Conserved Open Space

The primary measure of success is to conserve 5,000 acres of open space in the coastal boundary of Long Island Sound. Of the targeted 5,000 acres to be protected conserved, at least 40 percent will be in areas where communities have not typically benefited from conservation projects. 

Status

Since 2006, more than 8,100 acres have been protected mainly in the form of land acquisition. While the Partnership plans to continue to increase acreage through land acquisitions, there are also opportunities to increase acreage through easements throughout the watershed. The Partnership also strives to protect high-priority coastal habitat from development through property acquisition and other means, support sustainable use of these properties without discouraging wildlife use, and create a registry of protected areas in Connecticut and New York, which encompasses both existing protected properties and future acquisitions. Check back in soon for the 2025 progress!  

Furthermore, in addition to acquiring new open space to protect, the Partnership also plans to restore and enhance already acquired properties. A great example of achieving this is through our Stewardship Initiative. The initiative is focused on protecting the diverse plants and animals at the 33 Stewardship Areas. The areas, 17 in Connecticut and 16 in New York, are each anchored by a specific site or multiple sites, are areas of land and water with outstanding or exemplary scientific, educational, or biological value for protection, management or acquisition. Since 2005, the Long Island Sound Partnership has invested in 100 projects totaling $12 million at the Stewardship Areas. The Partnership recently published the Stewardship Strategy to reemphasize the Partnership’s commitment to the Initiative through a series of recommendations driven by the Stewardship Areas’ current challenges, needs, and priorities. The expected outcomes of this network are to increase acres of habitat restored and protected, strengthen community resiliency, and ensure investments last for generations to come. 

Challenges 

Conservation of new land around Long Island Sound is limited to the number of remaining open space properties available for purchase and the high cost of purchasing land in the Long Island Sound watershed. Additionally, it is important to note that open space loss (i.e., from land development, sea level rise) may also be a factor in this objective, and therefore it is also critical to maintain what is already acquired (e.g., invasive removal and habitat enhancements). 

Tracking land protection is dependent on the reporting of our land protection partners. While the State’s purchase of land for protection  can be easily tracked, it is also important to reach out to NGO land protection groups that acquire and purchase development rights  within the Long Island Sound coastal watershed. 

Importance

Conserving open space preserves natural and undeveloped areas and is important to maintain a vital ecosystem and provide natural resource-based recreational opportunities. Additionally, conserving open space has indirect benefits that improve water quality and quantity. The conservation of open spaces also promotes increasing opportunities for habitat connectivity.