New York State Forest Action Plan DECEMBER 2020
Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor | Basil Seggos, Commissioner
Contents
Acknowledgments ...... iv Planning team, DEC’s Division of Lands and Forests ...... iv New York State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee ...... vi Glossary of Terms ...... ix Abbreviations ...... xiii Introduction ...... 1 Organization of the Plan ...... 2 GOAL #1: Keep New York’s Forests as Forests ...... 3 Assessment: New York’s forested landcover ...... 4 Assessment: Private forestlands ...... 5 Assessment: Forested State Lands ...... 9 Assessment: Urban and community forests...... 11 Assessment: Federal lands with significant forests ...... 12 Assessment: Land use trends and drivers of forestland conversion ...... 13 Assessment: Effects of a changing climate and environment on New York’s forests ...... 14 Assessment: Valuing forests for carbon storage and community adaptation to climate change ...... 18 Assessment: Open Space Conservation Plan for forest protection ...... 19 Assessment: Public land purchases for forest protection ...... 21 Assessment: Conservation easements for forest protection ...... 22 Priority Landscapes: Forest Legacy Program ...... 22 Priority Landscapes: Metropolitan, urban, and suburban areas ...... 24 Focus Area: Private forestland protection and management ...... 25 Focus Area: Private Forest Stewardship Program ...... 26 Focus Area: Indian Nations in our state ...... 29 Strategy: Actively pursue afforestation and forest restoration efforts ...... 30 Strategy: Maintain and restore connectivity between fragmented and parcelized forestland ...... 31 Strategy: Establish buffers for existing protected forests through partnerships ...... 33 Strategy: Promote more community-owned forests in urban and suburban areas...... 34 Strategy: Help private landowners keep and manage their forests sustainably ...... 35 Strategy: Continue research and assessment efforts to document forest resources ...... 36 Strategy: Understand and respond to negative effects of climate change on forests ...... 36 GOAL #2: Keep New York’s Forests Healthy ...... 39 Assessment: Forest health affected by potentially damaging agents ...... 39 Assessment: Forest regeneration ...... 42 Assessment: Status of forest biodiversity ...... 46 Assessment: Connectivity of forests ...... 52 Assessment: Soil resources in forests ...... 53 Assessment: Forest health monitoring ...... 55
NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | Contents i
Focus Area: Urban forest health ...... 56 Strategy: Foster diversity of native plants and animals in forests ...... 56 Strategy: Boost forest regeneration and healthy forest structure...... 57 Strategy: Defend against, remove, or mitigate impacts of invasive species and pests ...... 58 Strategy: Manage forest fires for the benefit of forests ...... 61 Strategy: Cooperatively implement indigenous knowledge for forest health ...... 61 Strategy: Help private forest owners keep their forests healthy ...... 62 Strategy: Continue forest health-related research initiatives ...... 64 GOAL #3: Increase Forest Benefits for Humans and All Living Creatures ...... 65 Assessment: Forest protection for drinking water quality and supply ...... 65 Assessment: Benefits of urban tree canopy and green infrastructure ...... 67 Assessment: Health, safety, and other benefits from forests...... 68 Assessment: Productive capacity of timberlands ...... 70 Assessment: Costs of forest management ...... 73 Assessment: Economic impact of New York’s forests ...... 73 Assessment: Forest product manufacturing ...... 74 Assessment: Forest-based public outdoor recreation opportunities ...... 78 Assessment: Economic benefits of outdoor recreation ...... 80 Priority Landscapes: Recreational hotspots and long-distance trails ...... 81 Priority Landscape: Urban areas and urban forests ...... 82 Focus Area: Forests and cultural resources ...... 84 Focus Area: Resources and tenure rights of indigenous peoples ...... 84 Focus Area: Managing wildfires and communities at wildfire risk ...... 86 Strategy: Manage forest fires for public safety and benefit ...... 90 Strategy: Conserve and manage working forests for multiple values and uses ...... 91 Strategy: Manage forests for sustainable recreation opportunities ...... 91 Strategy: Support forest management as a climate change mitigation and adaptation strategy ...... 92 Strategy: Support the natural benefits forests provide to people ...... 94 Strategy: Support, maintain, and develop sustainable markets for sustainable forest products ...... 97 Strategy: Recognize indigenous peoples’ use of and care for forests ...... 98 GOAL #4: Appreciate, Support, and Protect New York’s Forests...... 99 Assessment: Planning, zoning, and policies for resilience and forest protection ...... 99 Assessment: Economic framework for sustainable private forestry ...... 102 Assessment: Unsustainable or exploitative harvesting practices ...... 102 Assessment: Legal and institutional framework for state-owned forest protection ...... 103 Focus Area: Sustainable forestry and BMPs ...... 104 Strategy: Increase incentives to use the latest science in forest management ...... 105 Strategy: Increase technical expertise among forest owners and managers ...... 106 Strategy: Provide access to forest data for cooperative stewardship ...... 107 Strategy: Support local planning and zoning efforts to advance forest conservation ...... 108
ii NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | Contents
Strategy: Enhance legal protections and policy frameworks in support of forestry ...... 110 Strategy: Engage communities about the importance of urban forestry ...... 111 Strategy: Foster public literacy about forest health and sustainable forestry ...... 112 Strategy: Provide forest stewardship support to landowners ...... 113 Strategy: Develop cultural sensitivity training from indigenous peoples ...... 115 Strategy: Manage recreational user impacts in New York's state-owned forests ...... 115 Strategy: Increase institutional capacity, knowledge, and information exchange ...... 116 Multistate Priority Areas and Issues ...... 117 Northern Forest ...... 117 Highlands Region ...... 118 Berkshire-Taconic Landscape ...... 119 Lake Champlain Basin ...... 121 Chesapeake Bay Area ...... 123 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative ...... 124 References ...... 127 Appendix A: Forest Legacy Program’s Assessment of Need ...... 129 Appendix B: Partner and Stakeholder Outreach and Participation ...... 199 Appendix C: Survey of Stakeholders and DEC’s Division of Lands and Forests Staff ...... 203 Appendix D: New York’s Forest and Woodland Community Types ...... 213
NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | Contents iii
iv NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments Many people contributed to New York’s State Planning team, Forest Action Plan in a variety of ways, and we gratefully acknowledge their efforts. Their joint DEC’s Division of hard work resulted in a comprehensive, forward- Lands and Forests looking strategy to keep New York’s forests as forests and thriving in the future. ● Sara Hart, lead planner
Thanks go to the extensive volunteer efforts of ● Jason Drobnack, Stewardship the New York State Forest Stewardship Committee coordinator Committee, whose contributions and support, in ● Barbara Lucas-Wilson partnership with DEC’s hardworking staff, made this Plan possible. The list of the New York State ● Dan Gaidasz Forest Stewardship Committee members can be found on the following page. ● Jeffrey Mapes
In a cooperative effort, the Division of Lands and ● Jerry Carlson Forests worked with and coordinated input from ● Josh Clague the following divisions, agencies, and organizations, as well as other organizations ● Julianna DiBiase and individuals too numerous to list who support New York’s forests: ● Peter Innes, Assistant Division Director
● DEC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife
● DEC’s Office of Climate Change
● DEC’s Division of Forest Protection
● The New York State Natural Heritage Program
● The Center for Native Peoples and Environment at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
● The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Thank you also goes to many DEC staff for their contributions and efforts in bringing the State Forest Action Plan together.
NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | Acknowledgments v
New York State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee Forest Legacy Sub-Committee (In Green), Federal Agencies (In Orange)
Last Name First Name Title Affiliation Email Aguirre Rocci Director of Adirondack Council [email protected] Conservation Bartow John Executive Director ESFPA - Empire State [email protected] Forest Products Assoc. Benedict Les Assistant Director, Saint Regis Mohawk [email protected] Environment Div. Tribe Beringer Peter Forest Stewardship USFS Northeastern [email protected] Coordinator Area Burger Mike Executive Director Audubon New York [email protected] Chase Helen Co-chair Forest Preserve [email protected] Advisory Committee Conners William Chair New York State F&W [email protected] Management Board Davies Robert State Forester and New York State DEC, [email protected] Division Director Division of Lands and Forests Evans Dorothy Director Natural Heritage [email protected] Program Fournier Michael New York NRCS Natural Resources [email protected] State staff forester Conservation Service Galusha Randy Owner, Toad Hill New York Maple [email protected] Maple Farm Producers Hanley Meme New York State Land Trust Alliance [email protected] Program Manager Howard Josh Chief Operating NY NJ Trail Conference [email protected] Officer Keister Susan Consulting Keister Consulting, Inc. [email protected] Forester; Principal LaMonte Alexandra Research Analyst New York State [email protected] (Alex) Association of Counties Logue Christopher Division Director New York State Soil [email protected] and Water Cons. Commission, New York State Ag & Markets, Div. of Plant Industry Malinowski Katie Executive Director Tug Hill Commission [email protected] McLeod, Brett Department Chair Paul Smith Univ., [email protected] PhD Environment & Society Meade Jonathan Associate NPS, Resource [email protected] Regional Director Stewardship & Science Miller Kate Forest Ecologist NPS, Inventory & [email protected] Monitoring Program Newman, David Professor of SUNY ESF, [email protected] PhD Resource Department of Forest Economics and and Natural Resources Policy Management
vi NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | Acknowledgments
Last Name First Name Title Affiliation Email Nichols Allen Director New York Chapter of [email protected] the American Chestnut Foundation Parker Chuck President New York State [email protected] Conservation Council Paul Walt Chair Fish and Wildlife [email protected] Management Board, Region 6 Pavlesich Tom Forestry Program New York City [email protected] Manager Watershed Agricultural Council Prentis Chris Chair NY Tree Farm [email protected] Racette Joe Wildlife Biologist New York State DEC, [email protected] Division of Fish and Wildlife Senterman Jeff Executive Director Catskill Center for [email protected] Conservation Smallidge Peter State Extension Cornell University [email protected] Forester Extension Service Steinmuller Brian Assistant Director New York State A&M, [email protected] Div. of Land & Water Resources, New York State Soil & Water Conservation Comm. Thomas Helen Executive Director New York State Maple [email protected] Producers’ Association Thompson John CRISP Catskill Center for [email protected] Coordinator Conservation Tidball Keith Senior Extension Cornell Univ., Dept of [email protected] Associate & Natural Resources, Assistant Director Cornell Cooperative Extension Trapani Ryan Director of Forest Catskill Forest [email protected] Services Association Tcimpidis Christopher Policy & New York Society of [email protected] Legislative Affairs American Foresters Committee Chair; Consulting Forester Voss Rodger Installation Fort Drum, Public [email protected] Forester Works, Division of Natural Resources Wagner Art President New York Forest [email protected]; Owners Association [email protected] Wolters Elizabeth Deputy Director of NY Farm Bureau [email protected] Public Policy Woodworth Neil Executive Director Adirondack Mountain [email protected] & Counsel Club Zimmerman Chris Forest Restoration The Nature [email protected] Strategy Lead Conservancy New York (TNC NY)
NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | Acknowledgments vii
viii NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | Glossary of Terms
Glossary of Terms
Acid rain – The deposition of a variety of acidic Community Forest – A wooded property pollutants in either wet (e.g., rain, fog, or snow) usually owned by a municipality and managed or dry forms (e.g., gas or dust particles). for a variety of purposes, e.g., recreation, fuel wood, lumber, education, water quality, and Adaptation to climate change – Adjustments other municipal and/or resident benefits. See in ecological, social, or economic systems in also “Urban Forest, Community Forest, Urban response to actual or expected climatic stimuli and Community Forest,” below. and their effects; changes in processes, practices, and structures to moderate potential Connectivity – The degree to which the damages or to benefit from opportunities landscape facilitates or impedes movement associated with climate change. among resource patches.
Afforestation – Planting trees where there have Ecosystem – A natural community (or group of not been any for decades or longer. communities) plus its physical surroundings, including atmosphere, soil, sunlight, and water. Aquifer – A saturated, permeable geologic unit of sediment or rock that can transmit significant Exurban sprawl – Expanding development, quantities of water under ordinary hydraulic parcelization, and forest fragmentation occurring gradients. beyond the suburbs of an urban area.
Basal area – The square footage of land Forest management – The practical application occupied by the cross-sectional area of all tree of biological, quantitative, economic, social, and trunks, including the bark, measured at breast policy principles to the regeneration, utilization, height (4.5 ft above the ground), for a given area and conservation of forests to meet specified of land. goals and objectives while maintaining the productivity of the forest. Best Management Practice – Practice designed to be the most effective and practicable means to Forest Matrix Blocks – Large contiguous areas prevent or minimize environmental degradation, whose size and natural condition allow for the particularly nonpoint source water pollution maintenance of ecological processes, viable (http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/37845.html). occurrences of matrix forest communities, embedded large and small patch communities, Biodiversity – The variety and variability of all and embedded species populations. (NHP) living organisms. Forestland – Land at least 10 percent stocked Biotic – Pertaining to living organisms and their by forest trees of any size, including land that ecological and physiological relations. formerly had such tree cover and that will be Carbon Storage – The long-term isolation of naturally or artificially regenerated. carbon from the atmosphere. Forests – An ecosystem characterized by a more Carbon sequestration – The process of taking or less dense and extensive tree cover, often up or removing carbon dioxide from the consisting of stands varying in characteristics atmosphere so that the carbon is stored in a such as species, composition, structure, age carbon pool other than the atmosphere. class, and associated processes, and commonly including meadows, streams, fish, and wildlife. Clearcut – A harvest in which all or almost all of the trees are removed in one cutting.
NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | Glossary of Terms ix
Fragmentation – A process in which the Recreational Opportunity Spectrum – landscape occupied by a natural community A system for classifying and managing or group of communities is reduced in area, recreation opportunities based on the following subdivided into smaller units, or partitioned by criteria: physical, social, and managerial settings. barriers to movement. The settings can be divided into six (or fewer) categories, including urban, rural with roads, Haudenosaunee – Literally “people living in a natural, semi-primitive motorized, semi-primitive longhouse,” the six nations of Seneca, Cayuga, non-motorized, and primitive categories. Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, and Tuscarora (also known as Iroquois). Regeneration – 1) Tree seedlings or saplings existing in the stand; 2) The act of renewing High-grading – The removal of the most tree cover by establishing young trees naturally commercially valuable trees (by reason of size, or artificially. quality, or species) at the expense of future growth, quality, or financial return, often leaving Resilience – The capacity for a community and a residual stand composed of trees of poor its ecosystem to withstand extreme events and condition or species composition. other forces or risks, quickly recover in the aftermath of a disaster, and develop ongoing Interfering vegetation – Invasive or native adaptability to rapidly changing environmental vegetation that inhibits the establishment or conditions and forces. growth of tree regeneration. Silviculture – The science-based tending and Invertebrates – Animals without a backbone, regenerating of forest stands to realize property such as insects and snails. owner-desired benefits and to sustain them Limits of Acceptable Change – A visitor-use over time. management framework based on the idea that Stewardship – The careful and responsible management should be based on constant administration and management of land and monitoring of a site as well as the objectives associated resources to ensure their availability established for it. for future generations in a healthy condition.
Mitigation for climate change – Action taken to Tree City USA – A community that met the four reduce the severity of climate change by standards established by the Arbor Day reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Foundation and the National Association of Natural community – Also known as ecological State Foresters, aimed to ensure that every community. A group of species that occur qualifying community would have a viable tree together in a particular habitat. management program and that no community would be excluded because of size. Natural community type – The name applied to a natural community that occurs repeatedly Understory – Vegetation below the forest canopy. throughout the landscape, such as “beech- For example, wildflowers and shrubs that grow maple mesic forest” or “dwarf shrub bog.” in a forest under the trees; even small trees below the forest canopy are understory plants. Parcelization – The subdivision of single forest tracts in single ownership into multiple parcels Urban Forest, Community Forest, Urban and with different individual owners. Community Forest – All public and private trees in a town, village, city, or other defined Poletimber – A growing-stock tree at least 5.0 developed area. inches dbh, but smaller than sawtimber size (which is 12” dbh).
x NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | Glossary of Terms
Urban Forestry, Community Forestry, Urban and Community Forestry – The management of urban and community forests for their many benefits: air and water quality, energy savings, environmental health, wildlife habitat, human health, and enhancing the quality of life for urban residents.
Wildfire – An uncontrolled fire spreading through natural or unnatural vegetation.
Working Forests – Forests that are capable of producing crops of timber or wood products and are not withdrawn or precluded from commercial production by law, regulation, or policy. These forests are, or can be, sustainably managed and harvested to produce wood products, often under direct voluntary third-party or regulatory management control, supervision, or certification.
NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | Glossary of Terms xi
xii NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | Abbreviations
Abbreviations
ALB Asian longhorned beetle
APA Adirondack Park Agency
AVID Assessing Vegetation Impacts from Deer
BMP Best Management Practice
CLCPA Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, a NYS 2019 law
DBH Diameter at breast height
DEC New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
EAB Emerald ash borer
ECL Environmental Conservation Law
EPF Environmental Protection Fund
FMU Forest management unit
HWA Hemlock woolly adelgid
ISCMP Invasive Species Comprehensive Management Plan
NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NY)NHP New York Natural Heritage Program
NYS New York State
OPRHP New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
PRISMs Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management
SFAP State Forest Action Plan
SGCN Species of Greatest Conservation Need
SPSFM Strategic Plan for State Forest Management
SUNY ESF State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
SWAP State Wildlife Action Plan
UAV Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
UMP Unit Management Plan
USDA United States Department of Agriculture
WAVE Water Assessments by Volunteer Evaluators
NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | Introduction xiii
xiv NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | Abbreviations
Introduction Three centuries ago, forests dominated the ongoing efforts of the New York State Climate landscape that would one day become the State Action Council to identify strategies, policies, and of New York. As early European settlers cleared regulations to reach the State’s climate goals the land for timber and agriculture, the amount through forest protection and management. This of forests rapidly dwindled to 25 percent of the Plan’s strategies also aim to stimulate public policy state’s area. Soon after the Civil War, concerned that safeguards the irreplaceable value of forests citizens recognized the importance of forests to as climate change mitigators by preventing loss of the state’s economy and the health of its forests to development or infrastructure. residents, and began a movement to preserve Something that has not changed over time is and reestablish forests across the state. Today, the role our State’s forests play in the lives of 60 percent of our state is forested. people. New York is committed to ensuring that The existence and health of New York’s forests are our forests improve our residents’ quality of life, once again at a pivotal moment, according to a including quality of life for those living in 2019 survey of forestry stakeholders (see Appendix communities that have historically borne the C) conducted by the New York State Department of brunt of environmental pollution, known as Environmental Conservation (DEC). Defending our environmental justice communities. DEC forests from invasive plants and insects—identified strongly supports and promotes the principles of as the top priority—requires constant vigilance. diversity, equity, and inclusion, and creating new Excessive forest clearing and fragmentation remain ways to connect communities of color and concerns, particularly in suburban areas. In many underserved communities to forestland is a parts of the state, forest regeneration continues to priority. Our natural resources are for everyone, worsen, leaving tracts of forests without young and we will continue our efforts to build bridges, trees to continue the forest life cycle. literally and figuratively, so that the benefits are accessible and shared by all New Yorkers. New York’s forests are poised to realize their full potential as part of the climate change solution. The value of forests encompasses all the The value of our forests to naturally mitigate the irreplaceable life-giving and life-enhancing effects of climate change is immense; they are benefits they provide. Managing our forests the only large-scale, perpetual means on land for the long-term will ensure that the citizens of our state, and the entire global community, for removing global CO2 from the atmosphere. continue to experience the vital benefits of The recommendations in this State Forest Action forests, including the protection of our water Plan (Plan or SFAP) outline the actions to be taken and air, the conservation of wildlife habitat, and to ensure New York’s forests are prepared for the the employment of thousands of people in the challenges and opportunities of the next 10 years. forest products, outdoor recreation, and The Plan provides an important framework for the tourism industries. New York State’s Climate Goals Under the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), New York State is committed to eliminating greenhouse gas emissions in the state and to ultimately achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Forests and forest products are critically vital resources for reducing total carbon emission levels through carbon sequestration. In addition, State agencies are committed to making sure all programs consider the future physical risks from climate change and take action to minimize these risks in order to protect New Yorkers and our environment.
NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | Introduction 1
Organization of the Plan
Forests as 1. Keep New York’s forests as forests Forests (“Forests as Forests”)
People for FOREST Healthy 2. Keep New York’s forests healthy (“Healthy Forests ACTION Forests Forests”) PLAN 3. Ensure forests benefit humans and all living Forests for People creatures (“Forests for People”)
4. Support, protect, and appreciate New York’s This New York State Forest Action Plan is a 10-year forests (“People for Forests”) strategic plan for DEC and New York’s forestry community. The purpose of the Plan is to provide The Plan is dedicated to these four goals, with long‐term, comprehensive, coordinated strategies the following subsections under each goal: for addressing the challenges facing New York’s ● Assessments of current conditions, forests today, and to identify ways to invest trends, and threats related to various state, federal, and leveraged partner resources aspects of forests and forestry programs in in major management and landscape priorities. New York; The Plan also reflects a growing partnership with ● Priority Landscapes or geographic the Indian Nations of this region. In recent years, areas of the state where resources will DEC has dedicated additional resources to be focused; improving the dialogue with indigenous people, including gaining a better understanding of how ● Priority Focus Areas or programs their traditions, cultures, and rights are impacted that will be administered and where by the state’s land management policies. The resources will be focused; and SFAP takes the next step by proposing that ● Strategies for achieving the goals for future management and policy decisions New York’s forests. incorporate these indigenous values and commit to an increased level of engagement. Throughout the discussion of the four goals, especially in the strategies, the Plan specifies The impetus for the SFAP lies in the federal the myriad of resources necessary to achieve Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act (CFAA)— these goals, including additional research and amended by the 2008 Farm Bill—which requires monitoring, new or expanded programs and each state forestry agency to develop initiatives, enhanced partnerships and staffing, “Statewide Assessment and Strategies for more training, better communication and Forest Resources,” collectively referred to as outreach, and, of course, dedicated federal- and the State Forest Action Plan. The U.S. Forest state-level funding sources to secure these Service established three national priorities to resources and implement the outlined strategies. be addressed by each state’s plan: To reach the ambitious goals and opportunities 1. Conserve and manage working forest set forth in the Plan, our state government, landscapes for multiple values and uses; industry leaders, not-for-profit organizations, and 2. Protect forests from threats; and residents all need to develop policies and/or devote resources to help private landowners 3. Enhance public benefits from trees manage their 14 million acres of forestlands. and forests. The Plan also includes multistate priorities and New York’s Plan builds on these three national incorporates the New York State Wildlife Action priorities and identifies four primary goals for our Plan and Community Wildfire Protection Plan. forests (see diagram above):
2 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | Introduction
GOAL #1: Keep New York’s Forests as Forests “Don’t let forests be the forgotten solution.”
JANE GOODALL
New York State is fortunate to have more than stewardship efforts for sustainable forest 18.7 million acres of forestland—almost 1 acre management and to regenerate forests all help for every state resident—covering 63 percent of our New York to “conserve and manage working state. In part, due to its size, New York continues to forest landscapes for multiple values and uses.” have the most total forestland in the Northeast. Our efforts to protect forests through a variety of tools (purchase of lands and easements, According to recent data released by the U.S. partnerships, research, community forestry, Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service’s etc.) all “protect forests from threats” such as Forest Inventory and Analysis Program (FIA), fragmentation, conversion, and loss of native there was a slight net forest loss in New York biodiversity. “Enhancing public benefits from State of about one percent from 2012 to 2018. trees and forests” is inherent in every strategy This marks the first decline in forest cover since and is explicitly developed in the subsequent the turn of the twentieth century. The strategies three goals of this Plan. outlined in this goal are designed to maintain a no net loss of forests in New York. Many of these initiatives are focused on helping New York’s private forest owners sustainably The Plan’s first overarching goal—keep manage the nearly 14 million acres of private New York’s forests as forests—supports all forestland in our state. Keeping forests as three National State & Private Forestry (S&PF) forests largely depends on them. Priorities. Our strategies to enhance New York’s
Map of New York State’s forested habitat types
NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | GOAL #1: Keep New York’s Forests as Forests 3
Assessment: New York’s forested landcover
The most heavily forested parts of the state remain Specifically, the lack of early successional the Western Adirondack, Eastern Adirondack, and stages has led to the decline in bird populations, Adirondack units. (see map below). Other large such as the golden-winged warbler, whip-poor- forest blocks include the Catskill Park and will, Canada warbler, yellow-breasted chat, Allegany area (in the Southwest Highlands unit). American woodcock, and ruffed grouse. Forest composition and structure This condition can be due to the prevailing timber management methods utilized in the New York’s forests are almost entirely of natural state or the lack of timber management, the origin, meaning that they developed from seed slowdown in acres reverting from an idle dispersed by surrounding mature forest or from condition into a forested condition, and the high seed sources stored in the soil. Over 100 species value of agricultural land remaining in cultivation. of trees (commercial and non-commercial) populate New York’s forests. New York’s Timberland is defined by the USDA’s Forest forestland continues to be dominated by the Service’s Forest Inventory and Analysis maple/beech/birch group (55 percent), followed Program (FIA) as forestland producing or by the oak/hickory group (18 percent), with the capable of producing crops of industrial wood remaining types each having less than 10 percent (more than 20 cubic feet per acre per year) and of the remaining area. The maple/beech/birch not withdrawn from timber utilization (i.e., not type can be found in all inventory units across in reserved forest status). Approximately the state, but it is most prevalent in the Eastern 83 percent of all forestland in New York is Adirondack unit (71 percent). Oak/hickory is currently considered timberland. This is an most ubiquitous in the Lake Plain, Capital important distinction to make for policymakers, District, and Catskill Lower Hudson units, where landowners, and land managers, as this is the the maple/beech/birch type are least dominant. percentage of forest resource that potentially could produce timber. Approximately 66 percent of New York’s forests are in a large-diameter size class (minimum 11.0-inch dbh for hardwoods and 9.0- inch dbh for softwoods); 25 percent are classified as medium-diameter size class; (5.0- to 10.9-inch dbh. for hardwoods and 5.0- to 8.9- inch dbh for softwoods); only 8 percent are in a stage where seedling- and sapling-size trees (less than 5.0--inch dbh) predominate. This indicates that New York’s forests are growing and maturing. The low percentage of seedling- and sapling-size trees can affect the balance of other forest attributes, such as wildlife populations.
