North Shore Land Alliance, Inc. (NSLA) and Friends of the Bay, along with 100 other organizations, joined Long Island's Last Stand (LILS), a 10-year action plan announced on Jan. 12, to save the most significant remaining open space and farmland, and to restore and protect our bays, harbors, and public parklands across Long Island.

LILS aims to preserve 25,000 acres of the most significant remaining open space and 10,000 acres of farmland, and restore and protect hundreds of thousands of acres of lands and waters in Nassau and Suffolk counties. LILS is supported by a coalition of concerned citizens, farmers, business leaders and conservation groups who are taking a proactive role in protecting remaining natural areas and restoring Long Island's lands, waters and way of life.

Without significant increases in the rates of land and water preservation, in 10 years, currently unprotected open spaces and watersheds will be completely developed or too fragmented to significantly contribute to environmental goals. The continued loss of farmland may end our sustainable agricultural economy, said LILS.

"NSLA is very proud to be part of this coalition," said Lisa Ott, executive director of NSLA, a nonprofit land trust active in local conservation on Long Island's North Shore. Forty percent of our open space has been lost to development since 1980. If we are going to preserve what is best about our area for generations to come, we have to do it now before it is too late."

"This 10-year action plan will help to protect and restore the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor Complex, the cleanest estuary in western Long Island Sound," said Kyle Rabin, executive director of Friends of the Bay, a conservation group based in Oyster Bay. Mr. Rabin added, "While the overall water quality of this estuary complex is very good, there are several areas with poor water quality. Subsequently, this action plan can play a key role in improving degraded water quality and maintaining those waters that are currently healthy."

Both Ms. Ott and Mr. Rabin agree that there is no place in New York State where build out is more imminent or where local governments are doing more to protect open space and our quality of life. Ms. Ott and Mr. Rabin said that accomplishing this very important goal will require a coordinated government effort from the state, county, towns and federal government, and that based on the enthusiasm of the press conference, Long Islanders are up for the challenge.

"This 10-year strategy is our last chance to save what makes Long Island such a wonderful place to live-our beautiful land and water," said Marcia Bystryn, executive director of the New York League of Conservation Voters. "It is our duty to give future generations the best natural environment for Long Island that we can. Healthy natural resources provide priceless benefits to us, but if we fail to protect our natural areas we will pay a high price because of their loss. Without this plan, Long Island does not stand a chance."

Among the properties listed as threatened by development are the Hall Estate in Muttontown, Pulling Estate in Oyster Bay Cove, Banfi Estate in Old Brookville, Richardson Estate in Oyster Bay Cove, Mill Pond Overlook in Oyster Bay Hamlet, KeySpan Property in Glenwood Landing, and Vallardi Properties in Baldwin.

Ms. Ott said, "There is always hope, and we continue to try on each site, as long as it is possible. Now that we have adequate bond money it is really important because we can properly compensate someone for their property. The town and county use appraisers and they pay the fair market value. We can pay them fairly."

Those properties Long Island Last Stand are suggesting for saving include:

The Boegner Estate in Old Westbury: The 70-acre Boegner Estate, located adjacent to Old Westbury Gardens, is one of the last examples of a rural colonial farm left in Nassau County. It is also located in the deep flow recharge area of the Special Groundwater Protection Area (SGPA).

Nassau Tributary/Bay Buffer Sites in Hempstead: Assemblage of four waterfront parcels (Harbor Isle Waterfront Site, Baldwin Harbor Waterfront Site, Waterview at Baldwin Creek, Brooklyn Waterworks at Milburn Creek) that provide critical buffer for South Shore Estuary Reserve tributary corridors and bay front. The parcels would provide public parkland and historical character for an under-served community.

The Yampol Estate in Oyster Bay: The 150-acre Laurel Cove Farm (Yampol) in Cove Neck is the largest remaining open space in Nassau County still in private hands. Reaching from Oyster Bay to Cold Spring Harbor, its densely wooded interior provides the largest natural habitat on the North Shore with rare trees and rare birds.

The Richardson Estate in Oyster Bay; The 60-acre amazing natural wooded area, the Richardson estate adjacent to the Tiffany Creek Preserve, is located in the middle of the area's Special Groundwater Protection Area (SGPA). Ms. Ott said, "All the drinking water on Long Island comes from the aquifer and that is where the aquifer is closest to the surface and so it is very important to those of us who live here on Long Island. You are protecting private estates but you are also protecting the water quality for all of this area."

The Pulling Estate in Oyster Bay: The 107-acre Pulling Estate in Oyster Bay Cove is considered one of the most significant properties in Nassau County by the State of New York based on its rolling, laurel-covered hills and location in the deep water recharge area of the SGPA. "The Pulling Estate has had subdivision plans in the works for almost 10 years, and has never been approved. It is slated for development but the county and town bond committee groups have expressed interest in portions of the property. They are offering to pay a fair market value for the site," said Ms. Ott.

The Hall Property in Muttontown: The 116-acre property is adjacent to the Muttontown Preserve, and would expand already popular walking and riding trails. They have submitted a plan to the Muttontown Planning and Development board but it hasn't been approved as yet. (There are also several properties in Suffolk that are on the list. The NSLA is becoming active in Suffolk.)

The Mill Pond Overlook development is not on the priorities list but according to Mr. Rabin, since the owner has been receptive, the purchase of the property appears to be in the works.

Long Island's Last Stand suggests that state, counties and towns should develop coordinated, complementary funding and policy strategies by:

• Increase Long Island's share of state funding by $85 million a year, for land and water preservation, management and restoration across Long Island.

• Extend the Suffolk County 1⁄4 percent Drinking Water Protection Program with a reconfigured allocation scheme that favors land preservation programs, increasing funding to $40 million annually; increase county funding by $10 million a year to restore and manage the county's lands and waters.

• Create a new and permanent Nassau County Land and Waters Trust fund to provide enhanced parks, and sustainable land and marine natural areas at a level similar to Suffolk County.

A long-term and diversified financial commitment at the state, county and town levels, at acceptable cost to the taxpayer, sets the stage now for public health, environmental and economic sustainability through the 21st century and beyond. With strategic land purchases and targeted management and restoration activities we can assure that our lands, our waters and our way of life will remain for the benefit of our children and all future generations, LILS said. Visit www.linature.org for more information on Long Island's Last Stand.