DEC Announces $2.7 Million Now Available for the Conservation Partnership Program

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton today announced $2.7 million is now available through DEC’s Conservation Partnership Program (CPP). Supported by the State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and administered by the Land Trust Alliance in coordination with DEC, the CPP provides competitive grants to qualified not-for-profit land conservation organizations for projects that complement New York State’s conservation priorities. 

“New York’s land trusts are important partners in protecting the natural resources that sustain our communities,” said Commissioner Lefton. “The Conservation Partnership Program is a proven tool that helps support organizations in protecting priority lands and wildlife habitat, safeguarding water quality, and expanding opportunities for New Yorkers to connect with the outdoors.” 

Applicants may apply for grants in one or more of the following five categories: 

• Capacity and Excellence- grants to develop land trust programs and build organizational capacity to increase impact and sustainability of nonprofit conservation organizations. 
• Conservation Catalyst- grants to support collaborative projects that accelerate new partnerships and community-supported conservation, stewardship, and outreach initiatives. 
• Professional Development- grants for land trusts looking to professionalize and strengthen programs and services by adding permanent staff. 
• Stewardship and Resource Management- grants for land trusts seeking to make a substantial capital investment in public access improvements and on-the-ground stewardship of conserved properties. 
• Transaction- grants that help cover the indirect costs associated with the acquisition of land or conservation easements that result in strategic, permanent protection of environmentally significant lands in New York State.

Land Trust Alliance New York Program Manager Katrina Howey said, “New York’s Conservation Partnership Program illustrates the State’s commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of its residents and the environment. The Conservation Partnership Program takes a unique approach to land conservation and stewardship by supporting the state’s land trust community. Strengthening land trust programs and investing in their capacity allows them to be stronger partners that can better help New York reach its land protection goals.” 

Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. EST on Monday, January 11, 2027. Complete details about this grant opportunity, including eligibility requirements, can be found on the Alliance's NYSCPP webpage. 

The CPP is nationally recognized as a model for leveraging public and private funding for building capacity of land trusts to help advance open space protection, farmland preservation, and resource conservation goals included in the 2016 New York State Open Space Conservation Plan. Since its creation in 2002, the CPP funded 1,325 grants totaling more than $36.7 million to 100 land trusts, with the funding leveraging at least $36 million in additional private and local funding and conserved a total of 56,229 acres of farmland, forest, wildlife habitat, and urban open space.

The 2026-27 enacted New York 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% of New York’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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