The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation’s (PCLB) Outdoors Program seeks to increase the pace of land conservation, protect critical habitat, contribute to climate resilience, and connect people to nature. To advance these goals, PCLB established the Land and Easement Acquisition Program (LEAP) that provides grants for land conservation organizations to complete projects in the Hudson River and Lake Champlain Watersheds in New York and in select areas in Maine. LEAP grants are intended to close funding gaps for active projects that are otherwise ready to close. Funds can be used to acquire land and conservation easements. Priority will be given to projects that: 

• Interconnect open space.
• Promote biodiversity.
• Address climate resilience.
• Protect high-quality water resources.
• Provide meaningful public access opportunities.

Complete program guidelines can be found here. Click for GIS files that identify the eligible geographic areas in New York and Maine.