Highlands Conservation

To conserve priority lands and natural resources and recognize the importance of the water, forest, agricultural, wildlife, recreational, and cultural resources, and the national significance of the Highlands region of the United States. Preserve and protect high-priority conservation land in the Highland regions.

Any State Agency with authority to own and manage land located within the Highlands region for conservation purposes may apply by identifying the source of non-Federal funds, describing the management objectives for the project land, identifying the purpose of the use of the land, and providing that the land will not be converted, used or disposed of for a purpose inconsistent with land conservation. State Conservation Agencies, or Counties and Municipalities within the Highlands Region, are eligible to receive grant funds and hold the fee or conservation easement interest in the acquired land.

The Notice of Funding Opportunity directs the Highland States to apply directly to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for eligible land acquisition projects in the Highlands region. Only lands with high conservation value that can be obtained by fee acquisition or conservation easement from willing sellers will be considered.

The Federal share of the project cost shall not exceed 50 percent of the total project cost.

Fiscal year 2025: Program has not yet selected projects for funding. The Program anticipates funding eligible State Agency, County, or Municipal land acquisition projects that protect land of high conservation value in the Highlands region of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Fiscal year 2026: Program has not yet selected projects for funding. The Program anticipates funding eligible State Agency, County, or Municipal land acquisition projects that protect land of high conservation value in the Highlands region of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.