in the news
Western New York Land Conservancy Opens its Newest Public Nature Preserve, Mossy Point in Wales
August 16, 2022: The Western New York Land Conservancy held a ribbon cutting ceremony today at Mossy Point, in Wales, to mark the grand opening of publicly accessible walking trails within the organization’s newest preserve. Thanks to the efforts of the Friends of Mossy Point and the Land Conservancy community, which together raised $1.6 million in 2020 via hundreds of donations, the land will be protected forever.
WKBW Channel 7: Western New York Land Conservancy opens its newest public nature preserve at Mossy Point
Buffalo Rising: Western New York Land Conservancy opens its newest public nature preserve, Mossy Point
Buffalo News: Mossy Point in Wales opens to the public
Step Out Buffalo: Visit WNY's Newest Public Nature Preserve, Mossy Point
The Western New York Land Conservancy and Providence Farm Collective Announce a $275,000 Matching Gift
August 3, 2022: The Western New York Land Conservancy and Providence Farm Collective are thrilled to announce a $275,000 matching gift toward their joint capital campaign to “Plant the Future of Farming.” They need to raise at least $2.3 million for the campaign by the end of this year. To date, the campaign has already raised nearly $1 million toward the goal. They need members of the community to donate to match the gift this year. Every dollar donated now will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $275,000.
Buffalo Rising: Plant the future of farming
WKBW Channel 7: WNY Land Conservancy and Providence Farm Collective announce a $275,000 matching gift toward capital campaign
East Aurora Advertiser: Matching gift to benefit Land Conservancy and Providence Farm Collective
Land Conservancy Executive Director Nancy Smith to Transition to New Role by End of Year
June 30, 2022: Nancy Smith, the Western New York Land Conservancy’s longtime Executive Director, will transition from her position at the end of 2022. Nancy has planned this change at a time when the Land Conservancy is experiencing great success, enjoys stability, and is poised for the next leader. The Land Conservancy will have Nancy's guidance onboarding the new Executive Director, and she has offered to continue in a role supporting the Land Conservancy into the future. The Land Conservancy is launching a nationwide search to find her successor.
Chautauqua Today: WNY Land Conservancy Executive Director to transition to new role
Buffalo News: Western New York Land Conservancy director to step down
Buffalo Business First: Western New York Land Conservancy has begun a search for new Executive Director
The Land Conservancy and Providence Farm Collective to Host Author and Filmmaker Natalie Baszile, a Champion of Black Farming in the United States, for Online Event
June 14, 2022: The Western New York Land Conservancy and Providence Farm Collective (PFC) are partnering to host author and filmmaker Natalie Baszile. The online event will feature a special conversation between Baszile and local farmers of color, including Allison DeHonney (Buffalo Go Green/Urban Fruits & Veggies), Mahamud Mberwa (Bwedo Farm), Dao Kamara (Liberian Community Farming Project), and Hamadi Ali (Providence Farm Collective).
WBFO (Listen: podcast): Food Access and the Legacy of Black Farmers
The Land Conservancy Joins Community Partners to Celebrate the Niagara Gorge at GorgeFest
June 7, 2022: The Land Conservancy is teaming up with New York State Parks, the Niagara River Greenway, the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, the Buffalo Museum of Science, and more than a dozen local environmental organizations for a one-day celebration of the Niagara Gorge and its amazing river. The internationally renowned Niagara Gorge is one of the most iconic places in Western New York. GorgeFest will celebrate the Niagara Gorge’s unique ecosystem and incredible biodiversity with activities that include geology hikes, native plant and animal meet and greets, fossil displays, hands-on activities for the whole family, and much more.
Buffalo Rising: Celebrate the Niagara Gorge at GorgeFest
Niagara Gazette: The Land Conservancy Joins Community Partners to Celebrate the Niagara Gorge at GorgeFest
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal: Whirlpool State Park Hosting GorgeFest
Western New York Land Conservancy Dedicates College Lodge Forest, Old-Growth Forest Network Inducts Preserve into Nationwide Program
May 27, 2022: The Western New York Land Conservancy and the Friends of the College Lodge Forest held a ribbon cutting ceremony at the College Lodge Forest to announce the Land Conservancy’s formal purchase of the property. Located near Fredonia, NY, this spectacular forest has long been a cherished community gathering place in Chautauqua County. As part of the ceremony, the College Lodge Forest was formally inducted into the national Old-Growth Forest Network (OGFN). To celebrate the dedication of this protected forest, the Old-Growth Forest Network’s Founder and Executive Director, Dr. Joan Maloof, presented a plaque to the Land Conservancy's Executive Director, Nancy Smith.
