|
State Parks Announce $8 Million to Support Programs Promoting New York's Natural Heritage
Constitution Marsh, Manitoga and Green Chimneys receive funding
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Carol Ash recently announced $8 million in grants awarded under the Zoos, Botanical Gardens and Aquariums Program (ZBGA) to support the development of educational, cultural and recreational programs that interpret New York's natural heritage. "New York State is home to a large and diverse collection of rare plants, animals andsensitive ecosystems, many of which are endangered. This program provides valuable funding for organizations to develop critical educational and interpretive programs in order to raise awareness and appreciation of the importance of identifying, protecting and preserving our fragile natural heritage," said Ash.
Local organizations awarded funds include:
-Constitution Marsh Audubon Center and Sanctuary, Cold Spring (Putnam)- $2,285
-Manitoga, Garrison (Putnam)- $23,500
-Green Chimneys Farm and Wildlife Center, Brewster (Putnam)- $14,825
Senator Mary Lou Rath, Chair of the Senate Committee on Tourism, Recreation and Sports Development said, "The ZBGA is a vital part of our state's tourism landscape. By supporting the programs that promote our state's natural heritage, these funds are critical to the future of our community zoos, botanical gardens and aquariums."
The ZBGA funding administered by New York State Parks and is available to public or notfor profit organizations, which own, care for and interpret for the public living or preserved collections of biological specimens. The organizations, referred to as Natural Heritage Institutions, include zoos, botanical gardens, arboretums, aquariums, bird sanctuaries, natural habitat preserves and sciences museums, and nature and environmental centers.
Under the Agency's program, ZBGA provides a minimum award of $5,000 and no more than 30 percent of the organization's operating budget. In 2007, Governor Spitzer and the Legislature appropriated $8 million for the ZBGA program, a $500,000 increase from 2006.
Programs need to meet the following criteria: establish well-defined program goals; be organized as a public or private non-profit institution and exist on a permanent basis to act as a living museum with a primary purpose of providing ongoing education programs; maintain a facility from which to operate and interpret the collection; and establish an organized and systematic program for care of the collection.
| Click ads below
for larger version
|
