about our region’s future.

A land trust is a nonprofit that conserves land for its natural, ecological, or community value — permanently. We acquire, steward, and restore properties so they stay conserved from development and can thrive as healthy habitat. Being a certified land trust means we meet rigorous national standards for how we care for land and honor our commitments.

Yes. Since becoming a certified land trust in June 2026, LIC can accept donations of land and conservation easements across Long Island, Brooklyn, and Queens.

A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust. The land keeps its natural character permanently, and the owner keeps ownership. You can keep living on it, selling it, or passing it down, while certain future uses are limited so the habitat stays healthy for good.

You don’t need a pristine forest to qualify. We work with parcels of all sizes, including land that’s overgrown with invasives or needs serious restoration. Many landowners come to us because they love their land but can’t restore or manage it themselves. Donating land or an easement may also carry tax benefits, so we always encourage talking it through with your own attorney or financial advisor.

It’s a big decision, and we’re happy to start with a no-pressure conversation. Reach out to devon@longislandconservationalliance.org.

Restoration is the work of helping a damaged or degraded landscape return to health. That can mean removing invasive species, replanting native trees and grasses, reviving wetlands, conserving habitat for vulnerable wildlife, and managing the land over time so nature can take it from there. It’s hands-on, long-term work — not a one-time fix.

We run three hands-on programs that grow with kids from toddlerhood through high school, with a special focus on reaching young people in disadvantaged communities.

• Tykes That Hike (ages 2–8, with caregivers): Guided hikes, nature play, and seasonal storytelling that get little ones and their grown-ups exploring the outdoors together.
• Sprout Squad (middle school): A hands-on restoration crew where kids learn to tell native plants from invasive ones and help restore real habitat.
• Young Environmental Ambassadors Program, or YEAP (high school): Advanced restoration work, community science, and leadership and advocacy training for teens ready to make a difference in their communities.

There’s a way in for everyone, whether you have an afternoon, a few dollars a month, or a backyard.

• Volunteer: Join a planting day or invasive removal event. No experience needed, and we’ll show you everything on site. 
• Become an Island Keeper: Our monthly membership starts at $25 a month and gives you early access to volunteer days and events. 
• Donate: Every gift goes toward restoring Long Island’s land, from native plantings to youth programs. 
• Partner with us: We work with businesses on employee volunteer days and community partnerships. 
• Conserve your land: If you own land you’d like to see stay natural for good, we’d love to talk about donating land or a conservation easement.
• Stay in the loop: Sign up for our monthly newsletter, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

LIC is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Our EIN is 38-4338831. For gifts of stock, land, or conservation easements, check with your tax advisor about how the deduction applies to your situation.