Buffalo Rising: College Lodge Forest is inducted into Old-growth Forest Network
Chautauqua Today: WNY Land Conservancy Purchases College Lodge Forest
Jamestown Post-Journal: Land Conservancy takes over SUNY College Lodge Forest
SUNY Fredonia: Ribbon-cutting for College Lodge Forest Completed
WGRZ Channel 2: "2 the Outdoors": Protecting the College Lodge Forest
Western New York Land Conservancy Awarded $690,000 to Grow Native Plants for Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park
April 1, 2022: The Western New York Land Conservancy is pleased to announce that it was awarded $690,000 by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation to collect local native plant seeds, grow the plants, and then provide the plants to the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park in Buffalo. The Land Conservancy will focus its efforts on the “inlet” zones of the park. It will grow 50,000 plants from locally collected seeds, and add many trees, shrubs, and aquatic plants that will enrich the wildlife habitat at the park.
Niagara Gazette: Wilson grant fosters biodiversity
The Riverline Awarded $900,000 in FY22 Federal Budget
March 17, 2022: The Riverline was awarded $900,000 in federal funds in the recently approved federal budget, as announced at a press event early this week. The event featured New York State Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand; Congressman Brian Higgins; Mayor Byron Brown; Thomas George, Director of Public Transit at the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA); Jeff Lebsack, The Riverline Director; and Nancy Smith, Executive Director of the Land Conservancy.
Land Conservancy Awarded $2 million Grant to Protect Lands that will Safeguard Drinking Water in Allegany County
February 3, 2022: The Land Conservancy is pleased to announce that it has received a $2,000,000 grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) as part of its Water Quality Improvement Program (WQIP), a grant that specifically targets the protection of source waters. With this funding, the Land Conservancy will identify and permanently protect land in the Black Creek-Angelica Creek watershed in Allegany County, safeguarding public drinking water sources. The grant will allow the Land Conservancy to find priority source water protection lands, and as always, partner with local landowners who voluntarily wish to protect their land.
Olean Times Herald: WNY Land Conservancy gets grant to protect Allegany County water sources
Buffalo News Editorial Board: Land, Water projects serve the region's interests in a healthy environment
Land Conservancy Awarded Tonawanda Community Environmental Benefit Program Grant to Enhance Multiple Preserves
February 2, 2022: The Land Conservancy is pleased to announce that it has received a $160,000 grant from the Tonawanda Community Environmental Benefit Program (TCEBP). With this funding, the Land Conservancy will undertake a host of projects at preserves in North Tonawanda and Grand Island. Through this project, they will improve existing nature preserves, restore wildlife habitat, reduce the threat of hazard trees, improve walking trails, and engage people of all ages in environmental education.
Niagara Frontier Publications: Grand Island's wildlife, environment to benefit from grant funding
Niagara Gazette: Tonawanda Coke funds benefit Audubon preserve
Providence Farm Collective Awarded Major Grant to Develop Farmers’ Market on Buffalo’s West Side
January 27, 2022: Providence Farm Collective (PFC) is pleased to announce that it has received a $477,000 Farmers Market Promotion Program grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). With this funding, PFC will create a farmers’ market on Grant Street, in the heart of Buffalo’s west side where many of their farmers live. The market will be open from the end of June to October 2022, and it will serve the Black community and refugees from Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Ethiopia, Myanmar, and Liberia.
Niagara Frontier Publications: Providence Farm Collective Awarded Grant to Develop Farmers' Market on Buffalo's west side
Buffalo Rising: A new farmers' market is coming to Grant Street
Buffalo Rising: Live Virtual Event: Plant the Future of Farming
The Land Conservancy and The Riverline Launch Community Art Program to Inspire Future Designs and Programs
January 3, 2022: The Western New York Land Conservancy and The Riverline are launching a community art program with The Riverline communities for an exhibit that will debut at several locations—and virtually—in the summer of 2022. Building on strategies identified in The Riverline Equitable Development Framework, the exhibit will celebrate the rich history and cultural diversity of the Valley, Old First Ward, and Perry neighborhoods through the voices and stories of neighborhood residents. Residents and local artists will provide the materials for the exhibit to elevate resident voices and promote community pride. The materials will inspire future design details of The Riverline, including interpretive signage, art installations, and programming.
NOTE: If you would like to be involved in this project, please reach out Jeff Lebsack, The Riverline director, at jlebsack@wnylc.org.
Buffalo News: Community art program coming to The Riverline
WGRZ Channel 2: New community art program to debut this summer
Community Reaches Fundraising Goal, Western New York Land Conservancy to Purchase the Allegany Wildlands
January 1, 2022: The Western New York Land Conservancy and the Friends of the Allegany Wildlands are pleased to announce that the community has reached their fundraising goal to save the Allegany Wildlands. Located near Allegany State Park in Cattaraugus County, this spectacular 200-acre forest is home to a rich diversity of plants and animals. Once purchased, it will be permanently protected and become part of the Land Conservancy’s planned Western New York Wildway.
Buffalo News: Land Conservancy to purchase Allegany Wildlands
Buffalo Rising: Community Reaches fundraising goal, WNY Land conservancy to purchase Allegany Wildlands
Olean Times Herald: WNY Land Conservancy meets goal to buy Allegany Wildlands