Forests, Plants & Land Conservation News

This month's topics:

• Celebrating National Surveyor’s Week
• Visitor Use Management Planning Contract Awarded for Adirondacks and Catskills
• Public Input to Develop Draft Recreation Management Plan for South Colton Tract Conservation Easement, St. Lawrence County
• Forest Carbon Markets and Climate Resiliency: Webinar on April 12 for Forest Landowners
• $1.35 Million Available for the Second Round of the Forest Conservation Grant Program
• Urban and Community Forestry Corner
  • Upcoming Events
  • Community Spotlight
• Take the Kiosk Survey: We Value Your Input!

Celebrating National Surveyor’s Week

At DEC, our 16 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!

Pictured: DEC’s Rick Palmer surveying land in Rensselaer County. 

Visitor Use Management Planning Contract Awarded for Adirondacks and Catskills

DEC awarded a Visitor Use Management (VUM) planning contract to help develop sustainable recreation solutions for a high-use portion of the High Peaks in the Adirondack Park and the Kaaterskill Clove area in the Catskill Park. The contractor will help develop strategies that will provide positive visitor experiences while continuing to protect the Forest Preserve.

Otak, Inc., a research, planning, and design firm, was awarded the VUM planning contract following a competitive Request for Proposals process, funded by the State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). The VUM planning contract will be used to identify solutions to the compounding effects of parking shortages, unsafe conditions along state highways, and busy trails, summits, and other points of interest. The two-year contract is effective immediately and extends through the end of 2024.

Over the next several months, Otak will engage State officials, stakeholders, and the public in outlining desired conditions and management goals for the project areas. Public and stakeholder input will play a key role in helping DEC and Otak develop appropriate management strategies for the High Peaks and Kaaterskill Clove regions. Public meetings will be held as part of the VUM process and dates will be announced at a later time.

For more information, read the press release.

Pictured: Hikers exploring snow-covered Catskill trail. Photo by DEC’s J. Schmid.

Public Input to Develop Draft Recreation Management Plan for South Colton Tract Conservation Easement, St. Lawrence County

The South Colton Tract Conservation Easement contains commercially managed forestland, comprised primarily of a northern hardwood forest and multiple small streams and wetlands. Recreators can currently access the South Colton Tract Conservation Easement by non-motorized means from Morgan Road in South Colton and via a trail on the High Flats State Forest parcel off Donovan Public Forest Access Road in the town of Parishville. Under the conservation easement, DEC owns the rights to maintain roads and trails for motorized use on the property and to permit public hunting, fishing, trapping, camping, paddling, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding. Specific facilities and recreation opportunities will be identified in the draft RMP.

RMPs document natural and human-made resources on conservation easements and are used in planning public recreation consistent with the protection of natural resources and the terms agreed upon in the conservation easement. The draft South Colton Tract RMP will be shared for public comment once completed.

Members of the public are encouraged to provide DEC with suggestions related to the development of the draft South Colton Tract RMP. Suggestions should be submitted by April 21, 2023. You can mail submissions to:

Peter D’Luhosch; Environmental Program Specialist
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
190 Outer Main St.
Suite 103
Potsdam, NY 13676

You can also submit suggestions by emailing r6.ump@dec.ny.gov, or by completing the online survey.

For more information about the South Colton Tract Conservation Easement, visit DEC’s website or read the press release.

Pictured: View of a pond at the South Colton Tract Conservation Easement.

Forest Carbon Markets and Climate Resiliency: Webinar for Forest Landowners on April 12

Are you a forest landowner who would like to learn more about forest carbon, carbon markets, and making your woodland resilient to the effects of climate change? Join Dr. Alexandra Kosiba, the University of Vermont’s Extension Forester in a webinar about:

• forests’ role in absorbing and storing carbon;
• what you can do to increase carbon absorption and storage in your forests; and
• options for selling forest carbon in the carbon markets.

Dr. Kosiba will also discuss steps landowners can take to increase forest resilience by encouraging management actions that help forests adapt to the effects of our changing climate.

Advanced registration for this webinar is required; pre-register now. (Note: you will receive a confirmation email with information about how to join the webinar.) This webinar is designed specifically for forest landowners and is sponsored by the Securing Northeast Forest Carbon Program.

Pictured: Spring forest canopy on a sunny day.