Map of New York State’s Inventory Units, U.S. Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis Program
4 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | GOAL #1: Keep New York’s Forests as Forests
Privately owned forestlands cover constitutionally protected from harvesting and 13.62 million acres and represent 74 percent active management, and state park lands of New York’s forests. 10.2 million acres are in New York are protected, by policy, from considered family-owned or non-corporate commercial tree cutting. forests. Nearly 700,000 private forest landowners provide the public with the benefits DEC manages more than 787,000 acres of state of clean air and water, carbon sequestration, forests. State forests are located throughout wildlife habitat, and a forest-based economy. New York State—excluding the Adirondack and Approximately 187,000 landowners own 10 Catskill Preserves—and include reforestation acres of forestland or more. In total, this group areas, multiple-use areas, unique areas, nature owns an aggregate of 9.2 million acres on which preserves, and historic preserves. On some of it is most practical to conduct forest stewardship these lands, timber management is used as a and forest management activities. tool to enhance biodiversity and to create habitat features that might be lacking in the landscape. State-owned forestlands. Since 1885, Managed state forests provide timber for various New York State has invested in acquiring and markets and jobs ranging from logging to finish managing a significant amount of forested land carpentry. Timber harvesting also creates in all regions of the state. These state lands additional financial opportunities. are held as state forests, wildlife management Less than 1 million acres of forests originated areas, forest preserve, and state parks— as plantations, mostly planted by various each designation providing its own unique and landowners from the 1930s through 1970s. complementary benefits, values, and public Approximately 350,000 acres of these good. The Adirondack and Catskill Forest plantations exist on state reforestation, unique, Preserve (managed by DEC) and the New York and wildlife management areas. The number of State Park System (managed by OPRHP) acres planted has waned substantially in recent provide nearly 3.1 million acres of mostly decades, and some older plantations are being forested open space on which timber harvesting converted back to a natural forest condition. is not allowed. Forest preserve lands are Assessment: Private forestlands
Family forest owners hold 75 percent of all Family forest owners find it increasingly difficult private forestland and 56 percent of total to keep and manage their forests as forests. forestland in the state. Other private owners, The reasons for these difficulties are numerous. including corporations and conservation There are many economic factors related to organizations, as well as unincorporated clubs the costs of buying, holding, and managing and partnerships, own the remaining 25 percent forestland. Property values, mortgage interest of private land in the state. The amount of rates, taxes, costs of management, and acreage classified as family forest decreased management services are all important drivers. by 880,000 acres from 2006 through 2017, Local, national, and global market factors also representing a 6 percent decline. The number affect the returns from direct investments in of family ownerships also fell by an estimated forestlands. Availability and viability of buyers and 11.9 percent. consumer trends for all manner of forest products, market preferences, and housing starts all Clearly, the future of New York’s influence wood markets and economic returns. forests and the benefits they According to the National Woodland Owners provide lies primarily in the Survey (NWOS), responding landowners ranked hands of private forest scenic beauty (97%), wildlife habitat (94%), and landowners. privacy (88%) as reasons why family forest
NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | GOAL #1: Keep New York’s Forests as Forests 5
owners in New York own their lands. Managing Tax Law seeks to address this issue; however, specifically for forest products ranked fairly low not all forest landowners are eligible, and many (48%) as a reason that landowners own land in have different goals for their forestland than the New York. However, advice on timber law currently provides. Other ownership costs, management was the number-one reason including maintaining boundary lines and landowners sought the advice of a forester. Most property security, preparing and following often, harvests are conducted out of financial management plans, timber stand improvement, necessity or opportunity, without assistance from and invasive species control, as well as a forester or the guidance of a forest developing and maintaining forest infrastructure, management plan. also add up and increase over time.
Many landowners created limited liability The lack of professional forest management corporations (LLCs) as legal protection for their on private forestlands is a threat to the long- assets, including forestland. This could explain term economic viability and health of private some of the rise in the number of acres forests. All too often, decisions about harvesting categorized as corporate. These LLCs essentially are made when opportunity arises, without the operate as family forests; however, it is difficult assistance of a forester. Only 25 percent of to differentiate between this category and true private landowners have used a forester corporate ownership, such as a timber investment (NWOS, 2017). Harvesting as directed by a management organization or lumber company. professional forester can be an important tool to manage for many goals, such as wildlife habitat, Regulatory factors can affect what family forest privacy, or maintaining a resilient forest. owners can and cannot do with their forests, and the benefits they might receive from them. Even if a landowner is not planning a harvest, an Societal factors come into play as the attitudes examination of a woodlot can lead to early of neighbors and others who do not own detection of forest health issues, including the forestland weigh in on whether they support or detection of invasive species. This can help even accept tree cutting within their sight or protect the forest resource from damage and knowledge. Ultimately, some factors are help landowners avoid financial loss or incurring individual, related to the age of the forest owners, expensive treatments to protect their woodlot. their personal and financial situations, and the Having a professional forester involved in forest interest of their heirs in owning the family forests management activities on private land increases and keeping them as forested open spaces. the likelihood of deliberate forest management with long-term goals that are addressed with Threats the landowner.
Increasing property ownership burdens, The availability of forest product markets is especially the traditional practice of assessing the single most important driver of active forest land for “highest and best use” when management on working private forest. Once determining local property taxes, are a concern the decision to conduct forestry activities is to many landowners. This makes buying, made, the ability of a forest landowner to profit holding, and maintaining forestland expensive from the sale of forest products often dictates if for private residents and can pressure current a treatment can be completed and how that owners to sell their forest to capture that value treatment is executed. In other words, “No and reallocate the assets into other investments Markets, No Stewardship.” If there is a lack of or uses. low-grade markets, the landowner’s ability to conduct some prescribed forestry treatments is When forests are valued or assessed for their diminished because the cost of cutting and/or “highest and best use,” that use is generally not removing low-grade material is not offset by the considered to be as forest. New York’s Forest ability to sell those products. This leads to less
6 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | GOAL #1: Keep New York’s Forests as Forests
healthy and productive stands, which not only Competing and incompatible land uses are will be worth less economically in the future, but also increasing threats to forest retention and also will be more susceptible to forest pests and the protection of lasting forest benefits and disease. Revenue from timber sales is often values. Various types of energy production used by landowners to help offset the costs of installations and support infrastructure are often ownership as well as stewardship. Without placed in forested areas. Oil and gas exploration diverse, strong forest product markets, a major and extraction have been common across parts tool for managing private forestlands is removed of New York State, and have been impacting from forest landowners and policymakers alike. forest stands for decades. Exploration and extraction, with their associated road State and federal income tax policies that construction, well-site clearing, and favor or support development and land-use transportation pipeline development, can impact change away from forested open space often the integrity of forests and lead to direct loss in influence or drive behaviors and investments in some cases. In addition, surface mineral ways that conflict with forest retention, especially extraction and the expansion of existing mines the retention of large, unfragmented forest blocks. for sand, gravel, bluestone, or other mineral Federal capital gains tax policies affecting resources may also affect forest retention and timber assets, income, and timber investment integrity through long-term land-use change. tax treatment have also been cited as potential Similar to traditional energy projects, the threats to long-term private forest ownership. increase in demand for renewable energy can also impact forests. Installation of renewable An aging landowner population is illustrated in energy infrastructure in the future may require the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Landowner the clearing of forestland, though proper siting Survey data, and it largely follows overall can minimize risks to forests and maximize the demographic trends. Recent statistics indicate carbon sequestration values forests provide to that the average New York private forest owner the state’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas is 61 years old. Similar to demographic issues emissions. facing farmers and agriculture, our state is rapidly approaching a significant Lack of public awareness and support. intergenerational transfer of forestland The public relies on the ecosystem services that ownership. As estates pass to heirs or are sold private forests provide, but they may be unaware off to cover increased medical expenses of of what it takes to keep private forests as forests aging owners, the descendants of forest owners or the critical role that sustainable forest often do not share the interest in holding onto management plays. The pressures and threats the family forest or practicing sustainable identified above mean that privately owned management. forests won’t always stay as forests, or will be less vigorous, unless landowners can afford to Invasive forest pests also pose significant keep them as such. Laws or local regulations threats to forest retention and other forest values that limit the ability of owners to practice articulated elsewhere in this report. In urban sustainable forest management, or that forests especially, pests like the emerald ash significantly increase the costs of doing so, can borer or Asian longhorned beetle can cause have the opposite result from what was intended. extensive losses of trees and forest canopy. Educating officials and representatives about the Rural forests are also threatened economically important role private forests have in providing a and ecologically by invasives, which have the broad range of economic and ecological benefits potential to wipe out entire tree species. that society receives free of charge from forest landowners is pivotal to advancing effective forest management policies adopted in New York.
