On September 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service awarded $938,000 to Western New York Land Conservancy Inc. through the Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program (CFDA 10.689). The grant funds the acquisition and subsequent management of the Yates Lakeshore Preserve, a forested property in New York selected through competitive evaluation for its public benefits to the surrounding community. The awardee will complete the land acquisition by December 31, 2027, with the project completion deadline set for July 31, 2030.
Upon acquisition, the Yates Lakeshore Preserve will be managed as a community forest under an approved community forest plan, delivering public benefits including environmental protection (wildlife habitat, water quality), recreational access (hiking, fishing), and forest-based educational programming. The Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program supports such acquisitions by qualified conservation nonprofits to preserve forestland from conversion to non-forest uses while ensuring public access and sustainable stewardship that serves as a replicable model for private landowners in the region.