NEW YORK (WBNG) — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced more than $3 million worth of awards to 45 non-profit land trusts across the state.

The funding will support 61 projects designed to enhance land trusts and their ongoing work, which complements the state’s efforts to protect water quality, prevent farmland conversion, increase public access for outdoor recreation and conserve open space.

The grants are the latest state action to help promote open space preservation and conservation.

“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 by leveraging the strengths of New York’s land trust community to protect treasured local outdoor spaces and enhance resilience against the impacts of increasingly severe weather and a changing climate…,” said CEO of Land Trust Alliance Ashley Demosthenes.

The grant awards range from $2,000 to $100,000.

A total of $40,950 went to the Southern Tier. $18,750 went to the Chenango Greenway Conservancy under the Capacity Grant. Otsego Land Trust was given $22,200 through a Transaction Grant.

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