Trail Conference Awarded Generous Grant to Combat Invasive Species in the Hudson Valley
New funding will expand precision detection and strengthen ecological resilience across the region.
The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is thrilled to announce that it has been awarded $157,820 through New York State’s Invasive Species Grant Program, administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
The Invasive Species Grant Program advances projects across New York that prevent the spread of terrestrial and aquatic invasives, improve early-detection and rapid-response techniques, and restore impacted areas.
The grant is part of a broader $5.1 million investment by New York State, supporting 51 projects statewide aimed at protecting native ecosystems, rehabilitating damaged habitats, and strengthening long-term ecological resilience and community wellbeing.
A Bold Future for Trail Stewardship
For more than a century, the Trail Conference has worked tirelessly to protect open spaces throughout the Hudson Valley and beyond, partnering with public agencies, conservation organizations, and volunteers to safeguard the region’s vast trail network. Invasive species management is a vital part of this stewardship, helping to defend native ecosystems, maintain resilient trails, and foster sustainable outdoor recreation.
The newly received grant will strengthen the Trail Conference’s Conservation Dogs Program—a pioneering initiative that pairs highly trained detection dogs with expert handlers to detect invasives, survey protected wildlife, and monitor ecological change.
Thanks to the funding, the Conservation Dogs Program will deploy its trained detection team across the Lower Hudson Valley in 2027 and 2028, targeting six high-priority invasive plant species that threaten regional biodiversity.
Grant funds will power precision surveys and rapid-response removals by identifying hard-to-detect invasives that are often missed by human surveyors alone. This investment will dramatically improve treatment success rates and drive multiple species toward full regional eradication.
With this grant, the Conservation Dogs Program will not only directly support ecosystem health and resilience but also enhance existing invasive species management and data collection efforts through community engagement, education, and outreach across the Lower Hudson Valley.
“We’re thrilled to receive this grant from the Invasive Species Grant Program,” said Arden Blumenthal, the Trail Conference’s Conservation Dogs Program Coordinator. “This funding allows us to continue detecting invasive plant species that would otherwise go unnoticed, as well as support our Volunteer Dog Surveyors, multiplying our efforts and deepening community engagement in invasive species education. Many thanks to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for their support and to our regional partners for their continued cooperation as we demonstrate that conservation dogs are both powerful tools and beloved ambassadors for protecting our natural landscapes.”
The Trail Conference extends its sincere gratitude to the DEC and New York State for their support. With this generous funding, we’ll continue to protect more than 2,100 miles of public trails throughout the Northeast, nurturing healthy ecosystems and ensuring safe, sustainable outdoor recreation for all.