Robins Island Retreat For Louis Bacon

Suffolk County in the state of New York, 80 miles off the coast sits Robins Island, a secluded 0.7 square mile undeveloped stretch of land. Two German investors Herbert and Claus Mittermayer bought the island for $1.3 million in 1979 and planned to sell it on as a development opportunity. However legal battles ensued with other claimants on the land, stating it was rightfully theirs, until Suffolk County agreed to buy it for $9.2 million and transform the island into a nature preserve.

Continuing legal battles prevented the island from entering public ownership and it eventually was placed up for auction as part of a bankruptcy settlement. Philanthropist and conservation enthusiast Louis Bacon purchased the island for $11 million in 1993.

Already involved in a number of conservation projects within the US as part of his charity Moore Charitable Fund, Louis Bacon has invested heavily in restoring the abandoned island, reviving it's vegetation and water supplies.

Many of the trees that were on the island had been destroyed from lumber jacking in earlier years, so Mr Bacon imported fully grown oak trees to immediately benefit the area and its wildlife inhabitants. As well as planting new trees and replacing the non-native grasses with ones specific to the region, not only to promote the ongoing survival of this grass, but also for the wildlife who depend on it for feeding and nesting purposes.

The dilapidated buildings were renovated and Mr Bacon uses them as guest houses and holiday homes, whilst he continues to oversee the renovation of the landscape, and ensuring that no further damage is made to the turtles that live on the island. Before he arrived it was unknown that beneath the overgrown shrubs and plants there lay large ponds which had escaped chemical treatment for mosquitoes, providing the ideal habitat and food source for the Eastern mud turtle. Some of the ponds however had become so suffocated by overgrown plants and weeds that other plants and animals had been pushed out, meaning that herons, fish, frogs, ducks, deer, and various other inhabitants were finding it difficult if not impossible to find food and adequate shelter.

In addition Louis Bacon has also given $1.1 million to the Nature Conservancy so that they can monitor the rare and endangered species on the island, ensuring that there is no risk to their habitat and existence.

In January 2013 Louis Bacon will be given the Audubon Medal for his services to environmental protection, and his ongoing work for conservation and charity work with Moore Charitable Foundation.