Dutchess land conservancy (DLC) is dedicated to preserving the scenic, agricultural and environmental resources of dutchess county, new YORK, and the surrounding AREA. DLC, as a private NON-profit land conservation organization, carries out its mission primarily by obtaining conservation easements on privately held land and monitoring these easements in perpetuity. Conservation easements, acquired through donation or purchase, are legal agreements limiting future development in order to protect land for conservation purposes. The organization provides professional assistance and education to landowners, municipalities, and the public, to encourage environmentally sound planning, and on matters of land conservation and stewardship. In 2009 the organization was awarded accreditation status by the land trust accreditation commission, an independent program of the land trust alliance. In 2014 and 2020, the organization received its first and second accreditation renewals, respectively.