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Potential adverse impacts ● Decreased native fish and wildlife populations and habitats; The threats articulated by New York’s forestry stakeholders (see Appendix C) all have the ● Decreased timber production and potential, at their core, to change land use away associated direct and multiplier from forested open space. Even if forests economic activity; remain, they may be impacted in a variety of ● Landowners selling their forestland for ways that reduce their ability or capacity to development; sustainably provide benefits and services. Forested open spaces may be parcelized (i.e., ● Increased fire risk because increased single large ownerships are broken up through housing densities in forested landscapes subdivision and sale into multiple parcels with generate more potential for ignitions, individual owners), fragmented (i.e., solid blocks making firefighting and fire preparedness are broken apart by deforested areas, such as in such areas more difficult, dangerous, farm fields, roads, or developments), or and expensive and restricting available perforated (i.e., smaller holes are punched in a management options for mitigating contiguous forest canopy for dispersed house threats to forestlands; lots). ● Increased wildfire impacts and associated Loss of forestland or changes within forests losses (ecological, social, and economic); can have a wide variety of impacts. New York stakeholders have identified the following ● Changes in scenic qualities and related imminent impacts of concern to New York’s forests: social and economic benefits; and
● Increased risk of introduction and spread ● Changes in the quantity, quality, of invasive species; diversity, and cost of forest-based recreational opportunities. ● Increased tree mortality;
● Reduced water quality and altered hydrology (quantity and flow issues);
● Long-term modifications to, and reductions in, water quality, hydrology, and aquatic diversity;
● Alterations in forest structure and function that can derail ecological processes that forests and forest dwellers depend on;
Map of New York State’s Forests by Ownership
8 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | GOAL #1: Keep New York’s Forests as Forests
Assessment: Forested State Lands
In New York, the majority of State land is in the Protected as “"forever wild” by Article XIV of the following four categories: State forests, forest New York State Constitution, New York's Forest preserve, wildlife management areas, and State Preserve has exceptional scenic, recreational, parks. The first three are managed by DEC, and ecological value. Rugged mountain peaks, while state parks, including historic sites, are remote lakes and ponds, millions of acres of managed by OPRHP. In addition, DEC unfragmented forests, and nearly 2,000 miles of owns/manages working forest conservation trails provide ample opportunity for many types easements on private forestland, and OPRHP of recreation, while also providing a variety of owns/manages conservation easements on habitats for plants and wildlife. Striking a private land for public recreation. balance between recreational use and resource protection in the Forest Preserve is achieved The Forest Preserve: through a park-wide land classification system Adirondack and Catskill Parks and individual unit management plans (UMPs). Additional discussion about the recreational Of the 4.5 million acres of land managed by value of forest preserve lands can be found DEC, nearly 3 million acres, or 63 percent, are under Goal #3. classified as forest preserve. New York’s Forest Preserve is the largest state-designated Forest preserve lands are further broken down wilderness in the country. Comprised of over into categories based on their capacity to 2.6 million acres in the Adirondack Forest withstand use. These categories are defined in Preserve and 287,000 acres in the Catskill the 1987 Adirondack Park State Land Master Forest Preserve, these lands represent the Plan, updated in 2019 (https://www.apa.ny.gov/ majority of all state-owned property in the Documents/Laws_Regs/APSLMP.pdf), and the Adirondack and Catskill Parks. 1985 Catskill Park State Land Master Plan, updated in 2014 (https://www.dec.ny.gov/ The Adirondack and Catskill Parks were docs/lands_forests_pdf/cpslmp.pdf). These designated by the New York State Legislature plans are designed to guide the preservation, near the turn of the twentieth century, and management, and use of state lands within the originally included only the state-owned forest Adirondack and Catskill Parks. They also cover preserve lands. The description of each park such topics as legislative mandates, acquisition was revised in 1912 to include ALL lands, both policy recommendations, UMP development, public and private, within the “Blue Line.” Today, classification guidelines, and area descriptions the Adirondack Park is a 6-million-acre and delineations (wilderness areas, primitive patchwork of public and private lands, while the areas, canoe areas, etc.) Catskill Park is a mountainous region of 705,500 acres comprised of public and private lands. The The land classifications outlined in each two parks are a thriving mix of forests, wetlands, plan include: waterways, and human settlement. Both parks ● Wilderness New York’s Forest Preserve is the largest State-designated ● Wild forest
wilderness in the country. ● Intensive use
● State administrative
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Catskills only State forests are currently dual-Green Certified by The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and ● Primitive bicycle corridor Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) to be Adirondacks only sustainably managed, except for Long Island and New York City, where the state does not ● Canoe hold working forests. The methods used in the management of these lands are designed to ● Primitive respond to today’s complex issues and ● Wild, scenic, and recreational rivers ecological threats, such as shifting land use trends, invasive species, and climate change. ● Travel corridors Over 798,375 acres play a unique role in the ● Historic landscape because they are managed under public ownership by professional foresters, allow State Forests for the sustainable use of natural resources, are open to recreational use, provide watershed The 2010 Strategic Plan for State Forest protection, and cover large land areas across Management (SPSFM) outlines ecosystem the state. management, resource protection, land acquisition and infrastructure, public/permitted State forest unit management plans are use, and forest management and health, as well developed for all state forests. These plans as recreational opportunities. The plan can be address timber management, wildlife habitat, found here: https://www.dec.ny.gov/ open space acquisition, outdoor recreation, lands/64567.html. The SPSFM is currently under recreational use and demand, infrastructure, review for updating. resource protection, funding, and staffing. State forests are located throughout New York, State Parks and State Historic Sites and their classification is based on different priorities for land usage, defined in several 189 state parks and 35 historic sites throughout pieces of legislation (see page 12-14, SPSFM). the state constitute more than 350,000 acres. They include: These parks and historic sites provide many benefits in the form of recreation, environmental ● Reforestation areas education, habitat and biodiversity protection, ● Multiple use areas and many ecosystem benefits. Although not traditional working forests (logging is not allowed ● Unique areas on NYS Parks properties), they provide many environmental, social, and economic benefits, ● State nature and historical preserves and complement DEC’s state forests. Forests, ● Miscellaneous both mature and emerging, are the dominant vegetative cover on OPRHP properties. The 1929 State Reforestation Act and the 1931 Hewitt Amendment provided for the acquisition Economic benefits of state parks lands can of abandoned farmland and overharvested be found at: https://www.ptny.org/application/ woodlands outside of the Forest Preserve. files/6515/0903/5031/Economic-benefits-of- These acres were then planted with seedlings NYS-parks.pdf, and Parks update: from New York State nurseries, often by crews https://parks.ny.gov/documents/publications/NY from the Civilian Conservation Corps. Parks2020UpdateReport.pdf.
10 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | GOAL #1: Keep New York’s Forests as Forests
Wildlife Management Areas Forests cover about 65 percent of the WMA system. Management strives to provide a mosaic The wildlife management area (WMA) system of forest age types and classes, including a consists of nearly 260,000 acres managed sizable young forest component that provides by DEC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife: habitat for a diversity of wildlife that includes (https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8295.html). ruffed grouse, American woodcock, whip-poor- These public lands include 125 wildlife will, golden-winged warbler, New England management areas and 72 multiple use, unique, cottontail, and wild turkey. Older forest types are and cooperative hunting areas throughout the a home for migratory songbirds and raptors, state. The WMA system is managed to provide including eagles and various buteos, falcons, quality wildlife habitat; promote increased and accipiters. All forest habitat types provide productivity of wildlife populations; provide excellent opportunities for wildlife-dependent ample opportunities for hunting, wildlife recreation. Providing habitat for wildlife and observation, trapping, and fishing; and protect public access requires a careful analysis and soil and water quality. balance. DEC is currently preparing habitat and public use plans to guide management of these areas in the future. Assessment: Urban and community forests
The term “urban forest” may sound contradictory to some people, yet our streets, local parks, yards, and greenspaces are where most people We classify land as urban when it reaches a are exposed to trees and their many benefits. certain population density, while community land This connection with the urban forest is how is defined by political boundaries. “US Urban many residents learn to appreciate the benefits Forest Statistics, Values, and Projections” of forests outside their urban setting. (Nowak et al., 2018) provides detailed data for New York State. Urban and community land All of the trees within a town, village, or city constitutes 10.3 percent of New York State. make up the community forest. The community Between 2000-2010, the urban and community forest can include street and yard trees, parks, area increased 7.2 percent. New York’s total cemeteries, golf courses, school grounds, and urban and/or human community area constitutes undeveloped green spaces. Urban and 3.53 million acres. community forestry is the management of community forests to establish and maintain According to “Declining Urban and Community healthy trees for air and water quality benefits, Tree Cover in the United State” (Nowak et al. energy savings, and environmental health, as 2018), tree canopy cover averages 48.6 percent well as to enhance the quality of life in our urban in our state’s urban and community areas, areas, where a majority of our state’s residents totaling 1.315 million acres. Unfortunately, live and work. between 2008 and 2013, the urban canopy cover dropped from 53.4 percent to 52.4 percent, an average statewide loss of We classify land as urban when 6,720 acres of canopy each year. it reaches a certain population density, while community land is defined by political boundaries. Unfortunately, tree canopy cover has been declining in both.
