Thank You, Tim Barnett

ADK is deeply saddened by news that Timothy Barnett, former and founding executive director of the Adirondack Land Trust, has passed away. A giant in the world of Adirondack Park conservation and stewardship, Tim’s legacy can be seen both in the lands he protected and the people whose lives he touched.

Through his leadership with both ALT and The Nature Conservancy, Tim is credited with conserving over 500,000 acres of land in the Adirondack Park, which includes notable areas like Great Camp Santatoni, Lake Lila, and Valcour Island. Today, these lands serve New Yorkers by offering space for recreation, providing clean drinking water, and sequestering carbon from our atmosphere.

“Tim’s far-reaching conservation efforts have left an indelible mark on the Adirondack Park’s landscape. He pushed the boundaries on what conservation could look like, and today we benefit from the many protected lands that exist thanks to his visionary approach,” said Michael Barrett, ADK Executive Director.

Tim also played a central role in the creation and early direction of the Adirondack High Peaks Summit Stewardship Program in the 1980s and 90s. His leadership helped to form the partnership behind the program—ADK, the NYSDEC, and The Nature Conservancy in the Adirondacks—which persists to this day. Since then, the program has led a remarkable recovery in alpine vegetation as stewards have reached over 600,000 hikers on summits across the High Peaks region.

“The Summit Stewardship Program was a visionary, outside-of-the-box solution to a seemingly insurmountable problem. It took the actions of people who were equally forward-thinking and creative to make the program successful, and Tim was exactly that,” said Julia Goren, ADK Deputy Executive Director and former summit steward.

“Tim’s stewardship vision is embodied in each conversation that summit stewards have with hikers. Through this, stewards have not only protected New York’s rarest ecosystem, but also inspired many to become land stewards and conservationists themselves. His legacy is a gift to present and future generations,” said Kayla White, ADK Stewardship Manager.

Photo: Tim Barnett on Tim’s Trail at the Boquet River Nature Preserve © Ken Aaron. Provided by The Nature Conservancy.