Forest Preserve Advocates Applaud 2024–25 Final Budget

April 24, 2024 – Albany, NY Forty-four organizations and municipalities advocating for New York’s Forest Preserves applaud the New York State legislature and Governor Hochul for prioritizing New York’s wild lands in the state budget. The final budget includes a historic $10 million investment in the Forest Preserve Parks through the Environmental Protection Fund’s (EPF) State Land Stewardship line. Additionally, the governor and legislature continued to support New York’s air, water, forests, and farms by appropriating $400 million to the EPF. The state’s leaders also held fast to the intent and integrity of the fund by rejecting proposals to “sweep” EPF dollars into other programs or fund agency staff lines out of this integral project fund.

The Forest Preserve Parks—the Catskills and Adirondacks—are a unique and essential component of New York State’s natural heritage. They consist of over three million acres of public lands that are protected and managed by the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). These lands include pristine forests, lakes, and rivers, as well as high peaks that offer some of the best outdoor recreation opportunities in the Northeast. The Forest Preserve Parks also include over three million acres of private land with communities, towns and villages, and private conservation easement lands, many open for public recreation.

The Forest Preserve Parks are an essential component of New York State’s economy, generating $3 billion in annual economic activity and supporting thousands of jobs. They also provide critical ecological services, including watershed protection, carbon sequestration, and habitat for endangered and threatened species. The $10 million allocation will be used to support a wide range of activities that enhance the Forest Preserve’s protection and accessibility, including trail maintenance and construction, and educational outreach. 

Also included in the state budget was a $1 million investment in Adirondack and Catskill Visitor and Interpretive Centers, including the Catskills Visitor Center, Paul Smith’s College Visitor Interpretive Center, the SUNY ESF Adirondack Interpretive Center, and Adirondack Mountain Club’s Visitor Centers—the High Peaks Information Center and the Cascade Welcome Center. Continued funding was also provided for Camp Santanoni, and for the Parks and Trails New York EPF Stewardship grant program which funds parks and trails projects across the state.

The group also applauds $380,000 for science and monitoring facilities including Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute, and the Atmospheric Science Research Center’s Whiteface Mountain Field Station. Continued funding for the Timbuctoo Pipeline Summer Climate and Careers Institute, the consortium-based Survey of Climate Change and Adirondack Lake Ecosystems (SCALE) project, as well as to manage invasive species including Hemlock Wooly Adelgid are also budget highlights that will ensure continued efforts to protect the Forest Preserve now and for the next generation.

Support for communities of the Catskills and Adirondacks was also included in the final budget through state-wide funding for Clean Water Infrastructure, Climate Smart Communities, Smart Growth, and Connect Kids grants. The group is also very pleased to see continued and increased investment in diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility programs in the Forest Preserve to ensure we work together so that outdoor spaces are places where all feel welcome, safe, and that they belong.

Statements from the Group

Peg Olsen, The Nature Conservancy’s Adirondack Director said, “The Nature Conservancy thanks New York State legislators for protecting the integrity of the Environmental Protection Fund and including $10 million in the state budget for visitor safety and wilderness protection in the Catskill and Adirondack Parks. Our forest preserves provide clean air and water, wildlife habitat, carbon storage, and incredible recreation opportunities for millions of New Yorkers. We applaud the state’s investments in protecting these beloved landscapes and creating safe, accessible access to the great outdoors.”

”We wish to share our appreciation of the Senate and Assembly for their work to ensure that funding for ADK’s visitor centers was restored and increased in the final budget,” said Michael Barrett, ADK Executive Director. “The funding for visitor centers is critical to protecting the Forest Preserve, and to promote responsible outdoor recreation for safe, high-quality outdoor experiences.”

“The Catskill and Adirondack Forest Preserves stand as the cornerstones of New York’s natural heritage, deserving of consistent, dedicated funding to guarantee their continued preservation and enhancement. Our Forest Preserves not only provide opportunities for recreation and the appreciation of nature, but also play a critical role in safeguarding clean water, supporting biodiversity, and mitigating the impacts of a changing climate,” said Jeff Senterman, Executive Director of the Catskill Center. “We are thankful that Governor Hochul and the NYS Legislature have recognized this vital need and have committed to retaining the annual Forest Preserve funding at its highest level yet.”

“Governor Hochul and the entire NYS Legislature demonstrated an unwavering commitment to prioritizing the protection and preservation of the Catskill and Adirondack Forest Preserves within the Environmental Protection Fund and the state budget,” said Ramsay Adams, Catskill Mountainkeeper’s Executive Director. “This $10 million investment to address issues related to increased visitor use, dedicated funding for research, and boots-on-the-ground stewardship programs marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing work to safeguard the Catskills.”