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Assessment: Federal lands with significant forests
The list below only includes federal lands in The purpose of the Plan is to provide New York with significant forest cover, not all management direction to ensure that federal lands in the state. There are additional ecosystems can provide a sustainable flow smaller Wildlife Refuges, National Historic Sites, of beneficial goods and services to the public. etc. that have forested lands. However, they are small or have minor forest cover. Examples are Fish and Wildlife Service: the federal FDR Presidential Library and National Wildlife Refuges Museum and Vanderbilt National Historic Site, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge was or the Montezuma, Iroquois, and Shawangunk established on September 12, 1938, as a refuge Grasslands National Wildlife Refuges, or and breeding ground for migratory birds and DEC’s Tonawanda and Oak Orchard Wildlife other wildlife. The refuge provides resting, Management Areas. feeding, and nesting habitat for waterfowl and Forest Service: National Forests other migratory birds. Montezuma is situated in the middle of one of the most active flight lanes The Finger Lakes National Forest’s Land and in the Atlantic Flyway, at the north end of Resource Management Plan, last revised in Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes Region. The 2006, will guide the management of the Refuge contains 7,068 acres and is situated in Forest for the 2006 to 2021 planning period. Seneca, Wayne, and Cayuga counties.
Map of New York State’s Federal Lands and Indian Reservations
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Department of Defense: the Army training mission and to enhance Military Facilities ecosystem integrity through sound forest management practices. Additional objectives West Point has approximately12,736 acres of include the annual production of commercial forestland. It is the first and currently the only forest products, enhancement of forested Army installation certified by the American Tree habitats to benefit wildlife, protection of Farm System to have and maintain a tree farm, watersheds, and increased opportunities for which has been going strong for 22 years. West outdoor recreation. Forest management on Fort Point is also a Tree City U.S.A. Drum is concerned with maintaining and enhancing the diversity of the forested Fort Drum contains 107,265 total acres. The ecosystem. This diversity allows the trainers primary purpose of the Fort Drum Forest access to different types of land formations and Management Program is to manage the vegetative structures in order to provide optimal installation’s 74,000 forested lands to support conditions for all training scenarios. Assessment: Land use trends and drivers of forestland conversion
Forest parcelization and fragmentation are two The consequences include the spread of land use trends that cause several problems and invasive plant species, which tend to establish result in degraded forest health. Unfortunately, around forest edges, often outcompeting native we expect these trends to continue in New York plants and disrupting entire forest ecosystems. State, at least in the next 10 years. These Parcelization can—and fragmentation does— fragmented landscapes support higher deer result in less interior forest for plants and populations and also make the forest more animals that require this specific habitat. susceptible to invasive species, which further Parcelization also increases the number of undermine forest health. forest landowners and can make the task of managing the forest resources of the state more Parcelization occurs when large parcels of land difficult overall. Stewardship efforts must be of are divided up into smaller ones. Parcelization sufficient scale to target the large number of results in an increase in the number of owners. landowners responsible for managing these Fragmentation occurs when a continuous forest small woodlots. For the forest industry, is broken up by development of roads and homes, parcelization increases costs and the complexity commercial uses, and agricultural purposes. of doing business with private forest owners. For example, instead of negotiating for a timber sale on 200 acres with 1 owner, they may have to work with 5 different owners to access the same timber resource. Forest Loss in New York
According to recent data released by the U.S. Forest Service’s FIA Program, there was a slight net forest loss in New York State of about 1 percent from 2012 to 2017. Around 390,000 acres of gross loss occurred as forestland changed classification to non-forest. Conversely, 250,000 acres reverted back to forestland, Area of forestland by ownership group, meaning that areas once cleared of forests for 2006, 2013, and 2017 (New York Forest, 2017) agriculture are now abandoned and left to
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become forest again. Almost 50% of this gross These changes have more than offset the gains loss can be explained by conversion to that culminated in the maximum extent of agriculture, while more than 30% is attributed to forestland seen in the 2012 inventory, resulting development. However, most of the land in a 1 percent net loss over the past decade. classified as agriculture was defined as idle Gains and losses from multiple causes are agriculture and may not yet meet the U.S. Forest driving land-use change dynamics in New York. Service definition of forestland under the FIA Movement between forest and non-forest sampling regime. classifications may be a result of land meeting or not meeting FIA’s definition of forestland, due to In New York State, parcelization and small changes in understory disturbance, forest fragmentation due to development are extent, or forest cover. Such changes are concentrated around rural-suburban interfaces generally not permanent and may be more in the Hudson Valley bedroom communities and prevalent in stands of small-diameter trees. Long Island, as well as around some upstate Additionally, the definition of forestland changed cities. These forests are generally less healthy or in 2013 from a minimum of 10 percent stocking productive than unfragmented forests and face a to a minimum of 10 percent canopy cover. Over variety of threats, ranging from invasive plants half of the forestland acreage lost to agricultural and pests to overbrowsing by white-tailed deer. land uses (112,000 acres) was classified in the What this means latest inventory as idle farmland, defined as areas taken out of agricultural production but not The net loss of forestland reported in this yet reverted to forestland. It is likely that much of inventory is small, with gross loss of forest the change was due, in part, to procedural partially offset by gross gain. Since the previous changes in forestland classifications rather than inventory, New York has seen a statistically true, on-the-ground land conversion. Monitoring significant loss of forestland, with a 0.29 percent this issue into the next inventory cycle should average annual rate of decline, and a bring clarity to the question about what the true statistically significant gain in non-forest, with a trend is in forest extent. 0.05 percent average annual rate of increase. Assessment: Effects of a changing climate and environment on New York’s forests The New York State ClimAID assessment Threats and challenges to provides an authoritative source of information forest management due to our on climate change for our state, while the U.S. National Climate Assessment provides changing climate additional information for the Northeast region. ● Extreme heat and droughts will limit The Forest Service’s Northern Institute of available water for photosynthesis, which Applied Climate Science developed two will restrict carbon sequestration and assessments of the specific vulnerabilities facing reduce plant productivity. These forest types in our state: the Mid-Atlantic Forest conditions also increase the threat of Ecosystem Vulnerability Assessment and wildfires, which release a significant Synthesis (https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/ amount of carbon. pubs/57325), and the New England and Northern New York Forest Ecosystem ● Frequent heavy rain events will saturate Vulnerability Assessment and Synthesis roots and prevent efficient (https://www.fs.fed.us/nrs/pubs/gtr/ photosynthesis, and also increase gtr_nrs173.pdf). windthrow, limiting carbon sequestration.
14 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | GOAL #1: Keep New York’s Forests as Forests
● By 2100, a warming climate is projected ● Invasive pests and pathogens are a to have increased the growing season by growing threat to the productivity of one month,1 which may increase the total New York’s forests. Warmer amount of carbon sequestered. Yet, temperatures and milder winters allow for earlier budburst puts trees at greater risk faster spread of forest pests. Specifically, of damage from spring frosts. forests of low species diversity are at greatest risk of disturbance. ● An earlier budburst misaligns flowering with the phenology of spring pollinators. ● Temperatures have risen on average This may stunt regeneration and forest 0.25°F per decade over the past century productivity of certain tree species. and are expected to rise across New York by up to 10.1°F by 2080, with ● Changes in climatic conditions are the greatest warming in the northern projected to shift species ranges and regions of the state. This warming alter forest composition: includes an increase in the number of – Many northern and boreal tree species extreme hot days (days at or above will face increasing stress from climate 90°F) and a decrease in the number of change. Boreal species of cold climates cold days (days at or below 32°F). and high elevation (i.e., balsam fir, red ● New York is expected to experience spruce, and black spruce) are at winter precipitation more as rain than greatest risk for decline, as they are snow. On average, winter temperatures projected to lose suitable habitat over have risen more than 4.4°F since 1970.1 2 the next century. Ecosystem models In some areas of the state, the number of agree that northern and boreal tree snow-covered days has already species may be less able to take decreased as much as 20 days. A lack of advantage of longer growing seasons snow cover exposes soil and roots to and warmer temperatures than warm- freezing temperatures. adapted, temperate forest species.
– Populations in isolated and A warming climate brings fragmented landscapes will have additional threats and challenges limited ability to migrate in response for forest management and to a changing climate. conservation that are expected
– Common New York forest species, to amplify almost all stressors including American beech, eastern discussed in this Plan (Goal #2, hemlock, white pine, and yellow birch, Keeping New York’s are expected to experience reduced Forests Healthy). habitat and growing potential. On the other hand, species with southern ranges, such as red maple, northern red oak, black cherry, and American basswood, may expand their suitable range northward.
1 Mid-Atlantic Forest Ecosystem Vulnerability Assessment and Synthesis: A Report from the Mid-Atlantic Climate Change Response Framework Project identifies the vulnerabilities of forest ecosystems in the Mid-Atlantic region. 2 New England and Northern New York Forest Ecosystem Vulnerability Assessment and Synthesis: A Report from the New England Climate Change Response Framework Project identifies forest ecosystem vulnerabilities in New England and northern NY region.
