WestRock Company made a significant contribution to the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy (MHLC), which acquired 64 acres of forestland situated just west of the Hudson River in the town of Bethlehem, NY.
Following the donation from WestRock Company, MHLC will ensure the land’s permanent protection. The land was part of the Corning estate.
“We are so pleased to announce the acquisition of this important property and want to acknowledge the generosity of the WestRock Company that made the conservation of this property possible,” MHLC Executive Director Mark King said. “The acquisition captures an important part of the former Corning estate, which was such an important part of Albany history and preserves some of the remaining open space in this rapidly developing area.”
Located on historic Corning Hill, the WestRock property was once part of the 700-acre estate of Albany County’s longest-serving mayor, Erastus Corning, and several generations of the Corning family. WestRock acquired the property in 1958, and the land has remained largely undisturbed.
“At WestRock, sustainability is the fiber of our company, and we know we have a responsibility to uphold and improve upon that legacy,” said Kevin Hudson, SVP of forestry and recycled fiber at WestRock. “Their commitment to the preservation of local natural, scenic, agricultural and cultural landscapes makes them a perfect fit for ownership moving forward.”