New York Launches $1.35 Million Grant Program to Protect Forests and Open Spaces
- The NY Pulse
- Mar 6
- 2 min read
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced the launch of the fourth round of the Forest Conservation Easements for Land Trusts (FCELT) Grant Program, with $1.35 million in funding available to help conserve New York’s privately owned forested lands.
Why This Matters
New York’s forests provide crucial environmental benefits, including:
🌳 Flood and erosion control
🐾 Wildlife habitat protection
💧 Water and air filtration
🌎 Climate change mitigation
To protect these vital resources, accredited land trusts can apply for up to $350,000 to purchase conservation easements, ensuring these lands remain undeveloped for future generations.
A Strong Partnership for Conservation
DEC Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships in preserving New York’s landscapes:“The land trust community plays a vital role in protecting New York’s invaluable natural resources. Through this partnership with the Land Trust Alliance, we’re safeguarding clean water and air, supporting forest products, and strengthening carbon storage efforts.”
Administered by the Land Trust Alliance (LTA) in coordination with DEC, the program requires a 25% match from applicants. Interested land trusts must submit a pre-application by May 9, 2025, with selected applicants moving forward in June. Full applications are due July 28, 2025.
LTA’s New York Program Manager, Jamie Brown, emphasized growing interest in forest conservation:“We’re excited to see increasing opportunities to protect New York’s forested land, which provides immense benefits to all New Yorkers. We look forward to working with DEC to conserve even more land this year.”
Aligning with New York’s Conservation Goals
Projects funded by FCELT must support key conservation strategies outlined in:📌 New York State Open Space Conservation Plan📌 New York State Wildlife Action Plan📌 New York State Forest Action Plan
Additionally, this initiative supports Governor Hochul’s ambitious environmental goals, including:✅ The 30x30 Initiative – Conserving 30% of New York’s lands and waters by 2030✅ The 25 Million Trees Initiative – Advancing tree planting efforts and emission reduction targets✅ Sustaining the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) – Maintaining a historic $400 million funding level for environmental programs
A Future of Protected Open Spaces
Governor Hochul’s 2025 State of the State address emphasized making parks and green spaces more accessible to all. To streamline conservation efforts, her administration is working to:🚀 Simplify land acquisitions with modernized title insurance🌿 Empower DEC to acquire conservation easements independently💰 Reduce financial hurdles for nonprofit land trusts
These investments will ensure New York’s forests, parks, and natural resources remain protected for future generations.
How to Get Involved
🌲 Are you part of an accredited land trust? Learn more about the application process on the FCELT Grant Program webpage.🌳 Want to contribute to reforestation efforts? Record your tree plantings on DEC’s Tree Tracker tool.
For more details on land conservation efforts, visit the Land Trust Alliance website.
New York is taking bold steps to protect its forests—because conservation today means a healthier planet tomorrow.
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