New York

The Conservation Fund helped conserve working forests in New York, New Hampshire and Vermont on the lands formerly owned by Champion Paper Company. Efforts began in 1999 with the conservation of 144,000 acres of forestland in Adirondack State Park. Conservation efforts continued until 2005 when the Fund and its partners conserved an additional 257,000 acres of working forests in the park—one of the largest land conservation projects in New York state history.

DEC is proud to partner with The Conservation Fund to increase recreational access and continue sustainable forestry on these parcels so that we can further build upon our state's commitment to land preservation, public access, and supporting local economies.

- Denise M. Sheehan, Commissioner, New York Department of Environmental Conservation

Summary

The Lyme Timber Company, state of New York and The Conservation Fund completed a multi-year effort to acquire conservation easements on approximately 257,000 acres of working forestland in Adirondack State Park. The protected lands conserve sensitive wildlife habitat, protect water quality and serve as sustainably-managed, working forests to benefit the Adirondack Region’s economy.

Challenge

In recent years, more than 10 million acres of private forests, including areas throughout the Northeast, have been placed on the market. Timber companies have increasingly divested themselves of lands that for decades formed the basis of the Adirondack economy and provided wildlife habitat, making these areas vulnerable to fragmentation and development for non-forest uses.

Solution

The Conservation Fund worked as the lead environmental partner on behalf of the state of New York to assess the project area’s natural resources, provide land-use recommendations and structure the conditions of the conservation easement. The Fund also provided financial risk capital to support the state’s purchase of the easement. Private support was provided by Richard King Mellon Foundation and ACE Group.

Results

The newly conserved forestland will remain largely in private ownership, and will be managed according to Sustainable Forestry Initiative standards. The agreement restricts future development and subdivision on the property and provides for certain defined public access rights on specific portions. In addition, the project will maintain open space in the park; create new camping, hiking and other public recreation opportunities; protect major river corridors, including the St. Regis, Kunjamuck and Sacandaga and conserve critical wildlife habitat for spruce grouse, endangered bats and several rare plant bogs.