NYS awards more than $3 million in Conservation Partnership Program grants

ALBANY — New York State has awarded more than $3 million for 64 projects that will protect water quality, prevent farmland conversion, boost public access for outdoor recreation, and conserve open space. 

The funding awarded through the Conservation Partnership Program will support 44 nonprofit land trusts across the state, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on May 7. 

“The Conservation Partnership Program grants are a critical component to preserving our State’s natural beauty and enhancing local communities,” Hochul said in a release. “With this increased funding, we are extending the reach and effectiveness of these projects to improve public health, increase tourism, foster sustainable economic development, and empower communities.” 

The state’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) supports the grants. Recipients will use the money to leverage an additional $2.5 million in private and local funding. 

In coordination with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the Land Trust Alliance administers the Conservation Partnership Program. Since the Conservation Partnership Program’s creation in 2002, 1,208 grants totaling more than $31 million have been awarded to 94 land trusts. Cumulatively, the state’s investment has leveraged an additional $32 million in private and local funding, per Hochul’s office. 

“The $3 million grants announced today are advancing locally led action to protect natural resources and habitats that are essential for mitigating climate change and preserving biodiversity,” Sean Mahar, interim commissioner of the New York State DEC, said in the release.

“The people of New York need and deserve open spaces for the many health, recreation and economic benefits they provide. This new round of Conservation Partnership Program grants signals a strong commitment to protecting the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers and the environment and will leverage the strengths of New York’s land trust community to protect treasured local outdoor places and help provide important climate benefits,” Andrew Bowman, president and CEO of the Land Trust Alliance, said.

Founded in 1982, the Land Trust Alliance is a national land-conservation organization, which represents about 950-member land trusts, supported by more than 250,000 volunteers and 6.3 million members nationwide. The Alliance is based in Washington, D.C. and operates several regional offices.

The grant recipients include:

Central New York 

• Central New York Land Trust — $100,000 professional-development grant 

• Cazenovia Preservation Foundation —$45,000 capacity grant 

North Country

• Adirondack Land Trust — $100,000 stewardship and resource management grant 

• Thousand Islands Land Trust — $90,000 professional-development grant; $43,385 transaction grant 

• The Nature Conservancy — $82,000 capacity grant 

• Northeast Wilderness Trust — $75,000 transaction grant 

• Indian River Lakes Conservancy — $43,848 capacity grant; $20,378 transaction grant 

• Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust — $41,440 capacity grant 

• OBI Land Trust — $12,550 stewardship and resource-management grant 

 Southern Tier 

• Finger Lakes Land Trust — $100,000 stewardship and resource-management grant 

• Otsego Land Trust — $100,000 stewardship and resource-management grant