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● Annual average precipitation in New York they are also expected to be more is projected to increase by up to 15 responsive to favorable conditions. percent by the 2080s, with the greatest increases in the northern part of the ● Studies have examined the impact of state. The increased precipitation will not climate change on forest productivity be evenly distributed over the course of within the Mid-Atlantic region, but they the year; much of it is likely to occur disagree on how other factors, such as during the winter months, while slightly species composition, stand age, reduced precipitation is possible for late disturbance, or pollution, may interact to summer and early fall. The recent trend influence productivity. Changes are not of increased heavy downpours and less expected to be consistent within a light precipitation is expected to continue. species, and the diversity of forest site conditions across the landscape suggests ● Conditions affecting tree regeneration and that changes will be spatially variable. recruitment will change. Seedlings are more vulnerable than mature trees to changes See also under Goal #2, Assessment: Forest in temperature, moisture, and other biodiversity and Assessment: Connectivity seedbed and early growth requirements; of forests.
Map of Current and Projected Average Annual Temperature in New York State
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Map of Current and Projected Average Annual Precipitation in New York State
Map of Current and Projected Average Annual Snow Cover in New York State
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Assessment: Valuing forests for carbon storage and community adaptation to climate change Carbon storage As the value of carbon sequestration for reducing greenhouse gas levels is becoming Forests are the most productive terrestrial better understood, the role of forests in vegetation able to absorb carbon from carbon addressing climate change is gaining dioxide, and they have the greatest potential for widespread attention. During photosynthesis, keeping that carbon out of the atmosphere long plants use carbon sequestered from the air to term. New York’s forests help to control global grow new tissue, effectively storing carbon. climate change, and in doing so, they are That carbon stays locked up in the plants as providing a critical service to all New Yorkers they grow, and in the case of wood products, and the global community. Carbon sequestration long after the plants have been harvested. in New York’s forests is also vital to achieving When forest biomass is combusted, such as in the State’s net zero carbon emissions goal. a wildfire or as a fuel source, this releases the carbon that had been stored. Therefore, the Forestlands are under pressure from proper management of combustion is also a development in some parts of the state. The key component of maintaining carbon installation of infrastructure can result in forest sequestration levels. clearing and could contribute to forest loss. There are many questions with regard to the Forest stewardship to protect forests from land impact on our forests and forest resources. As in use changes and encourage productive forest the case of land conversion for development, the growth and regeneration could increase carbon impacts of energy infrastructure could be sequestration. Stewardship actions already managed if the values that forests provide are taken by DEC include dual certification through recognized fully and balanced appropriately. both the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) on public Based on Forest Inventory and Analysis data, lands that are not part of the Forest Preserve. New York’s forests are storing approximately 1,976 million metric tons of carbon. However, according to the FIA, the net amount of carbon Importantly, the value of carbon dioxide absorbed each year by New York’s sequestration is additive—it is a forests has been steadily decreasing in recent benefit that forests and forest decades. If this trend were to continue, the products naturally provide, in annual uptake of carbon dioxide would be addition to all other social, 20 percent lower in 2050 compared to 1990. health, environmental, and This trend could reflect both decreasing forest area and reduced productivity. The latter may be economic benefits. caused by various factors, including invasive This means that the total value species and unsuccessful regeneration. of healthy forests is that much higher. It also means the same strategies that are described throughout this Plan to preserve healthy forests are also strategies for maintaining carbon sequestration.
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Community adaptation ● Forests stabilize the surrounding air temperatures and alleviate extreme heat Many New Yorkers place a high value on and desiccation for nearby buildings by forestlands, whether for recreation, human providing shade and moisture from health, watershed protection, diversity of plants, evapotranspiration. wildlife, and habitats, or for preserving local markets for forest products like timber. Forests ● For communities, forests are buffers also aid community adaptation and resilience to because they absorb stormwater, reduce climate change. (See more under Goal #2, flooding, and create windbreaks against Assessments on Forest Biodiversity and damaging gusts. Heavy precipitation and Connectivity of Forests. See also Carbon extreme weather events are projected to markets and TNC’s Working Woodlands become more frequent in New York.3 Program; https://www.nature.org/en-us/about- ● Forests reduce coastline flooding and us/where-we-work/united-states/new-york/ erosion by anchoring soil and absorbing stories-in-new-york/new-york-working- water; thus, they protect threatened woodlands/.) Sometimes the value of the land communities. If the sea level rises 0.33 to may be treated as higher than the forest that 0.63 m between 2080 and 2100, as it is grows on it, such as when assessing the projected to increase under the RCP 6.0 property for development or conversion to other scenario, there will be approximately uses. Unfortunately, this disregards the 1,886,000 people living under the high- cumulative value that forests provide — and tide lines in New York4, based on 2010 have provided — to local and global census data. communities alike for centuries. For example: Assessment: Open Space Conservation Plan for forest protection
New York’s 2016 Open Space Conservation policy discussion covering many topics, Plan (OSP) (https://www.dec.ny.gov/ including recommendations relating to climate lands/317.html) identifies priority open space adaptation and mitigation strategies, many conservation projects that are unique and involving sustainable forest management and irreplaceable open space resources warranting urban forestry. The OSP takes many priorities into special conservation efforts due to their account in addition to protecting forests. Moving exceptional ecological, wildlife, recreational, forward, the SFAP will inform the next revision of scenic, and/or historical values. the OSP just as the OSP informs the development of the Plan. While this Plan focuses on New York’s forested landscape, the OSP guides protection of all The map below represents the priority open space landscapes in the state -- from small pocket conservation projects as points. However, the parks and community gardens in New York City project areas vary in size from small parcels to and other urban areas, to large forested tracts in statewide priorities such as working forest the Adirondacks, to the two remaining Finger conservation easements (see more under Lakes with undeveloped shorelines, all the way ‘private land easements for forest protection’ below). to the state’s prime agricultural lands. Additionally, the OSP includes an extensive
3 New York State’s ‘ClimAID’ report is the authoritative resources for observed and projected climate change in the state and is updated based on the global models produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 4Strauss, B. H., Kulp, S., & Levermann, A. 2015. Carbon choices determine US cities committed to futures below sea level. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(44), 13508-13513. doi:10.1073/pnas.1511186112
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Forest-related planning, that represents current open space conservation assessment, policy & law actions, tools, and programs administered by New York State’s DEC, OPRHP, Department of New York’s Open Space Conservation Program State (DOS), Adirondack Park Agency (APA), began in 1990 and was designed to ensure Department of Agriculture & Markets (DAM), and citizen input into the land acquisition decisions Department of Transportation. The OSP has made by DEC and OPRHP. Since its beginning, become an important and popular advocacy voice the program has developed a comprehensive for conserving our state's open spaces—and the statewide Open Space Conservation Plan (OSP) quality of life which they provide.
Map of New York State’s Open Space Conservation Plan Projects, 2016
20 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | GOAL #1: Keep New York’s Forests as Forests
Assessment: Public land purchases for forest protection New York State has actively purchased land for Trends and threats conservation since 1885. Today, purchased lands must qualify under the OSP and represent Projects acquired by DEC since 2010 have a regional conservation benefit, such as helping resulted in an additional 2,400 miles of boundary to reduce fragmentation of state lands, line. Boundaries on forested land are required to protecting water resources, or improving climate be maintained every 7 years. This entails walking resilience. Since the last Forest Action Plan in the length of boundaries, repainting the blazes, 2010, New York State has purchased 244,100 and putting up new signs. When the boundary acres of forested land. The process to determine lines are not maintained, they can be lost. When what land to purchase will continue to evolve a boundary line cannot be found, it needs to be with the OSP. It is also driven by the public’s resurveyed to locate the line, which is a much desire to sell. Landowners interested in selling more time-intensive and costly endeavor. their land work directly with one of DEC’s 9 Unfortunately, projects that need to be regional offices or OPRHP’s 12 regional offices resurveyed get added to the backlog. where the local knowledge of conservation DEC is currently not able to survey all new needs is greatest. When a project is first acquisitions. Sometimes sections of new considered, the region assesses how important acquisitions are surveyed, or surveys occur after the acquisition of the project is to the region and the land is purchased. This creates a backlog as the management cost of acquiring the project. more properties are acquired but don’t get The main funding for land acquisitions by surveyed. New York State is the Environmental Protection Another challenge in acquiring land is pushback Fund (EPF). There are additional federal funding from municipalities that do not want the State to sources, such as the Forest Legacy Program own more land in their area. This is because the (see below) and the Pittman-Robertson Act. State sometimes pays less or no taxes on land it The latter is used by DEC to purchase land that owns, as well as the municipality’s perceived loss is classified as a wildlife management area of income, or opportunity cost due to the loss of (WMA) and managed by the agency’s Division development opportunities for the parcel(s) or of Fish and Wildlife (see above, under ‘forested the inability set a higher assessment value. The state lands’). While not all WMAs are forested, recreational, human health, water filtration, and many are. There are a few other funding other ecological benefits of conserved land do sources that are employed for land purchases not directly translate to municipal revenue. on a smaller scale. Case study: Boreas Ponds The 20,000-acre parcel was acquired by New York State and added to the Adirondack Forest Preserve in 2016. This parcel was the final piece of a multi-phased acquisition from the Nature Conservancy of 69,000 acres of former Finch Pruyn timberlands.
