New York State Conservation Partnership Program

Photo courtesy of Dutchess Land Conservancy

Land Trust Alliance Announces $825,000 in Capacity-Building and Conservation Grants to New York Land Trusts
On Wednesday April 16th, 2008 the Land Trust Alliance and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced $825,000 in Conservation Partnership Program Grants to 40 New York Land Trusts— an unprecedented investment that will help build stronger land trusts, accelerate the pace and quality of land conservation, and strengthen public support for community-based conservation.  More than 50 land trust representatives were on hand for the announcement, which took place in the New York State Capitol.

Funding for this innovative public-private partnership will support 52 grants to 40 local and regional land trusts in more than 30 counties across New York State. 

The Land Trust Alliance thanks Governor Paterson, DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis, Environmental Conservation Committee Co-Chairs Senator Carl Marcellino and Assemblyman Robert Sweeney, and other members of the Legislature for helping the Alliance build this program.  The 2008-09 State budget includes an increase to a record $1.575 million for this land trust grants and technical assistance program.

2008 Press Release – Announcement of Land Trust Grants
Complete Roster of 2008 Land Trust Grant Awards (Project Summaries)
Map of 2008 Grant Awards
Map of All Grant Awards (2003 - 2008)             

Update
Governor David Paterson and the New York State Legislature recently agreed upon a budget that includes an allocation of $1.575 million for the New York State Conservation Partnership Program.  The additional funding for the Conservation Partnership Program is part of an increased investment of $255 million for the Environmental Protection Fund.   Funded at $250 million in the 2007-08 budget, this increase is an important step towards the goal set by former Governor Eliot Spitzer and the Legislature in the 2007 Environmental Protection Fund Enhancement Act, to secure $500 for the EPF by 2010.  Click here to read the press release [PDF, 663KB] from the Friends of New York’s Environment Coalition.

Background
In 2001, the Land Trust Alliance, in partnership with the State of New York, developed an initiative to secure annual appropriations from the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) to strengthen the New York land trust community and dramatically accelerate the pace of private land conservation across the state. This initiative blossomed into an innovative public-private initiative known as the New York State Conservation Partnership Program (NYSCPP). Through this program, Alliance-member land trusts operating in New York State are eligible to receive competitive matching investments in four categories: Conservation Capacity & Excellence Grants, Conservation Catalyst Grants, Conservation Transaction Grants, and Professional Development Grants.

Since its inception, the New York State Conservation Partnership Program has received a total of $3.0 million in Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) appropriations. First funded at $250,000 in 2002, state funding for the program was increased to $1 million in 2007-08 budget and more recently to $1.575 in the  2008-09 budget. The Alliance administers this program, in coordination with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.

The 2007-2008 State budget includes a $250 million Environmental Protection Fund and a $1 million appropriation for a sixth round of grants and technical assistance in 2007-08. Grant awards will be announced by the Land Trust Alliance and Department of Environmental Conservation in early 2008.

Award Information for Previous Grantees

• 2007
• 2006
• 2005
• 2004
• 2003
• Overview Map - Six Years of NYSCPP Grant Awards
  

How Projects Are Selected For Funding
A review committee comprised of senior staff from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the Land Trust Alliance, a land trust representative, and a professional from the foundation sector reviews and scores all applications. The committee makes all final grant-making decisions.

Additional Program Details

• The overarching goals of NYSCPP grants are 1) to dramatically increase the pace of land conservation in New York State and 2) to guide land trusts toward implementation of the Land Trust Standards and Practices, the accepted ethical, legal, and operational standards for land trust excellence.
• Selected projects must document matching funds, the cash portion of which must come from non-state funding sources. To date, grant awards have ranged from $1,000 to $60,000.

Partnerships With Local Governments
Applicants are encouraged to provide letters of support from local governments and/or other public partners in the project area. Proven collaboration amongst local partners can make a grant application more competitive. Preference is given to projects that specifically support protection of priority areas identified in the New York State Open Space Plan (www.dec.state.ny.us).

Program Achievements
Since 2003, the New York Conservation Partnership Program has invested a total of $3 million for technical assistance and funding for over 200 competitive grants to 64 different land trusts serving rural, suburban, and urban communities in more than 30 counties across the state. To date, the land trust grants have also leveraged over $9 million in private funds, helping to permanently protect nearly 10,000 acres of habitat, wilderness, working farms, forests, and community gardens including areas identified as priorities in the New York State Open Space Plan.

These investments have also enabled substantial enhancements in professional capacity at 23 understaffed land trusts around the state, from New York City’s community garden land trusts to the Wallkill Valley Land Trust, Agricultural Stewardship Association, Genesee Land Trust, and Thousand Islands Land Trust. This pioneering program represents a unique public-private partnership and a national model for creating a sustainable, dynamic, and effective community of land trusts in New York.   

According to data collected by the Land Trust Alliance, New York ranks 5th in the country with 90 land trusts. Local and regional land trusts in New York have conserved more than 624,000 acres across the state.

For more information please contact:
Ethan Winter – Land Trust Alliance Northeast Office
P.O. Box 792, Saratoga Springs, NY  12866
Tel: (518) 587-0774  Fax: (518) 587-9586
E-mail: ewinter@lta.org

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updated 4/16/2008