Local Land Trusts Get State Grants

Senator James L. Seward said today that the following local land trusts in his district had been designated to receive competitive matching grants through the state's environmental protection fund (EPF). The announcements were unveiled today in Albany.

OTSEGO LAND TRUST, Cooperstown, NY, $9,000 -- To develop a regional conservation blueprint that will map and describe conservation areas linked with wildlife and recreation corridors; to identify area conservation targets and new protection plans;

FINGER LAKES LAND TRUST, Ithaca, NY, $25,000 -- Assist the Finger Lakes Land Trust to work with local partners to launch the "Emerald Necklace" Greenbelt conservation project, designed to link 50,000 acres of existing open space.

The state funds will spur matching private funds.

"The grants announced today are funded by the state's environmental protection fund, which we boosted in the recent budget. It is an important key to conserving open space across the state," Seward said.

A total of $400,000 in state funding to thirty different organizations was announced. The environmental protection fund (EPF) is funded through a tax on real estate transfers and specialty license plates.
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