DEC Awards $2.7 Million for Land Conservation

New York's Conservation Partnership Program offers grants to land trusts in five categories, with applications due January 11, 2027.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Environmental

Rolling autumn hillside with mixed forest, a fallow farm field, and a stone wall winding across the middle distance under a pale sky. — New York's Department of Environmental Conservation announced $2.7 million in state grants for land trusts, with applications due January 11, 2027. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced $2.7 million in state grants for not-for-profit land conservation organizations. Applications are due January 11, 2027, and are open to qualified groups applying in one or more of five grant categories.

Why it matters

The grants support farmland, forest, wildlife habitat and urban open space across New York, helping the state work toward its goal of conserving 30% of its land and water by 2030. The program has previously leveraged additional private and local funding, extending the reach of state dollars.

Since 2002, the program has funded 1,325 grants totaling more than $36.7 million to 100 land trusts, conserving 56,229 acres of farmland, forest, wildlife habitat and urban open space. The source does not indicate how the new $2.7 million will be distributed among the grant categories.

The players

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

The state agency responsible for environmental protection, natural resource management and conservation programs across New York.

Land Trust Alliance

A national nonprofit that supports land trusts and conservation organizations and administers the Conservation Partnership Program in coordination with DEC.

The details

The Conservation Partnership Program is supported by the Environmental Protection Fund and administered by the Land Trust Alliance in coordination with DEC. Eligibility requirements and full application details are available on the Land Trust Alliance's program page.

2002: Conservation Partnership Program created
December 2022: State adopted 30% land and water conservation goal in legislation
November 6, 2026: DEC announced the $2.7 million in funding
January 11, 2027: Applications due by 5 p.m. Eastern
2030: Target year for conserving 30% of land and water

Seasonal Patterns

New York's December 2022 legislation set a goal of conserving 30% of the state's land and water by 2030. This round of Conservation Partnership Program grants is one of the funding steps directed toward that target.

Land trusts and conservation groups interested in funding need to submit applications by 5 p.m. Eastern on January 11, 2027. Eligibility requirements and application details are posted on the Land Trust Alliance's Conservation Partnership Program page.

The takeaway

Land conservation groups in New York have a January 11, 2027 deadline to apply for state grants covering five categories. The program has already conserved more than 56,000 acres since 2002.