MEDIA RELEASE

The Department of Land and Natural Resources’ (DLNR) Legacy Land Conservation Program (LLCP) is seeking applicants for grants from the State Land Conservation Fund to fund the protection, through acquisition, of lands having value as a resource to the state.

The Legacy Land Conservation Program provides an annual source of funding for the acquisition and conservation of watersheds; coastal areas, beaches, and ocean access; habitat protection; cultural and historic sites; recreational and public hunting areas; parks; natural areas; agricultural production; and open spaces and scenic resources.

State agencies, county agencies, and non-profit land conservation organizations may apply. Proposed projects may include acquisition of fee title or conservation easements. County agencies and non-profit project applicants must be able to provide at least 25 percent of the total project costs.

“Legacy Land helps protect natural, cultural, and agricultural resources by either transferring full ownership of land to an agency or nonprofit organization that can protect the resources, or placing a conservation easement on the property to ensure that the owner will always protect those resources,” DLNR Chairman William J. Aila, Jr. said.

“The program brings federal matching funds to Hawaii and provides an incentive to local agencies and organizations working to protect the watersheds and agricultural lands that sustain Hawaii’s food security, and the cultural and recreational resources important to the education and health of our children,” Aila said.

The 2011-2012 application cycle may provide approximately $4.5 million in grants, awarded through a competitive process and subject to any budget restrictions.

Ten percent of the State’s land conveyance tax is set aside annually in the Land Conservation Fund for the purpose of protecting Hawaii’s unique and valuable resource lands.

Project applications will be reviewed by the Legacy Land Conservation Commission, which will nominate projects for funding.

Projects are subject to the approval of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, consultation with the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, review by the Department of the Attorney General and the approval of the governor.

Final awards are subject to the availability of funds.

Earlier this year, the Board of Land and Natural Resources approved and Gov. Neil Abercrombie authorized approximately $4.45 million from the Land Conservation Fund for four projects to acquire and protect properties that have value as natural, agricultural and cultural resources to the State.

The release of these State funds helped secure approximately $7.59 million in matching federal, county, and private funds toward the protection of these lands.

Since its inception in 2006, the Legacy Land Conservation Program has awarded funds for the protection of approximately 7,900 acres of lands having natural, cultural, and agricultural resource value, leveraging an average of two matching federal, private, and county dollars for every State dollar spent.

Starting July 29, the 2011-2012 LLCP Grant Application and instructions are available at http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw/llcp.

Applications must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. Sept. 16, 2011.

For more information on the Legacy Land Conservation Program, call (808) 586-0921 or visit http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw/llcp