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News and Announcements

narrow stream flows through woods in early spring with morning light filtering through the trees - by L Heady

Governor Kathy Hochul announced $25 million is now available through the first round of a new program for land conservation partners to protect and preserve open space in New York…

View into tops of trees in an upland forest in spring. By L. Heady

DEC announced more than $1.72 million in grantsto six land trusts for nine projects that help conserve local forests, including Hudson Valley sites in Columbia, Dutchess, Rensselaer, and Ulster counties…

Autumn view of Catskills over North South Lake from rocky outcrop.

Governor Kathy Hochul and New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced a landmark agreement to modernize the process to secure and protect critical open spaces statewide. The Memorandum of Agreement…

blue WQIP sign in front of green hedge

DEC announced more than 1,200 acres were permanently protected in Westchester, the Finger Lakes, and Western New York. The acquisitions were supported by DEC’s Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program,…

northern long-eared bat hanging upside down from a rocky overhang

In observance of Bat Week and to raise awareness about the critical role of bats in the environment, the DEC encourages outdoor enthusiasts to refrain from visiting caves and mines during the fall and winter…

Japanese knotweed plants in flower - by L Heady

$4 million is available to advance projects across the state that help prevent, detect, respond to, and restore sites impacted by invasive species. An information webinar on the Invasive Species Grant…

Town Hall meeting with board members and audience looking at man reading a resolution.

The Stanford Town board adopted a new, comprehensive assessment of the town’s natural resources at its Sept. 11 meeting. The NRI replaces the town’s previous NRI, created in 1982. It will be used as a reference…

View of meadow under cloudy sky - Photo by L Heady

Orange County has developed a program to fund open space protection, with matching funds available to municipalities, nonprofits, and property owners. Applications are considered in two cycles, spring and fall…

View through a deciduous forest with dappled light.

The NYSDEC and the Nature Conservancy created a new guide to help landowners, municipalities, organizations and others who are planning a reforestation or afforestation project. The guide covers site planning,…

View of open wetland with emergent vegetation and forest in the distance.

Based on public comments in response to the original draft of the freshwater wetlands general permits (GP), DEC has proposed substantive revisions to the housing development GP regarding impact limits. Public comment…

A four-toe

The DEC is seeking public input on the draft revised State Wildlife Action Plan for 2025-35. In 2024, DEC sought review and input on draft species status assessments and the list of Species of…

view of Hudson River from forested ledge in winter

Kingston, Newburgh, and Poughkeepsie are the focus of efforts to measure how changing green spaces impact plants, animals, and people.