NEWS

Local land trusts reap state conservation grants

Michael Risinit
The Hudson Highland Land Trust accepted a voluntary conservation agreement on this property in 2012, partnering with landowners to protect Putnam County a??s natural resources.

Land preservation organizations across the Hudson Valley took home the largest portion of state conservation grants awarded Thursday.

The 19 organizations, including seven in Westchester and Putnam counties, will share in $425,300 in Conservation Partnership Program grants. The total $1.4 million awarded to 50 groups comes from the state's Environmental Protection Fund. That money will be matched by about $1.1 million in private and local funding.

Depending on the type of grant, the money can be used for a preservation group's operation or to acquire land.

The local recipients are Hudson Highlands Land Trust, $15,000; Mianus River Gorge Preserve, $25,000; North Salem Open Land Foundation, $15,000; Pound Ridge Land Conservancy, $12,000; Putnam County Land Trust, $9,000; Teatown Lake Reservation, $25,000; and Westchester Land Trust, $36.000. The Trust for Public Land, a national group, received $21,000 to use in Putnam County.