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Orange County Land Trust Awarded Two Conservation Partnership Grants
Orange County, NY —
June 25, 2007
The Orange County Land Trust was awarded two Conservation Partnership Grants totaling over $21,000 from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Land Trust Alliance, it was announced at a recent ceremony in Albany.
About $15,000 in grant funding will help preserve, through the donation of a conservation easement, 165 acres of open space in Sullivan County containing woodlands, an Indian burial ground and numerous historical structures, including an old schoolhouse, chapel, farmhouse and barn. An additional $6,500 in grant funds will help the Orange County Land Trust review and improve its conservation easement record-keeping, operational policies and internal guidelines in order to fully implement best business practices for land trust organizations.
The New York State Conservation Partnership Program (NYSCPP) is a pioneering public-private partnership managed by the Land Trust Alliance in coordination with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Thirty land trusts across New York State received over $400,000 during this fifth round of grant award announcements, marking a major investment in land conservation by the State. The funds will be used to do more in conserving important natural areas such as important habitats, riverside and watershed lands, forests and working farms, as well as support open space initiatives.
"Land trusts are an invaluable partner to the state and local governments in the implementation of smart growth principles," said DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis. "The success of this partnership to protect some of New York's most important open spaces has led to a doubling of the NYSCPP's funding to $1 million in a record 2007-08 EPF budget of $250 million."
The Orange County Land Trust is a nonprofit organization formed in 1993 committed to voluntary land conservation in and around Orange County. To date, the land trust has preserved over 3,000 acres of land through acquisitions, donations and placements of voluntary conservation easements. The land trust owns eight preserves open to the public, free of charge. For more information, please visit the website at www.oclt.org
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