DEC ANNOUNCES $2.7 MILLION IN CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM GRANTS
Funding Awarded to 45 Land Trusts to Conserve Open Space, Provide Access to Recreation, and Support Climate Resiliency
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton today announced that $2.7 million was awarded to 45 not-for-profit land trusts across the state. The funding, made available through the Conservation Partnership Program (CPP), will support 56 projects designed to support land trusts and their ongoing work, which complement the State’s efforts to conserve open space, boost public access for outdoor recreation, protect water quality, and promote climate resiliency.
“This year marks the 22nd round of Conservation Partnership Program grants, demonstrating New York’s commitment to supporting Land Trusts in their important work,” said Commissioner Lefton. “Partnerships with land trusts are essential to achieving our statewide conservation goals. Continuing this successful partnership with the Land Trust Alliance and New York’s land trusts across the state ensures the benefits of open space are enjoyed by all including providing recreation access, supporting community conservation projects, and promoting climate resilience through land stewardship.”
The CPP grants are supported by the State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and will leverage an additional $2.2 million in private and local funding. The Land Trust Alliance administers the program in coordination with DEC. Since its creation in 2002, CPP has awarded 1,325 grants totaling more than $36.7 million to 100 land trusts, with the funding leveraging at least $36.8 million in additional private and local funding.
CEO of the Land Trust Alliance Ashley Demosthenes said, “For decades, the Conservation Partnership Program has helped New York land trusts work with private landowners to voluntarily conserve their valuable farmland, wildlife habitat and outdoor spaces. We are proud to continue to partner on this important program that has allowed the state of New York to achieve bold conservation goals and the Alliance to strengthen one of the largest land trust communities in the country. Thank you to Governor Hochul and DEC Commissioner Lefton for working to ensure the continued availability of clean water, outdoor recreation and economic opportunities for all New Yorkers.”
The grant awards range from $6,861 to $100,000. Below is a list of funded projects; more details are available on DEC’s website. This year's grantees include 38 accredited land trusts that secured independent verification that their work and operations meet high standards for land conservation, stewardship, and nonprofit management.
Capital Region – $530,989
- Agricultural Stewardship Association: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant, $83,000
- Battenkill Conservancy: Capacity Grant, $18,750
- Catskill Center for Conservation and Development: Transaction Grant, $40,104
- Columbia Land Conservancy: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant, $35,000
- Grassland Bird Trust: Capacity Grant, $30,295
- Greene Land Trust: Transaction Grant, $53,709
- Hudson Taconic Lands: Transaction Grants, $75,000 and $20,000
- Huyck Preserve and Biological Research Station: Capacity Grant, $29,200
- Lake George Land Conservancy: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant, $34,000 and Transaction Grant, $40,742
- Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy: Capacity Grant, $32,850
- Saratoga PLAN: Capacity Grant, $17,877 and Stewardship and Resource Management Grant, $20,462
Central New York – $66,694
- Cazenovia Preservation Foundation: Capacity Grant, $29,644
- Central New York Land Trust: Capacity Grant, $37,050
Finger Lakes – $200,000
- Genesee Land Trust: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant, $100,000
- Genesee Valley Conservancy: Professional Development Grant, $100,000
Long Island – $163,480
- HL Ferguson Museum: Capacity Grant, $17,500
- Niamuck Land Trust: Conservation Catalyst Grant, $50,000
- North Shore Land Alliance: Conservation Catalyst Grant, $44,500
- Peconic Land Trust: Transaction Grant, $51,480
Mid-Hudson – $899,991
- Beaverkill Valley Land Trust: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant, $24,510
- Dutchess Land Conservancy: Professional Development Grant, $100,000
- Hudson Highlands Land Trust: Stewardship and Resource Management Grants, $25,000 and $60,000
- Kingston Land Trust: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant, $50,000; Transaction Grant, $25,000
- Mianus River Gorge: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant, $58,192
- Mohonk Preserve: Conservation Catalyst Grant, $42,000; Stewardship and Resource Management Grant, $50,000
- Open Space Institute Land Trust: Conservation Catalyst Grant, $100,000
- Orange County Land Trust: Capacity Grant, $50,000
- Pound Ridge Land Conservancy: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant, $34,000
- Teatown Lake Reservation: Transaction Grant, $62,000
- Wallkill Valley Land Trust: Transaction Grant, $16,689
- Westchester Land Trust: Capacity Grant, $25,000: Transaction Grant, $75,000
- Winnakee Land Trust: Conservation Catalyst Grant, $44,900
- Woodstock Land Conservancy: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant, $57,700
Mohawk Valley – $74,685
- Northeastern Cave Conservancy: Capacity Grant, $26,685
- Otsego Land Trust: Capacity Grant, $48,000
North Country – $370,588
- Adirondack Land Trust: Transaction Grant, $75,000
- Champlain Area Trails: Transaction Grant, $75,000
- OBI Land Trust: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant, $31,088
- Thousand Islands Land Trust: Conservation Catalyst Grant, $99,500
- Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust: Professional Development Grant, $72,000; Stewardship and Resource Management Grant, $18,000
Western New York – $293,573
- Buffalo Niagara River Land Trust: Capacity Grant, $37,500
- Everwild Land Trust: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant, $99,212
- Grassroots Gardens WNY: Capacity Grant, $50,000; Transaction Grant, $6,861
- Western New York Land Conservancy: Capacity Grant, $40,000; Transaction Grant, $60,000
Statewide – $100,000
- The Nature Conservancy: Conservation Catalyst Grants, $50,000 and $50,000
The 2026-27 enacted State Budget maintains the EPF at $425 million and uses an additional $25 million from the Sustainable Future Program to provide a record $450 million for critical environmental programs such as land acquisition, farmland protection, invasive species prevention and eradication, enhanced recreational access, water quality improvement, and an aggressive environmental justice agenda. In December 2022, Governor Hochul signed legislation setting the goal to support and contribute to national efforts to conserve at least 30 percent of U.S. land and water by 2030. This law promotes biodiversity and conserves New York's wildlife, forests, and clean water sources, which are all essential to New York's health and economy.
About the Land Trust Alliance
Founded in 1982, the Land Trust Alliance is a national land conservation organization working to save the places people need and love by empowering and mobilizing land trusts in communities across America to conserve land for the benefit of all. The Alliance represents approximately 1,000-member land trusts and affiliates supported by more than 250,000 volunteers and 6.3 million members nationwide. The Alliance is based in Washington, D.C., with staff working in communities across the U.S.
More information about the Alliance is available on the Land Trust Alliance's website.
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