DEC Announces $3.375 Million in Conservation Partnership Program Grants
Record Funding Amount for 51 Land Trusts to Protect Open Spaces, Improve Water Quality and Support Local Economies
Albany, N.Y. — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced $3.375 million in Conservation Partnership Program grants, the largest amount of funding for this program to date, for 51 not-for-profit land trusts across the state. The announcement, made during New York State's Earth Week celebration, includes 80 grants funded through New York's Environmental Protection Fund and will leverage an additional $2.7 million in private and local funding to support projects that protect water quality and farmland, boost public access for outdoor recreation, and conserve open space. The Land Trust Alliance administers the Conservation Partnership Program in coordination with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
"DEC is proud to partner with the Land Trust Alliance for this $3.3 million grant announcement, which supports land trusts across the state managing forests, conserving agricultural lands, restoring coastal and wetland areas, and bolstering essential projects in our fight against climate change," said Commissioner Basil Seggos. "Thanks to Governor Hochul and legislative leaders, the State's record-high Environmental Protection Fund is making historic investments in local land trusts and community partners, sustaining their work to protect and preserve New York's natural areas now and for future generations."
Among the many environmental victories in the enacted 2022-23 State Budget (leaves DEC website), Governor Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders increased the New York's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) to $400 million, the highest-ever level of funding in the program's history. The EPF supports climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, improves agricultural resources to promote sustainable agriculture, protects water sources, advances conservation efforts, and provides recreational opportunities for New Yorkers.
"The people of New York need and love open spaces for the many health, recreation, and economic benefits they provide," said Meme Hanley, the Land Trust Alliance's New York program manager. "These grants will leverage the strengths of the State's land trust community to protect treasured local outdoor places and help provide important climate benefits. On behalf of the Land Trust Alliance, I applaud Governor Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Senator Todd Kaminsky, Assemblyman Steve Englebright, and Commissioner Seggos for their work to ensure New Yorkers enjoy clean water, healthy food, outdoor recreation, and economic opportunity."
The $3.375 million in Conservation Partnership Program grants, and $2.7 million in private and local funding, will increase the resilience of State lands to the changing climate and contribute to climate solutions by storing carbon. Natural climate solutions will have a significant role in addressing risks associated with climate change. Since the Conservation Partnership Program's inception in 2002, the program has awarded 1,077 grants totaling more than $25 million to 92 land trusts. Cumulatively, the State's investment has leveraged $26.5 million in additional funding from local and private sources.
The grant awards announced today range from $3,750 to $100,000.
Capital Region - total $832,237
Agricultural Stewardship Association: Capacity Grant $50,000; Transaction Grants $18,346
American Farmland Trust: Catalyst Grant $57,870
Capital Roots: Capacity Grant $50,000; Transaction Grant $24,262
Columbia Land Conservancy: Catalyst Grant $100,000
Huyck Preserve and Biological Resource Station: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant $50,000
Lake George Land Conservancy: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant $20,130; Transaction Grant $27,540
Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy: Capacity Grant $45,860
Northeastern Cave Conservancy: Transaction Grant $8,229
Rensselaer Land Trust: Capacity Grant $50,000
Rensselaer Plateau Alliance: Professional Development Grant $100,000; Transaction Grant $50,000
Saratoga PLAN: Professional Development Grant $100,000
Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park: Catalyst Grant $80,000
Central New York - total $102,223
Cazenovia Preservation Foundation: Capacity Grant $22,158; Transaction Grant $38,600
Finger Lakes Land Trust: Transaction Grant $32,000
New York Agricultural Land Trust: Capacity Grant $9,465
Finger Lakes - total $337,200
Ducks Unlimited: Catalyst Grant $50,000
Finger Lakes Land Trust: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant $98,000
Genesee Land Trust: Capacity Grant $9,200; Professional Development Grant $100,000
The Nature Conservancy: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant $80,000
