DEC Awards More Than $3 Million in Conservation Partnership Program Grants

Grants Help Fulfill New York’s Goal of Conserving 30 Percent of Public Lands and Waters by 2030

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton today announced more than $3 million was awarded to 45 not-for-profit land trusts across the state. The funding, made available through the Conservation Partnership Program, will support 61 projects designed to support land trusts and their ongoing work, which complements the State’s efforts to protect water quality, prevent farmland conversion, boost public access for outdoor recreation, and conserve open space.

“The Conservation Partnership Program demonstrates the power of collaboration in advancing New York’s environmental goals,” said Commissioner Lefton. “Land trusts are essential partners in protecting critical habitats, expanding public access to nature, and making communities across the state more climate resilient. The Conservation Partnership Program grants announced today build upon the successful partnership between DEC, the Land Trust Alliance, and New York’s land trusts, and reflect our dedication to working hand-in-hand with local organizations to achieve our shared conservation goals and protect public land. Congratulations to the awardees—your dedication is helping to build a greener, healthier, and more sustainable New York.”

The grants are supported by the State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and will leverage an additional $2.6 million in private and local funding. The Land Trust Alliance administers the Conservation Partnership Program in coordination with DEC. Since its creation in 2002, the Conservation Partnership Program has awarded 1,268 grants totaling more than $34 million to 99 land trusts, with the funding leveraging at least $36 million in additional private and local funding.

“Supporting land trusts and private land conservation benefits the people of New York in countless ways, from protecting open spaces to preserving farmland and conserving natural resources,” said Ashley Demosthenes, CEO of the Land Trust Alliance. “New York’s Conservation Partnership Program grants illustrate the state’s commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of its residents and the environment by leveraging the strengths of New York’s land trust community to protect treasured local outdoor spaces and enhance resilience against the impacts of increasingly severe weather and a changing climate. Thank you to Governor Kathy Hochul, DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie for working to ensure the continued availability of clean water, outdoor recreation and economic opportunities for all New Yorkers.”

The grant awards announced today range from $2,000 to $100,000. Below is a list of funded projects; more details are available on DEC’s website. This year's grantees include 35 accredited land trusts that secured independent verification that their work and operations meet high standards for land conservation, stewardship, and nonprofit management.

Capital Region – $583,115 

• Agricultural Stewardship Association: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant, $95,000
• Columbia Land Conservancy: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant, $88,750
• Grassland Bird Trust: Capacity Grant, $24,460
• Hudson Taconic Lands: Transaction Grants, $93,245
• Lake George Land Conservancy: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant, $100,000; Transaction Grant, $31,660
• Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy: Professional Development, $100,000
• Saratoga PLAN: Capacity Grant, $50,000

Central New York – $177,500 

• Cazenovia Preservation Foundation: Professional Development Grant, $97,500
• The New York Agricultural Land Trust: Professional Development Grant, $80,000

Finger Lakes – $250,700 

• Finger Lakes Land Trust: Conservation Catalyst Grant, $100,000
• Genesee Land Trust: Capacity Grant, $50,000; Stewardship and Resource Management Grant, $50,000
• Genesee Valley Conservancy: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant, $50,700

Long Island – $183,800 

• HL Ferguson Museum: Capacity Grant, $35,300
• North Shore Land Alliance: Capacity Grant, $23,500
• Peconic Land Trust: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant, $100,000
• Sisters of Saint Joseph of Brentwood: Capacity Grant, $25,000

Mid-Hudson – $1,069,824 

• Beaverkill Valley Land Trust: Capacity Grant, $20,000
• Delaware Highlands Conservancy: Transaction Grants, $48,600
• Dutchess Land Conservancy: Transaction Grant, $18,920
• Friends of the Great Swamp: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant, $58,000
• Hudson Highlands Land Trust: Capacity Grant, $50,000; Transaction Grant, $75,000
• Mianus River Gorge: Conservation Catalyst Grant, $71,850; Stewardship and Resource Management Grant, $21,600; Transaction Grant, $7,549
• Mohonk Preserve: Capacity Grant, $48,000; Professional Development Grant, $80,000
• New City Parks: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant, $75,000
• Open Space Institute: Conservation Catalyst Grant, $75,000
• Orange County Land Trust: Transaction Grants, $70,805
• Pound Ridge Land Conservancy: Capacity Grants, $52,000
• Ramapo Munsee Land Alliance: Capacity Grant, $25,000
• Teatown Lake Reservation: Professional Development, $80,000; Stewardship and Resource Management Grant, $50,000
• Wallkill Valley Land Trust: Conservation Catalyst Grant, $17,500
• Westchester Land Trust: Capacity Grants, $97,000
• Winnakee Land Trust: Transaction Grant, $28,000

Mohawk Valley – $98,000 

• Otsego Land Trust: Professional Development, $98,000

New York City – $64,800 

• Brooklyn Queens Land Trust: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant, $50,000
• Green Guerillas Inc: Capacity Grants, $14,800

North Country – $414,578 

• Adirondack Land Trust: Professional Development, $80,000
• Champlain Area Trails: Professional Development, $100,000
• Northeast Wilderness Trust: Transaction Grant. $14,438
• The Nature Conservancy: Stewardship and Resource Management Grant, $55,000
• Thousand Islands Land Trust: Capacity Grant, $37,250; Stewardship and Resource Management Grant, $77,890
• Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust: Capacity Grant, $50,000

Southern Tier – $40,950 

• Chenango Greenway Conservancy: Capacity Grant, $18,750
• Otsego Land Trust: Transaction Grant, $22,200

Western New York – $191,733 

• Buffalo Niagara River Land Trust: Professional Development Grant, $100,000
• Grassroots Gardens WNY: Conservation Catalyst, $47,150
• Western New York Land Conservancy: Transaction, $44,583
   

The grants are the latest State action to help promote open space preservation and conservation. The 2025-26 enacted State Budget increases the EPF to a record $425 million. The EPF provides funding 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 that works to save the places people need and love by strengthening land conservation across America. The Alliance represents approximately 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. More information about the Alliance is available on the Land Trust Alliance's website.