“The Adirondack Council is pleased that Legislative Leaders worked with the Governor to increase Forest Preserve stewardship funding to $10 million dollars,” said Adirondack Council Executive Director Raul J. Aguirre. “Safeguarding and stewarding our world class wilderness and wildlands in the Catskills and Adirondack Forest Preserve is a paramount concern for both regions and vital to the overall ecological integrity of these world class Parks. We also applaud the funding of key Adirondack priorities such as the  Survey of Climate Change and Adirondack Lake Ecosystems (SCALE), the Adirondack Diversity Initiative (ADI) and the Timbuctoo Summer Climate Careers Institute.”

“Adirondack Wilderness Advocates was pleased to see funding for our visitor centers,” said Adirondack Wilderness Associates Board Chair Pete Nelson.  “They play an essential role in helping visitors have the information, preparation and education they need to safely enjoy their adventures in our woods and on our waters.  That’s a critical part of protecting the Forest Preserve. Not only that, but our visitor centers are laboratories for good science, data collection and visitor use management practices that help the State and stakeholders best manage our beautiful wild places.”

“We are grateful for the inclusion of several critical items in the final state budget, as these accurate investments help preserve the natural integrity of the Catskill and Adirondack Parks while supporting their roles as economic drivers,” remarked Peter Manning, Executive Director of the Catskill Mountain Club.

“The Adirondack Forty-Sixers applaud the commitment to our Forest Preserves in the Adirondacks and Catskills that was evident in the approvals in the final NYS budget Environmental Protection Fund State Land Stewardship line. Continued protection of these magnificent resources is greatly appreciated and must remain a priority,” said Laurie Rankin, President of the Adirondack Forty-Sixers.

“Each year, millions of visitors flock to Forest Preserve trails and their surrounding communities.  Stewardship funding is essential to ensure this visitation remains safe and sustainable, without damaging the lands these beloved trails pass through,” said Joshua Howard, Executive Director of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference.

“Stewardship of New York’s natural lands requires an annual commitment to the changing environment. The decision to include funding for increased visitation and best management practices is a big step in the right direction for this year’s budget,” said Andy Mossey, Executive Director of the Woodstock Land Conservancy.

“This year’s state budget provides crucial support for our Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserves. Funds for Adirondack Architectural Heritage to implement fire suppression at Great Camp Santanoni, New York State’s only publicly-owned great camp and a National Historic Landmark, will ensure that the site remains for generations to come,” said Erin Tobin, Executive Director of the Adirondack Architectural Heritage.

“Increased funding for science and monitoring to support park management in a time of a changing climate and increased use is a real victory for the Catskills and Adirondacks,” said Joshua Ginsberg, President of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies.

“In the Adirondack and Catskill Parks, it is deeply felt and true that human and natural communities are inseparably joined together. These parks are the lungs of New York, and climate stabilizers. Stewardship, the intergenerational responsibility we all have for care of these public and private lands and waters, is amply reflected in this year’s budget,” said David Gibson, Managing Partner of Adirondack Wild: Friends of the Forest Preserve. “We join in thanking the State Legislators and the Governor for placing Park stewardship near the top of the state’s budget agenda.”

“The future we are investing in must include not just investments in the landscape, but also in the people who will study, protect, enjoy and draw inspiration from that landscape. And not just the Adirondacks, but all of our beautiful State.  We cannot invest in the one without the other, and ESF is especially grateful and excited for the continued funding support for the Timbuctoo Climate Science and Careers Institute, which is so closely focused on investing in the next generation of environmental stewards across New York,” said Paul B. Hai, Associate Director at ESF’s Newcomb Campus and Director of the Timbuctoo Institute.

“We are immensely grateful to the Governor and legislature for their recognition of the vital role that Paul Smith’s College plays in the stewardship of New York State,” said Dan Kelting, President of Paul Smith’s College. “With this gracious support, we eagerly anticipate furthering our mission of research and education.”

“We commend Governor Hochul and the State Legislature for responding to the strong public demand for continued investment in our precious public lands.  As visitation grows, so does our understanding of the myriad ways these investments return major value to local communities and local economies,” said Paul Steely White, Executive Director of Parks & Trails New York. “We look forward to working with our statewide partners to maximize the impact of EPF funded programs so that all New Yorkers have access to the benefits of nature.”

“Everyone is to be commended for their hard work and commitment to ensuring the Forest Preserves are well funded.  Scenic byways are the arteries that move visitors through the Parks and we look forward to building their capacities through this historic funding to meet the growing demands of visitors and motorists,” remarked David Kukle, President of the Mountain Cloves Scenic Byway.

“As a scientific organization on the frontlines of environmental monitoring in NY state, we are greatly appreciative of the unwavering support in advancing science and monitoring, illuminating the path towards informed decision-making and sustainable progress,” said Scott McKim, Science Manager at the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center’s Whiteface Mountain Field Station.