Similar to other regions of the Northeastern Atlantic Coastal plain, a majority of the sandplain grasslands on Long Island either have been protected by land conservation, or are managed in association with commercial use such as airports. Urbanization and population growth on Long Island expanding east from New York City have increased grassland isolation, reduces connectivity and introduced non-native species. As a result, non-commercial grasslands are generally small remnants and relics of less than approximately 12 hectares (30 acres). Commercial or Native American-associated grasslands (Shinnecock and Montaukett Nations) are larger and range between 20 to 60 hectares (29 to 148 acres) (Weigand et al. 2017). A roughly equal portion of Long Island’s grasslands are remnants of conventional agriculture that have converted to old fields since the 1950s.
On the New York islands, invasive species and increased woody succession are generally not being suppressed by mowing and/or burning at current return intervals. In addition, the high degree of fragmentation and high proximity to urban areas results in presence of a large number of non-native and invasive species that must be managed.
In the New York region, the major land holders of grasslands include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Sayville and Conscience Point Grasslands), The Nature Conservancy (Shinnecock Hills, Mashomack), Suffolk County (Montauk County Park, Gabreski Airport), Nassau County (Hempstead Plains), Town of Riverhead (Enterprise Park at Calverton), New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (Montauk Downs), New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (Underhill), Green Tree Foundation, Henry Ferguson Museum and Land Trust (Middle Island Farms, Fishers Island), National Parks Service-Gateway (Floyd Bennett Field) and the Town of Easthampton (Easthampton Airport).