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News and Announcements

A four-toe

The draft list of New York's potential Species of Greatest Conservation Need and draft revised Species Status Assessments for the 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan are now available for public review and comment…

Screenshot of DEC Delivers enews "RiverNet" News from the Hudson River Estuary Program with bulleted list of content in this issue, focusing on Conserving Natural Areas in the Hudson Valley

Highlights from the Conservation and Land Use Team's work in 2024 include diverse partnerships that are addressing emerging issues, municipal planning and policy outcomes that incorporate biodiversity priorities,…

View into hardwood swamp with some standing water - Photo by L Heady

Conserved properties in Stanford and Pleasant Valley will preserve habitats for species of greatest conservation need, high priority forests, and ecological connectivity. Winnakee purchased 153.2 acres in Stanford…

stream with trees and shrubs growing on either side and a small beaver dam in the center

Community preservation funds (CPFs) originated in Massachusetts in the early 2000s to support local initiatives for preserving farms, forests, historic buildings, open spaces, and other ecologically important…

View into bright green deciduous forest in late Spring

DEC is offering the Establishing Large Forests Grant Program to increase the amount of forested land in New York State to help address climate change, provide wildlife habitat, protect air and water…

Blanding's turtle on the forest floor with trout lily - Photo by L. Masi

The DEC released a proposed regulation to implement a fund to help offset negative impacts to endangered and threatened species populations during the construction of renewable energy and energy transmission…

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

A suite of new and updated tools to be released by the Open Space Institute and the Forest Carbon Data Partnership to help land trusts, municipalities, land managers, and policy makers better integrate forest…

Municipal officials and volunteers gather around maps in town hall

The difference between a successful tree planting with healthy trees and a line of dead and dying stems often comes down to the analysis of the sites and selection of appropriate tree species for the conditions…

View of upland forest, looking through the trees

Funded projects represent a collaborative effort between local governments, not-for-profit organizations, and community groups to create more equitable and resilient urban forests in the face of increased…

orange flowers of butterfly-weed plant

Partners for Climate Action Hudson Valley announced their Ecological Restoration Grant funding opportunity for projects creating at-risk pollinator habitat or supporting forest health in the Hudson Valley.…

Great blue heron standing in a beaver pond - photo by J. Esslinger

New data summaries from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird platform will help state wildlife planners assess the status of bird populations that live in or pass through their state – a crucial tool in…

View into bright green deciduous forest in late Spring

Private landowners planning to restore or establish five or more acres of forest land in New York State may apply for grant awards ranging from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $100,000. A 10 …