Forests, Plants, and Land Conservation News

This Month's Topics:

• New Trail Supporter Patch Design Now Available
• 'Spongy Moth' Adopted as New Common Name for Lymantria dispar
• Celebrating National Surveyor's Week
• Spotlight on Sugar Maples
• Urban and Community Forestry Corner
  • Winners of Quick Start Grants Announced
  • Community Spotlight - Watertown, NY
  • Upcoming Events
  • ReLeaf Conference Returns for 2022!

New Trail Supporter Patch Design Now Available

Show your support for New York’s outdoor spaces by purchasing a New York State Trail Supporter Patch! The 2022 patches consist of five designs that resemble the international symbols for some of New York State's most popular outdoor recreation activities - cross-country skiing, hiking, horseback riding, camping, and biking. Each patch will be available individually for a limited time, or the entire series can be purchased at any time.

Just released, the second design features two hikers and makes the perfect gift for your favorite trail buddy.

Purchase a Trail Supporter Patch for $5 (or the full series for $25) at any sporting license sales outlet, or online at the DECALS website. The proceeds from patch sales go into the Conservation Fund's Outdoor Recreation, Trail Maintenance, and Development account to help maintain and enhance DEC's non-motorized recreation trails throughout the state.

For more information on the Trail Supporter Patch, visit DEC's website.

'Spongy Moth' Adopted as New Common Name for Lymantria dispar

The Entomological Society of America (ESA) has approved “spongy moth” as the new common name for the moth species Lymantria dispar. The new common name replaces "gypsy moth" as the approved common name in ESA's Common Names of Insects and Related Organisms List. The old name was removed from this list in July 2021 for its use of a derogatory term for Romani people. The name spongy moth—derived from the common name used in France and French-speaking Canada, "spongieuse"—refers to the moth's sponge-like egg masses. Learn more about the change from ESA.

Celebrating National Surveyor’s Week

March 20-26 is National Surveyor’s Week! Surveyors are experts in measuring the surface of the earth that work in both the private and public sector marking property boundaries, measuring topography, researching land records, and more. This profession dates back to ancient times. Historic records note that Egyptians used a land register to re-establish farm boundaries after flooding from the Nile River as early as 3,000 BC, and in 300 AD, the Roman Empire was the first known society to establish surveying as a profession. In New York State, state land surveyor positions have been around for more than 100 years – that predates DEC! Land surveyors have been a big part of monitoring state lands since at least 1885, when legislation established the Forest Preserve.

At DEC, our 20 licensed land surveyors work with almost every division but are based in the Division of Lands and Forests’ Bureau of Real Property. This team is responsible for acquiring all new DEC lands, ensuring boundary lines are established and maintained, and investigating management issues such as right-of-ways or easements over state lands all across New York State. Altogether, they’re in charge of surveying and marking nearly 5,000,000 acres of state land and about 15,000 miles of boundary. Our surveyors also work with the Division of Law Enforcement when they are called to assist with enforcement actions such as timber thefts, solid waste violations, or land clearing in a protected area.

If you love state lands, you can thank a surveyor for their important contribution in helping to protect them!

Spotlight on Sugar Maples

It’s maple tapping season, which means everyone’s talking about one of New York’s most beloved tree species—and our state tree—the sugar maple. 

The sugar maple is truly a tree-of-all-trades. This species is best recognized in autumn when it premiers its brilliant and beloved fall foliage in a spectrum of orange, yellow, and red leaves. Beyond its beauty, the sugar maple is an integral part of New York's upstate forests and is a food source for a variety of native wildlife year-round. Sugar maples also produce an important food for us humans—the sap that becomes maple syrup! Outside of the forest, the tree’s hard, close-grained wood is a popular choice for furniture and flooring. Recognizing its value to all creatures, big and small, New York adopted the sugar maple as the state tree in 1956.

Love sugar maples and maple syrup? Both DEC and NYS Parks are offering educational maple programs around the state this month. Check out event listings at Five Rivers (Albany County), Reinstein Woods (Erie County), and the NYS Parks events webpage to find one near you.  

Photo of a sugar maple tree in autumn by Kelsey McLaughlin

Urban and Community Forestry Corner

Winners of Quick Start Grants Announced

The winners of the Quick Start Grants for Arbor Day events have been announced. Check out the NYS Urban Forestry Council’s website for details.

Community Spotlight - Watertown, NY

We can’t top this writeup on Watertown’s Urban Forestry Program on the NYS Urban Forestry Council’s blog.

Mark your calendars for the 2022 ReLeaf Conference where you can check out Watertown’s amazing street trees and parks in person!

Upcoming Events

NYC ReLeaf Workshop: Stewardship for Resilience - Friday, March 25 at 9 a.m. - This workshop at the Queens Botanical Garden will highlight stewardship efforts and provide updates on projects going on around NYC. Continuing education credits with ISA are pending, credits for planning and zoning boards are available. Proof of vaccination and a photo ID are required to attend and will be checked at the front desk upon entry. Cost: $25 general public, $20 for ReLeaf and NYS Urban Forestry Council members. No refunds, but registration can be transferred to another person. Register and pay online.

How iTree Can Help You Manage Your Community Forest - Thursday, March 31 at 10 a.m. - One of the first steps of forest management, including urban and community forest management, is assessing where you are now so that you can manage for your goals into the future. In this webinar, Eric Greenfield of the USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis unit of the Northern Research Station will present and demonstrate how iTree Canopy and some other iTree tools can help you do that initial assessment and have basic information to start forest management planning. Register for this free session online.

"Right Tree, Right Place" Facebook Live - Tuesday, April 5 at 10 a.m. (Part 1) and Tuesday, April 26 at 1:30 p.m. (Part 2)  - Tune into DEC's Facebook to join DEC Lands and Forests staff as they put a fun spin on how to select the best tree for a location based on the site's conditions.

ReLeaf Conference Returns for 2022!

The NYS ReLeaf Conference is back this year and we are looking forward to seeing everyone again. Mark your calendars for July 21-23 in Watertown, NY for the 2022 conference, “Trees Bring Us Together”. We are excited to announce Ian Leahy, vice president of Urban Forestry at American Forests, as our keynote speaker. Ian was the Urban and Community Forestry Program coordinator for Washington D.C. before joining American Forests, where he has developed the Tree Equity program since 2014.

More details to come as we get closer to summer, but plan to join us!