in the news

The Land Conservancy Protects WBB Farm in Alden, NY

January 29, 2021: The Western New York Land Conservancy is pleased to announce that it has protected the award-winning WBB Farm in Alden, NY, owned by Brenda and Warren Bippert. As a result of this project, this important farmland will always be available for agricultural use. Agriculture and agriculture-based business play a vital role in Western New York, where small family farms like WBB have dotted the landscape for generations. These farms and businesses employ thousands of Western New Yorkers and pump millions of dollars into the local economy each year.

The Land Conservancy Receives Two Major Grants to Support the Concept and Schematic Design Phase of The Riverline

January 13, 2021: The Western New York Land Conservancy has announced two major grants to support the Concept and Schematic Design phase of The Riverline, part of the Land Conservancy’s efforts to transform the former DL&W rail corridor running from Canalside to the Buffalo River into an iconic, innovative, and inspiring nature trail and greenway. The First Niagara Foundation in partnership with KeyBank awarded $40,000 (in addition to a $20,000 grant earlier in 2020), and Moog Inc. awarded $75,000 to be distributed over three years.

Community Reaches Fundraising Goal, Western New York Land Conservancy to Purchase the College Lodge Forest

January 5, 2021: The Western New York Land Conservancy and the Friends of the College Lodge Forest are pleased to announce that the community has matched a challenge gift and reached their fundraising goal to save the College Lodge Forest. Located near Fredonia, NY, this spectacular forest has long been a cherished community gathering place in Chautauqua County. Once purchased, it will be permanently protected.

The Western New York Land Conservancy Awarded a $50,000 Transaction grant from NYS Environmental Protection Fund (EPF)

December 21, 2020: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Land Trust Alliance last week announced approximately $2.2 million in Conservation Partnership Program grants for 50 nonprofit land trusts across the state. A total of $268,393 was awarded to land trusts in the Western New York/Finger Lakes/Southern Tier regions, including a $50,000 Transaction Grant to the Land Conservancy.

Western New York Land Conservancy to Host Renowned Author Joan Maloof at October 29 Virtual Event to Save the College Lodge Forest

October 23, 2020: This year, with the help of the Friends of the College Lodge Forest and the Western New York Land Conservancy, the community is trying to save the College Lodge Forest near Fredonia. The College Lodge Forest is home to one of the last remaining groves of old-growth forest in the region, as well as rare wildlife, colorful orchids, and carnivorous plants. The community has until the end of this year to match a $200,000 challenge gift and reach its fundraising goal of $790,000. The Land Conservancy will then purchase the land and maintain it as a publicly accessible nature preserve. If not protected, the land could be logged.

      Buffalo Rising: Help Save the College Lodge Forest!

The Western New York Land Conservancy and its Design Partners Seek Photos from the Community that will Influence Designs for The Riverline

December 9, 2020: The Western New York Land Conservancy and its design partners W Architecture, Hood Design Studio, and Green Shield Ecology are seeking photos from people in the Western New York community that can help provide ideas for the design of The Riverline, the proposed nature trail and greenway being developed along the former rail corridor running from Canalside to the Buffalo River.

The Margery Gallogly Nature Sanctuary Trails Now Open on Grand Island

September 2, 2020: The Western New York Land Conservancy is pleased to announce the opening of publicly accessible trails at the Margery Gallogly Nature Sanctuary on Whitehaven Road in Grand Island. The Land Conservancy  purchased the forest surrounding Assumption Cemetery in 2018 from Catholic Cemeteries of the Roman Catholic Diocese, which still owns Assumption Cemetery. With the trails now open at the sanctuary, Grand Island residents and visitors will be able to enjoy activities like hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.

The Land Conservancy Unveils Old First Ward Students’ Pride Mural on The Riverline, Names W Architecture as Design Firm for Concept and Schematic Design Phase

August 26, 2020: This spring and summer, under the tutelage of Buffalo-based artist Christopher Kameck, students from the Old First Ward Community Center’s arts program conceived and painted a mural for the National Fuel building adjacent to the future home of The Riverline. That mural, located at the intersection of Mackinaw and Alabama Streets in the Old First Ward, is now complete and was publicly unveiled at a press conference on August 26.

The Western New York Land Conservancy Announces a $200,000 Challenge Gift to Save the College Lodge Forest

August 5, 2020- The Western New York Land Conservancy and the Friends of the College Lodge Forest are announcing a $200,000 challenge gift to save the College Lodge Forest, a spectacular 168-acre property located near Fredonia, NY. They need members of the community to donate to match the challenge gift by the end of this year. The community has already raised more than $400,000 toward its goal of $790,000 to save the forest. Once the challenge gift is matched, they will meet that goal, purchase the land, and keep it open as a publicly accessible nature preserve forever.

Silo City to Get Goatscaping Treatment, Makeover as part of Pilot Project for The Riverline

July 10, 2020: A team of Let’s Goat Buffalo goats has deployed to the campus of iconic Silo City, one of Buffalo’s most notable landmarks. The pilot project is aimed at eliminating invasive Mugwort and is sponsored by the Western New York Land Conservancy as part of its ongoing effort to develop The Riverline in downtown Buffalo.

The Riverline Joins the High Line Network of Infrastructure Reuse Projects

June 29, 2020 - The Riverline announces today that it is one of 15 new members of the High Line Network, a community of nonprofit infrastructure reuse leaders. Since its start by High Line co-founder and Executive Director Robert Hammond in 2016, the Network has grown from an initial group of 11 leaders to include 39 projects, showing the growing trend of transforming underutilized and abandoned infrastructure into new urban landscapes. Redefining what a park can be, these hybrid spaces are also public squares, open-air museums, botanical gardens, social service organizations, walkways, transit corridors, and more. Members of the Network also commit to building truly equitable spaces for their communities.  

The College Lodge Forest, a Sanctuary for Migratory Birds, Wildflowers, Amphibians— and Western New Yorkers

June 17, 2020: With our region slowly reopening, Western New Yorkers are hungry to get outside. For those who are searching for the serenity of a spectacular forest off the beaten path, where they can practice social distancing and enjoy nature, what better place is there than the College Lodge Forest near Fredonia?

Western New York Land Conservancy Receives Two Major Grants to Protect the College Lodge Forest Near Fredonia

January 28, 2020: The Western New York Land Conservancy has received two major grants toward the protection of the College Lodge Forest, located in Chautauqua County near Fredonia. The grants include $150,000 from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and $203,000 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Combined with $40,000 already donated by community members, the Land Conservancy has now raised nearly $400,000 to protect the forest. The Land Conservancy has until Dec. 31, 2020, to raise at least $790,000 to buy the property, keep it open as a publicly accessible nature preserve, and maintain the land forever.

Western New York Land Conservancy Reaches $1.6 million Goal and Will Purchase Mossy Point near East Aurora

January 2, 2020: The Western New York Land Conservancy is pleased to announce that it has met its $1.6 million goal to save Mossy Point. As a headwater forest, the land will provide clean water and prevent flooding in communities downstream. During the past two years, the Land Conservancy and the Friends of Mossy Point carried out an ambitious fundraising campaign to protect the property. “This campaign was a tremendous effort by everyone involved,” said Nancy Smith, executive director of the Land Conservancy.

ABOUT US

The Western New York Land Conservancy is an accredited regional not-for-profit 501 (c) 3 land trust that works with landowners, municipalities, and other organizations to help them conserve their most cherished natural areas and working farms. 

CONTACT

716-687-1225

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P.O. Box 471

East Aurora, NY 14052

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info@wnylc.org

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