Long Island - total $225,000
Henry L. Ferguson Museum: Catalyst Grant: $35,000
North Shore Land Alliance: Stewardship and Resource Management Grants $90,000
Peconic Land Trust: Stewardship and Resource Management Grants $100,000
Mid-Hudson - total $743,592
Catskill Center for Conservation and Development: Transaction $9,715
Dutchess Land Conservancy: Catalyst Grant $13,500
Esopus Creek Conservancy: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant $3,750
Hudson Highlands Land Trust: Capacity Grant $18,000; Transaction Grant $50,000
Kingston Land Trust: Transaction Grant $50,250
Mianus River Gorge Preserve: Professional Development Grant $80,000; Stewardship and Resource Management Grant $22,000; Transaction Grant $48,000
Mohonk Preserve: Capacity Grant $50,000; Stewardship and Resource Management Grant $40,000; Transaction Grant $22,500
North Salem Open Land Foundation: Capacity Grant $10,620
Northeastern Cave Conservancy: Transaction Grant $11,600
Putnam County Land Trust: Capacity Grants $21,375
Teatown Lake Reservation: Capacity Grant $27,302
The Trust for Public Land: Transaction Grant $48,750
Wallkill Valley Land Trust: Professional Development Grant $67,500
Westchester Land Trust: Transaction Grants $100,000
Woodstock Land Conservancy: Catalyst Grant $29,930; Stewardship and Resource Management Grant $18,800
Mohawk Valley - total $88,079
Otsego Land Trust: Capacity Grant $39,920; Stewardship and Resource Management Grant $32,452
Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust: Transaction Grant $15,707
New York City - total $155,252
Brooklyn Queens Land Trust: Capacity Grant $34,450
Green Guerillas: Stewardship and Resource Management Grants $45,802
Open Space Institute: Catalyst Grant $75,000
North Country - total $444,572
Adirondack Land Trust: Capacity Grants $29,000; Transaction Grant $75,000
Champlain Area Trails: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant $23,500; Transaction Grant $33,240
OBI Land Trust: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant $35,782
Thousand Islands Land Trust: Capacity Grant $50,000; Stewardship and Resource Management Grant $98,050
Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust: Professional Development Grant $100,000
Southern Tier - total $23,180
Genesee Valley Conservancy: Transaction Grant $11,680
Southern Tier Land Conservancy: Capacity Grant $11,500
Western New York - total $423,665
Buffalo Niagara River Land Trust: Capacity Grants $63,366
Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy: Capacity Grants $51,024
Grassroots Gardens WNY: Professional Development Grant $100,000
The Nature Sanctuary Society of Western New York: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant $59,275
Western New York Land Conservancy: Catalyst Grant $100,000; Transaction Grant $50,000
A detailed breakdown of these grants is available on the DEC website.
This year's grantees include 35 accredited land trusts that have secured independent verification that their work and operations meet high standards for land conservation, stewardship, and nonprofit management. Accredited grantees include Adirondack Land Trust, Agricultural Stewardship Association, Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, Cazenovia Preservation Foundation, Champlain Area Trails, Columbia Land Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, Dutchess Land Conservancy, Finger Lakes Land Trust, Genesee Land Trust, Genesee Valley Conservancy, Grassroots Gardens WNY, Hudson Highlands Land Trust, Huyck Preserve and Biological Resource Station, Lake George Land Conservancy, Mianus River Gorge, Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy, Mohonk Preserve, North Salem Open Land Foundation, North Shore Land Alliance, Open Space Institute, Otsego Land Trust, Peconic Land Trust, Putnam County Land Trust, Rensselaer Land Trust, Rensselaer Plateau Alliance, Saratoga PLAN (Saratoga Preserving Land and Nature), The Nature Conservancy, The Trust for Public Land, Thousand Islands Land Trust, Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust, Wallkill Valley Land Trust, Westchester Land Trust, Western New York Land Conservancy and Woodstock Land Conservancy.
New York's investment in land conservation and open space supports local businesses, saves taxpayer dollars, and protects public health. The Trust for Public Land found that every $1 invested by New York's EPF generated $7 in total economic benefits from enhanced tourism, reduced government costs and improved public health.
See the original release here.
About the Land Trust Alliance
Founded in 1982, the Land Trust Alliance is a national land conservation organization that works to save the places people need and love by strengthening land conservation across America. The Alliance represents more than 950-member land trusts and their 6.4 million supporters nationwide. The Alliance is based in Washington, D.C.