Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity (LAND) Grant Program
Forecasted
Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity (LAND) Grant Program supports municipal commissions in buying land or conservation restrictions to protect natural resources and provide public passive recreation.
Funder: Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Due Dates (Anticipated): July 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to $425,000 per municipality; reimbursement of 52–70% of eligible project costs
Summary: Supports Massachusetts municipal acquisitions of land or conservation restrictions for conservation and public passive recreation.
Key Information: Municipalities must finance the full project cost before reimbursement and permanently protect acquired land for public conservation use.
Description
The Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity (LAND) Grant Program is funded by Massachusetts’ Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) and administered by its Division of Conservation Services (DCS). It assists municipal conservation and agriculture commissions with purchasing land in fee simple or acquiring conservation restrictions for conservation and public passive recreation.
The program supports protection of natural resources and open space, outdoor recreation opportunities, and climate resilience. Its selection system considers community need alongside habitat protection, recreational access, drinking water resources, working lands, and municipal stewardship capacity. Acquired properties become permanently protected open space under Article 97 and must remain available for appropriate public passive recreation, including when a conservation restriction covers privately owned land.
