Audubon Applauds new DEC funding for private landowners

Albany, NY – 11-26-12 - The NY State Department of Environmental Conservation announced the availability of funding for eligible landowners to help conserve grassland birds, the fastest declining suite of bird species in the state. Primarily due to the loss or conversion of farmland and pasture land to other uses, Audubon New York, the state program of the National Audubon Society, has been working with the DEC, federal partners and private landowners to reverse these declines.

"With most of the grasslands in New York on private lands, the future of our grassland birds depends on the stewardship of those lands," said Albert E. Caccese, Executive Director of Audubon New York. "We applaud Governor Cuomo and Commissioner Martens for providing this essential funding that will foster strong partnerships with private landowners and encourage proper habitat management for the benefit of these declining birds. We look forward to working with the DEC to bolster the Landowner Incentive Program to ensure education, technical assistance and incentives are provided to landowners across the state."

More information on Grasslands birds and the Landowner Incentive Program can be found: http://ny.audubon.org/grassland-bird-conservation

For interviews Contact: Sean Mahar – 518-253-7000 or smahar@audubon.org