Western New York Land Conservancy

What Western New York Land Conservancy does

The Western New York Land Conservancy (WNYLC) is an accredited regional 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust founded in 1991 and headquartered in East Aurora, New York. The organization works with private landowners, municipalities, farmers, and partner organizations to permanently protect forests, wetlands, working farms, and wildlife habitat across Western New York through conservation easements and fee-simple land acquisition. As of the input period, WNYLC has protected more than 8,400 acres and operates or is developing multiple public preserves including Bear Lake Preserve (311 acres), Black Creek Preserve (276 acres), and Floating Fen Preserve (225 acres), the latter of which opened to the public in October 2025.

WNYLC's core technical work is land conservation and ecological restoration rather than software or product development. The organization manages a landscape-scale initiative called WNY Wildway, designed to connect natural areas across Western New York from northern Pennsylvania forests to the Great Lakes. Specialized programs include the WNY Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Collaborative (treating hemlock trees across 4,600 acres through Spring 2027 with Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding) and a wildlife crossings research collaboration with NYS DOT, NYS Parks, and The Nature Conservancy, deploying 45 game cameras across an eight-county region. Revenue comes entirely from philanthropic sources: individual donations, corporate sponsorships, membership, planned giving through the Legacy Society, stock donations, event revenue (including the annual Conservation Celebration gala that raised over $100,000 in 2025), and competitive grants from sources such as the NY State Environmental Protection Fund ($675,000 for Bear Lake Preserve). The organization is led by Executive Director Marisa Riggi with a staff of approximately 13 across executive, land protection, stewardship, farmland conservation, development, and operations functions. No products or services are sold; preserve access is free to the public.

Name

Western New York Land Conservancy

Legal name

Western New York Land Conservancy

Website

https://wnylc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Western New York Land Conservancy is an accredited 501(c)(3) regional land trust, founded in 1991 and based in East Aurora, NY, that permanently protects forests, wetlands, working farms, and wildlife habitat across Western New York through conservation easements and land acquisition, serving private landowners, municipalities, farmers, and community members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Forestry (800), Real Estate (6500)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH), Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

Keywords

• Land conservation services
• Conservation easements
• Nature preserve management
• Farmland protection
• Wildlife habitat connectivity

Headquarters

HQ city

East Aurora

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and membership program supporting land conservation efforts.
2. Planned Giving/Legacy Society: Estate gifts and planned giving through Legacy Society, allowing donors to protect land in perpetuity through their wills.
3. Stock Donations: Securities donations facilitated through partnership with Trubee, Collins, & Co. Inc. for tax-advantaged charitable giving.
4. Event Revenue: Conservation Celebration events with sponsorships and ticket sales raising funds for land protection.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Western New York Land Conservancy is an accredited 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust that works with private landowners, municipalities, and partner organizations to permanently protect forests, wetlands, working farms, and wildlife habitat in Western New York through conservation easements and fee-simple land acquisition. The organization manages multiple public nature preserves and runs landscape-scale initiatives including the WNY Wildway corridor and the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Collaborative.

Product overview

The Western New York Land Conservancy is a regional not-for-profit land trust offering land protection services including conservation easements and land acquisition. The organization's core offerings include managing multiple nature preserves (Black Creek Preserve, Bear Lake Preserve, Floating Fen Preserve) totaling thousands of protected acres across Western New York. Additional programs include the WNY Wildway corridor initiative, the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Collaborative for forest health, farmland conservation services, and the Legacy Society for planned giving. The conservancy operates preserves that are free and open to the public for hiking and outdoor recreation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WNY Wildway: A landscape-scale vision to protect and connect large natural areas so plants and animals can move freely across Western New York, linking forests of northern Pennsylvania to the Great Lakes and connecting with the Eastern Wildway.
• Legacy Society

Products and services

• Land Protection Services
• Black Creek Preserve
• Bear Lake Preserve
• Floating Fen Preserve
• WNY Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Collaborative
• WNY Wildway
• Legacy Society (Planned Giving)

Quantifiable outcome

• Protected more than 8,400 acres with goal to nearly double in five years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Erie CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in HWA Collaborative to monitor and treat hemlock woolly adelgid infestations across Western New York properties.
• Cornell Cooperative Extension (Erie County)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in HWA Collaborative providing expertise and resources for hemlock conservation efforts.
• NYS Hemlock InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Key partner providing guidance on hemlock woolly adelgid treatment prioritization using Regional Hemlock Prioritization Toolkit.
• WNY PRISM (Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in HWA Collaborative for invasive species management coordination across Western New York.
• LEWPAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Local partner organization participating in HWA monitoring and treatment collaborative.
• Crane Ridge Homeowners AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Local partner in hemlock conservation efforts.
• NYS Department of Environmental ConservationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Key agency partner in HWA Collaborative and wildlife crossings research collaboration.
• NYS Department of TransportationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in NY Wildlife Crossings Act implementation, identifying sites where wildlife crossings are needed to increase public safety and improve habitat connectivity.
• NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic PreservationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in unique collaboration for wildlife crossing research and habitat connectivity.
• Trubee, Collins, & Co. Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal securities firm with long-term relationship to help facilitate stock donations into charitable contributions for conservation.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit that protects land for public access and conservation through easements and acquisition. Operates at much larger scale and broader geography but follows the same conservation-easement and fee-acquisition model WNYLC uses.
• The Nature Conservancy: Global conservation nonprofit that acquires land and easements for habitat protection. Directly comparable as WNYLC is a downstream partner and grant recipient; both use permanent protection mechanisms for natural areas and working lands.
• National Audubon Society: National conservation nonprofit managing sanctuaries and habitat protection programs. Comparable as a habitat-and-wildlife-focused land steward, though much larger and mission-broadened beyond fee-simple land protection.
• The Conservation Fund: National nonprofit that acquires and manages conservation land, including working forests and farmland. Comparable on conservation-easement and acquisition practice, but operates nationally with a broader portfolio than WNYLC.

Direct peers

• Open Space Institute: Regional conservation organization protecting landscapes across the Northeast through land acquisition and easements. Highly comparable to WNYLC's WNY Wildway approach with landscape-scale connectivity and partnership-driven protection.
• Scenic Hudson: New York-based land trust that protects natural areas and farmland in the Hudson Valley through easements and acquisition. Operates under a similar nonprofit land-trust model serving a contiguous NY region with comparable preserve-and-public-access programs.
• Adirondack Land Trust: New York State land trust that conserves forests, farms, and shorelines in the Adirondack region. Comparable as a regional accredited land trust running permanent protection, stewardship, and public-access programs.
• Finger Lakes Land Trust: New York regional land trust that protects natural areas, farmland, and watersheds in the Finger Lakes region through conservation easements and land acquisition. Closest peer in scope, geography, and operating model to WNYLC.

Regional players

• Allegheny Land Trust: Western Pennsylvania land trust protecting natural areas and farmland in the greater Pittsburgh region. Comparable as a regional accredited land trust operating in a contiguous geography that overlaps the WNY Wildway's southern reach into Pennsylvania.
• Genesee Land Trust: Rochester-area New York land trust protecting natural areas and farmland in the Genesee River watershed. Overlaps with WNYLC's regional geography and runs a similar conservation-easement-based model, though smaller and more locally focused.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCpiBdN5NFCV98Rv1Gz2JFGg/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/WNYLandConservancy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/western-new-york-land-conservancy
• Instagraminstagram.com/wnylandconservancy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Western New York Land Conservancy