The state Department of Environmental Conservation, the state Legislature and land preservation groups this week announced the 2009 Conservation Partnership Program grants. The money, which is part of the state’s Environmental Protection Fund, will help “47 land trust organizations to dramatically increase the pace, improve the quality, and ensure the permanence of land conservation, resulting in significant environmental and economic benefits in communities across the state,” according to the announcement.

Locally, the Putnam County Land Trust, the Hudson Highlands Land Trust, the Mianus River Gorge Preserve and the Westchester Land Trust took home a total of $71,350.

Here’s the breakdown and the plans for the money:

Putnam County Land Trust, Guided Organizational Assessment based on Land Trust Standards and Practices. Putnam County Land Trust is an all-volunteer land trust.—$5,000

Hudson Highlands Land Trust, Garrison, Strategic Land Protection Plan for the Hudson Highlands – Project will enable HHLT to develop a robust GIS based analysis of land and natural resources in HHLT’s service area which will help identify priority areas and key parcels to target for conservation. HHLT will use this plan as it seeks a land protection goal of 2,000 acres by 2011.—$10,000

Mianus River Gorge Preserve, Bedford, Visitor Entrance Improvements – Project will enable MRGP to make key improvements to the primary entrance area for the 224-acre Preserve, enhancing access for 10,000 visitors each year. In 1964, Mianus River Gorge Preserve became the first registered National Natural Landmark; it was the first property protected by The Nature Conservancy in the 1950’s.—$14,250

Mianus River Gorge Preserve, Bedford, Survey Work for Five High Priority Parcels – Project will update MRGP’s property records in accordance with Land Trust Standards and Practices. MRGP holds 82 fee properties on 764 acres and is preparing for national accreditation in 2009.—$10,000

Hudson Highlands Land Trust, Garrison, Hudson Highlands Land Trust Regional River of Words Project – Two-year project will assist HHLT, in partnership with DEC and Garrison’s public schools, to develop a Hudson Highlands version of the River of Words curriculum, an acclaimed program that is connecting children and communities around the world to their local watersheds. The project complements education goals in the NYS Open Space Plan and will enhance HHLT’s presence in the Hudson Highlands.—$20,000

Westchester Land Trust, Bedford Hills, Westchester County, Connecting with Nature Through Questing – Two-year project will help WLT, in partnership with North Salem Open Land Foundation, develop a new Quest program on four public access nature preserves. The Quests will attract new visitors and connect children and adults to these special places using an innovative educational game that highlighs the area’s natural and human history. This project could serve as a model for other land trusts, state agencies, and municipalities interested in enagaging local communities in local parks and preserves through discovery and experiential nature education.—$12,100

You can read more about the New York State Conservation Partnership Program here.