CPF Wins $350K Forest Conservation Grant

Tree species on the property’s 447 forested acres include maple, cherry and beech, with smaller areas of hemlock, hop hornbeam, yellow birch, red pine and larch.

The Cazenovia Preservation Foundation (CPF) has been awarded a $350,000 grant from New York State’s Forest Conservation Easements for Land Trusts (FCELT) program to protect 467 acres of forest located near the southeastern boundary of the Town of Cazenovia. This land, which borders the Tioughnioga Wildlife Management Area, will be permanently conserved, helping to protect a larger connected corridor of wildlife habitat.

Previously known as the Shed’s Corner Preserve, this property was managed as a private hunting camp for many decades. Today, current owners Tom and Julie Kubiniec continue to manage the land for sustainable forestry, hunting, and habitat protection. Although the property will not have a public trail system, the owners have expressed interest in occasionally invited groups to visit for educational and recreational activities, allowing for selective community engagement.

 Significant Conservation and Habitat Benefits

This property was identified as a top priority in CPF’s 2022 Land Conservation Plan, due in part to its high ranking in The Nature Conservancy’s Resilient and Connected Network (RCN). The RCN is a map that identifies lands that have high connectivity to other habitat areas and/or high biodiversity. As plant and animal species habitat ranges change over time, due to climate change, these resilient lands, if protected, can provide a connected corridor to support plant and animal populations. In addition, protecting this land advances New York State’s conservation goals by promoting biodiversity, enhancing climate resilience, and providing opportunities for sustainable forestry and environmental education.

 “This is one of the largest forested tracts under single ownership in our region,” says Jen Wong, CPF’s Executive Director. “This project rapidly advances conservation goals for CPF and for NY State and allows CPF to continue protecting targeted conservation properties at a time when development pressures are steadily increasing.”

 Why This Conservation Effort Matters Now

In 2021, CPF received support from The Nature Conservancy of New York to develop advanced mapping tools which helped CPF identify this property as one of the most important areas to conserve in its 2022 Land Conservation Plan. In the FCELT grant application, CPF emphasized the need to act quickly to protect this land due to growing development pressure from both residential and renewable energy projects being proposed in this area.

 Looking Ahead: Stewardship and Community Learning

This project is well-aligned with CPF’s new 5-year strategic plan, which identifies sustainable land stewardship and community involvement as top goals. CPF looks forward to working collaboratively with the Kubiniecs, who have expressed their interest in proactive forest management practices, such as replanting aging forest stands with a variety of native trees that support wildlife and overall ecosystem health. The project serves as a powerful example of the way private landowners can help protect nature for the future.

 Conveniently located between Syracuse and Hamilton, CPF is well positioned to partner with local colleges and universities like SUNY ESF, Morrisville, and Colgate. These connections will help bring students, researchers, and interns into the field to learn and contribute to forest health on this and other CPF-conserved forests here in our region.

 About the FCELT Program

Established in 2022, the Forest Conservation Easements for Land Trusts Program is a public-private partnership funded through the state Environmental Protection Fund and administered by the Land Trust Alliance, in coordination with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The program offers competitive matching grants to qualified New York land trusts to fund the acquisition of conservation easements on forestland that will increase the pace of forested land conservation to combat the impacts of a changing climate. CPF was one of only four New York land trusts that received an FCELT award in 2024.