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| Department of Environmental Conservation |
Projects Will Directly Contribute to the State’s Open Space Conservation, Climate Resiliency, And Environmental Justice Goals
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced $25.17 million in grants to advance a new State program that provides critical resources to municipalities, land trusts, community-based organizations and other partners to protect significant open space projects. The funding supports the countless benefits of permanently protecting open space that include protecting water and air quality; promoting habitat connectivity and diverse ecosystems; mitigating flooding and extreme heat impacts; expanding access to shorelines, green spaces, and recreational opportunities; protecting cultural resources; and increasing climate resiliency and adaptation.
“Governor Hochul recognizes the impact that conserving open space can have in protecting biodiversity, safeguarding water quality, maintaining working forests, and strengthening community resilience to climate change,” Commissioner Lefton said. “This first round of new funding allows our local partners to permanently protect high-value natural areas, while also providing new recreation opportunities and expanding public access to open spaces, particularly in disadvantaged communities. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State’s continued investments through programs like the Open Space Conservation Grant Program ensure critical habitats and natural resources remain protected, connected, and resilient, so that more New Yorkers can enjoy and benefit from them.”
Today’s awards comprise the first round of DEC’s Open Space Conservation Grant Program. The new grant opportunity was created following the passage of the 2022 Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act and based on public input into how this transformational new funding source might be invested. A total of $100 million is allocated to the program to advance the State’s water quality, climate resiliency, open space, and public health goals. Additional funding rounds are anticipated.
The awarded projects also align with the New York State Open Space Plan and contribute to the State’s goal of conserving 30 percent of the state’s land and water by 2030. In addition to the Bond Act, funding for the grant program also comes from the Environmental Protection Fund, which provides critical funding for environmental programs such as land acquisition, farmland protection, invasive species prevention and eradication, recreation access, water quality improvement, and environmental justice projects.
The awards traverse New York’s wide ranging natural spaces, including projects that will support globally imperiled ecological pine barrens ecosystems in the Capital Region; protect coastal, forest, wetland, and rare grassland communities on Long Island; conserve rare bats and birds in the Hudson Valley; support community gardens in New York City; boost environmental education in the Southern Tier; and improve and enhance public access in Western New York.
Awards by Region:
Capital Region:
Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy: $825,800
Columbia Land Conservancy: $3.5 million
Long Island:
North Shore Land Alliance: $3.5 million
Niamuck Land Trust: $3,093,810
Town of Brookhaven: $1,403,185
Mid-Hudson:
Town of Wappinger: $2,716,627
Town of Warwick: $3.5 million
Open Space Institute Land Trust: $712,550
Friends of Buttonhook Forest: $1,255,384
New York City:
Bronx Land Trust: $2,150,000
Southern Tier:
Tompkins County Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE-Tompkins): $671,288
Western NY:
Western New York Land Conservancy: $1,321,420
Buffalo Bat Habitat, Inc.: $393,942
Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy Inc: $126,950
New York’s Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act
On November 8, 2022, New York voters overwhelmingly approved the $4.2 billion Environmental Bond Act. State agencies, local governments, and partners will be able to access funding to protect water quality, help communities adapt to climate change, improve resiliency and create green jobs. Bond Act funding will support new and expanded projects across the state to safeguard drinking water sources, reduce pollution and protect communities and natural resources from climate change. Progress on implementing funding continues, with New York State making $2 billion, or approximately 50 percent, of Bond Act funds available to date. For more information and to sign up for progress updates, go to the Environmental Bond Act webpage.
New York’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF)
Among the many environmental victories in the 2026-27 enacted State Budget, Governor Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders have maintained EPF funding at the historically high level of $425 million. The EPF supports climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, improves agricultural resources to promote sustainable agriculture, protects water sources, advances conservation efforts like the projects announced today, and provides recreational opportunities for New Yorkers.
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