HCA Eligible Areas

The Highlands Conservation Act (H.R. 1964, 2004; 16 U.S.C. 3901) is designed to assist Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania in conserving land and natural resources in the Highlands Region through Federal assistance for land conservation projects in which a State entity acquires land or an interest in land from a willing seller to permanently protect resources of high conservation value. The USDA Forest Service (USFS) was directed by the HCA to identify lands that have high conservation value through the “New York-New Jersey Highlands Regional Study: 2002 Update” and the “Highlands Regional Study: Connecticut and Pennsylvania 2010 Update.Subject to availability of funds through Federal appropriation, each year, Governors of the four Highlands States may submit land conservation projects in the Highlands Region for funding not to exceed fifty percent of the total cost. Proposed projects must be consistent with areas identified in the Study and Update as having high resource value.The HCA grant program is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The Highlands Council is the designated “Lead State Agency” for New Jersey in this program (only eligible applicant). HCA funding availability is subject to change annually.