GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES $2.2 MILLION IN CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM GRANTS
Funds Will Help 47 Land Trusts Across the State Leverage Community Contributions and Additional Private Investments
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced more than $2.2 million in Conservation Partnership Program grants for 47 not-for-profit land trusts across the state. A total of 70 grants funded through New York's Environmental Protection Fund will leverage an additional $2.2 million in private and local funding to support projects that protect water quality and farmland, boost public access for outdoor recreation and conserve important open space areas that will benefit community health, tourism and economic development.
As part of New York State's week long celebration of Earth Day, the grants were announced with the Land Trust Alliance at a statewide land trust gathering at Red Jacket Riverfront Park in Buffalo celebrating New York's commitment to protecting the environment. The Land Trust Alliance administers the Conservation Partnership Program in coordination with the State Department of Environmental Conservation.
In addition, the $2.2 million in Conservation Partnership Program grants and $2.2 million in private and local funding will help build the resiliency of lands to the changing climate and contribute to climate solutions by storing carbon. Recent research underscores the role that natural climate solutions will have in addressing risks associated with climate change.
For a detailed breakdown of these grants and an overview of how the funds will be spent is below and also available on the DEC website.
Capital District - total $533,970:
- Columbia Land Conservancy: Catalyst Grant $40,000; Transaction Grant
- 45,000
- Greene Land Trust: Capacity Grant $10,000; Capacity Grant $21,000
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 dollar invested by New York's Environmental Protection Fund generated $7 in total economic benefits from enhanced tourism, reduced government costs and improved public health. In the 2019-20 State Budget, Governor Cuomo sustained the record-high EPF at $300 million for the fourth year in a row, providing funding for open space conservation, parkland stewardship and other environmental protection projects.