$1.35 Million Available for the Second Round of the Forest Conservation Grant Program

DEC has opened a second round of competitive grants for the Forest Conservation Easements for Land Trusts (FCELT) Grant Program. In partnership with the Land Trust Alliance, a total of $1.35 million in grant funding is available for eligible, accredited land trusts to purchase conservation easements on forested land for the purpose of protecting these lands from future development. The goal of the grant program is to increase the pace of forest land conservation and combat climate change. Funding for the grant program is provided by the State's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).

Applicants may apply for up to $350,000 to fund the acquisition of conservation easements on forest land in New York State. To apply, a 25 percent match of grant funding is required and land trusts must be accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.

The program has a two-step application process which includes a pre-application and a full application. Pre-applications are now being accepted and are due by May 11, 2023. For more information about this grant opportunity, visit the FCELT webpage and read the press release.

Urban and Community Forestry Corner

Upcoming Events

Information Session for Round 16 of Urban and Community Forestry Grants (Virtual) – March 29 from 9:00-10:30 a.m.
DEC’s Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Program will be hosting an informational webinar in advance of the anticipated release of the Round 16 UCF Grant Request for Applications this spring. The information session will include changes since the last round of the grant, disadvantaged community criteria, partnerships, application requirements, and time dedicated for questions for prospective grant applicants. Registration is required for this free information session; register for the Webex in advance.

“Caring for Community Trees and Greenspaces – Ways to Volunteer” (In-person event) – April 19 from 12:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m. at Fordham University
Community organizations around the Bronx are seeking volunteers to help with tree plantings, tree care, community gardens, and other urban green spaces. Come learn about projects going on in your area and the organizations coordinating them, then get involved by signing up to participate in upcoming spring and summer activities. Register for this free event. Please note, proof of vaccination or exemption is required for this event.

Electrical Hazard Awareness Training (In-person workshop) – April 20 from 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. at the Italian American Community Center of Rochester
Dr. John Ball returns for this annual safety training on electrical hazards. This full-day, interactive training will cover a range of safety-related topics essential for arborists working near energized overhead power lines.

This workshop will provide a certificate of attendance in partial fulfillment of the OSHA and Z133 training requirements for arborists working 10 feet or closer to energized conductors. This workshop will NOT satisfy EHAP Certification. This course is preapproved for 5.5 credits with TCIA’s Certified Tree Care Safety Professional program. Credits for ISA arborist certifications are pending approvals.

The training is $75 for non-members and $55 for Council and ReLeaf members and includes lunch. Register in advance for this workshop.

Save the date: 2023 ReLeaf Conference– July 20–22 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY
Mark your calendars for the annual ReLeaf conference with this year’s theme of “Keeping trees in mind: planning for a better tomorrow”. We’re excited to announce our keynote speaker Dan Lambe, CEO of the Arbor Day Foundation, inspiring us to “Be Bold” as we strive to make significant impacts in our communities by caring for urban trees. Registration opens in May.

After a 29-year hiatus, the Village of Ardsley reclaimed Tree City USA status in 2022. For Arbor Day 2022, Ardsley celebrated with a tree planting with local scout groups and a reading of their Arbor Day Proclamation. Welcome back as a Tree City USA Village of Ardsley!

Municipalities are encouraged to reapply every year to be Tree City USA communities as long as they meet the requirements: have a tree ordinance, a tree advisory board, spend $2 per capita on trees, and an Arbor Day celebration.

Pictured: Girl Scouts planting a tree for the Village of Ardsley’s Arbor Day celebration in 2022.

Take the Kiosk Survey: We Value Your Input!

Give us your feedback and win a gift card to a sporting goods store! DEC would like your opinion on our informational kiosks. Kiosks are small, open, wooden structures that provide cover for educational/informational signs. These kiosks are located at various state properties such as state forests, wilderness areas, conservation easement lands, wildlife management areas, boat launches, and more. Take our survey to let us know what you think and be entered to win a $50 sporting goods store gift card and a free subscription to the Conservationist magazine! Winners will be announced each month through Jan. 2024. A grand prize winner will be announced in Jan. 2024 and will receive a $200 sporting goods store gift card and a free Conservationist magazine subscription. By providing input, you can help us improve your outdoor experience! For prize rules and regulations, please visit DEC's website.