How to resolve AdBlock issue? WILTON — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced $3.375 million in Conservation Partnership Program grants on Monday, April 18, the largest amount of funding for this program to date, for 51 not-for-profit land trusts across the state. The announcement, made during New York State’s Earth Week celebration, includes 80 grants funded through New York’s Environmental Protection Fund and will leverage an additional $2.7 million in private and local funding to support projects that protect water quality and farmland, boost public access for outdoor recreation, and conserve open space. The Land Trust Alliance administers the Conservation Partnership Program in coordination with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
“We applied for the grant under the Catalyst category”, said Margo Olson, Executive Director of Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park. “This category is for innovative partnerships and we reached out to Saratoga PLAN. It was a natural outgrowth of past collaborations with them and a great opportunity to further conservation, environmental education, and outdoor recreation in our community.” The Preserve & Park’s unique partnership structure whereby they do not own the protected lands on which they operate, has allowed them to embrace their role as environmental educators and facilitators to the community’s outdoor recreational opportunities. Over the past decade, WWPP has developed a year-round program of both educational and recreational programming, offering activities to the public for local schools, summer programs, afterschool, and other groups in the area. These walks and programs take place on lands owned by NYS DEC, The Town of Wilton, and Saratoga County; the partners of the Preserve & Park.
This grant will have the Preserve & Park working with Saratoga PLAN to develop and present programs on trails on Saratoga PLAN’s properties. They are doing so as part of their work to address climate change, the critical issue of our time. “People protect and are good stewards to places that mean something to them. They are more likely to support and care about the environment if they have had positive and meaningful experiences in nature,” stated Ms. Olson.
In order to be able to expand the programming required by the grant, Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park will be bringing on more program staff through adding new, paid internships to recent college graduates in the environmental field. The $80,000 received from the grant will be used to support this internship program from May, 2022 through March 31, 2024.
New York’s investment in land conservation and open space supports local businesses, saves taxpayer dollars, and protects public health. The Trust for Public Land found that every $1 invested by New York’s EPF generated $7 in total economic benefits from enhanced tourism, reduced government costs and improved public health.
For up-to-date trail conditions or program information, visit the Preserve & Park’s website at wiltonpreserve.org. The Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park is a non-profit organization that conserves ecological systems and natural settings while providing opportunities for environmental education and outdoor recreation. Saratoga PLAN preserves the rural character, natural habitats and scenic beauty throughout Saratoga County so these irreplaceable assets are accessible to all and survive for future generations. For more information, visit www.saratogaplan.org.
