The Finger Lakes Land Trust has secured a $100,000 grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the largest awarded in the Finger Lakes region through the 2025 Conservation Partnership Program.
The funding is part of more than $3 million distributed statewide to 45 nonprofit land trusts supporting 61 projects aimed at preserving open space, protecting water quality, and improving public access to nature.
“The Conservation Partnership Program demonstrates the power of collaboration in advancing New York’s environmental goals,” said DEC Commissioner Amanda 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 Finger Lakes Land Trust’s award, a Conservation Catalyst Grant, highlights its role in regional environmental leadership and complements additional grants given to the Genesee Land Trust and Genesee Valley Conservancy. In total, $250,700 was awarded to land trusts operating in the Finger Lakes.
Backed by the state’s Environmental Protection Fund, the grants aim to accelerate New York’s commitment to conserve 30 percent of its lands and waters by 2030. The program has leveraged at least $36 million in private and local contributions since its creation in 2002.
“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,” said Ashley Demosthenes, CEO of the Land Trust Alliance, which co-administers the program. “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.”
This year’s grant awards range from $2,000 to $100,000. In addition to supporting stewardship and professional development, the funds help prevent farmland loss, enhance climate resilience, and improve the management of natural resources across the state.
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