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Assessment: Conservation easements for forest protection
Conservation easements are another tool to Forestry Initiative (SFI), while nearly 482,000 keep forests as forests. They keep land in private acres are dual-certified to both FSC and the SFI ownership and on local tax rolls, while cost- program standards. About 96,000 acres of DEC- effectively achieving tremendous environmental held conservation easement lands are managed and outdoor recreation benefits. There are more under a DEC-approved forest management plan. than 900,000 acres of conservation easement Under the forest management plan option, the lands in New York State, and 90 percent of them, landowner works with a professional forester to i.e., nearly 807,000 acres, are DEC’s working create a forestry plan that is then approved by forest conservation easements, primarily in the and filed with DEC forestry staff. DEC forestry Adirondacks and Tug Hill Plateau staff conduct on-site audits to ensure the plan is (https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/41156.html). being followed.
New York State’s working forest conservation Similar to land acquisitions, conservation easements require the landowner to easements must be regionally important and fall professionally manage their property's forest into one of the categories in the OSP. The resources so that the land permanently remains combination of the conservation easement tool available for sustainable forestry. Most working and EPF have delivered the most successful forest conservation easements provide the conservation results in decades in New York, landowner the choice of two management ensuring that our forests continue to provide options: DEC’s Forest Certification Program or environmental and economic benefits. a forest management plan approved by DEC. Threats to conservation easements are similar Just over 710,500 acres of DEC-held to challenges of public land purchases for conservation easements are certified to the forest conservation (see above), particularly an management standards of either the Forest insufficient boundary survey and maintenance. Stewardship Council (FSC) or Sustainable Priority Landscapes: Forest Legacy Program
The federal Forest Legacy Program (FLP) Current Forest Legacy Areas (FLAs) protects environmentally important, privately (see map): owned forest areas threatened by conversion to non-forest uses. In New York, the FLP is a ● Catskill Park and the Delaware River partnership between DEC and the U.S. Forest New York City Watershed Service. ● Central Long Island Pine Barrens
The FLP is an entirely voluntary program that ● New York Highlands and Sterling Forest encourages and supports acquisition of conservation easements. The program requires ● Northern Forest Lands Study Area that all managed forest resources follow a multi- ● Rensselaer Plateau resource management plan. FLP conservation easements restrict building development, protect ● Taconic Ridge natural resource values, and provide for public recreation opportunities. The FLP also supports fee-title land purchases in a limited number of situations where state ownership is necessary to accomplish the program’s objectives.
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Under the program, a participating state is This SFAP includes the revised AON (see required to develop an Assessment of Need Appendix A), which includes new eligibility (AON) that includes a summary of current forest criteria to bring New York in line with U.S. Forest conditions, program eligibility criteria, specific Service standards. This AON also requests the goals and objectives to be accomplished by the addition of three proposed FLAs (see map): FLP, and identification of new Forest Legacy Areas (FLA) for designation, as well as the ● Allegheny Plateau process that will be used to evaluate and ● Finger Lakes/Northern Plateau prioritize projects considered for inclusion in the FLP. ● Shawangunk Ridge
Map of New York’s Existing and Proposed Forest Legacy Areas
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Priority Landscapes: Metropolitan, urban, and suburban areas
Metropolitan, urban, and suburban areas make New York’s Urban and Community Forestry up 10.3 percent of New York State’s land. Despite Program (UCF) (https://www.dec.ny.gov/ this relatively small percentage, these areas are lands/4957.html) is a partnership between DEC home to 87.9 percent of New Yorkers, “US forestry professionals, public and private Urban Forest Statistics, Values, and Projections” individuals, and volunteer organizations who (Nowak et al. 2018). Contributing to the creation of care about trees in urban settings. The more livable urban and suburban communities program’s priority is to enhance urban and for New York residents is a priority for DEC. community forests via educational workshops, forester/arborist contacts, financial assistance, The reasons are twofold. On the one hand, and access to the latest research. fostering a healthy green infrastructure, i.e., the planting and care of community trees, The program’s goals include: represents a wise investment in what is perhaps the only part of a city’s infrastructure ● Increase the number of communities that increases in value and contributions reaching “developing” and “managing” provided over time. Collectively, community status; trees can be thought of as a city’s green ● Integrate UCF into all scales of planning; infrastructure, while a city’s roads, sewers, bridges, and water treatment plants compose its ● Promote the role of UCF in human health gray infrastructure. Among other benefits, this and wellness; green infrastructure generates distinctive and ● Promote the role of UCF in mitigating attractive areas with a strong sense of place and the effects of climate change in walkable neighborhoods that provide communities; opportunities for passive recreation, while also helping to protect the natural beauty and ● Strengthen partnerships to help improve important environmental areas of New York’s management, maintenance, and urban and suburban settings. stewardship;
DEC recognizes that the ● Increase funding for UCF; majority of our state’s residents ● Protect urban and community forests get introduced to the joy and against threats from exotic invasive pests; benefits from trees and forests through urban or suburban ● Promote and increase utilization of waste green infrastructure. Without wood from urban and community forests; and this connection, we cannot foster public support for ● Encourage preparation for severe New York’s forests. storms and the recovery of damaged landscapes.
24 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | GOAL #1: Keep New York’s Forests as Forests
Map of New York State’s Population Density, 2010
Focus Area: Private forestland protection and management
New York’s Forest Tax Law 480a was enacted Acres Enrolled in 480a, 2008-2018 in 1974 to provide private forestland owners a tax 1,500,000 benefit to continuously produce a merchantable forest crop under an approved forest management plan. To obtain such a plan, landowners with 50 or more eligible acres can task a private 1,258,044 consulting forester to write a forest management 1,000,000 plan, which is then reviewed/approved by DEC staff. As of 2018, there are over 3,400 forest landowners and 1.2 million acres of private land Acres under professional forestry management. 716,306 500,000 Participation in the State Forest Tax Law Program is voluntary, though once lands are enrolled, it includes a rolling 10-year commitment to follow the accepted forest 0 management plan. There are substantial penalties for failure to follow the plan or for conversion of any of the enrolled acres. Year
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An ancillary benefit of the program is the fact enrolling. An additional limiting factor in that due to high penalties for conversion to a enrollment is the program’s statutory focus non-forestry use, properties enrolled in 480a on managing for timber production. Many tend to remain as intact forest tracts. Most of the landowners own their forestland for reasons forest tax enrollees are in the eastern half of the other than timber, such as wildlife, aesthetics, state. In the North Country, tracts enrolled in and recreation. 480a tend to be larger, due to the presence of Timber Investment Management Organizations The public also benefits from the ecosystem and (TIMOs). Enrolled properties in the rest of the economic services private forests provide, such state tend to be owned by individuals or families as clean water, clean air, carbon storage and and smaller in size. The program is becoming sequestration, aesthetic beauty, wildlife habitat, increasingly popular in the western and central and contributions to a robust rural economy. parts of the state as real estate tax burdens on Also, the services demanded from local family forest owners continue to rise in these areas. municipalities by undeveloped forestland are few, except for road maintenance for access. One of the great barriers to enrollment in 480a is the need for landowners to own 50 acres Recognizing all the benefits private forest of eligible forestland to qualify. This is a high landowners provide and why they own minimum acreage in comparison to other states. forestland is paramount to designing future The strict penalties and regulatory oversight of financial incentives to help these owners keep the program also can deter landowners from their forests and manage them sustainably. Focus Area: Private Forest Stewardship Program
New York’s Private Forest Stewardship Program this program through landowner visits, forest is a partnership with the U.S. Forest Service’s stewardship plans, and technical assistance. Forest Stewardship Program, which was The focus in the past 30 years has specifically established in 1991, under the authority of the been on management plan preparation. Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978. However, research has shown that forest Between 2010 and 2017, this state program was management activities not paired with incentives responsible for the development of 3,744 Forest or regulation to achieve recommended Stewardship Plans, covering 554,000 acres conservation practices do not necessarily improve across New York. Since 1946, when New York’s with a voluntary plan (Van Brankle, 2006). Forest Practice Act was adopted, DEC The general public continues to benefit from the (including its predecessor, the New York State ecosystem services provided by privately owned Conservation Department) has been providing forests. Since most of the forestland in New York forest management planning advice and is owned, and will continue to be owned, by assistance to private forest owners. individuals, it is imperative to continue and even The goal of the Forest Stewardship Program is enhance our outreach to landowners and the to provide sound, unbiased, forest management general public about the importance of forest advice to private forestland owners in New York stewardship. The continuing challenge for the State. For many landowners, contacting a DEC program moving forward is to find innovative Forester for advice is the first step on the road to techniques to reach as many landowners as sound forest management of their woodlot. possible, and for landowners to then practice There is a large forestry education component to sound forest management on their property. the program, and landowners often develop a long-term relationship with their DEC Private Lands Forester that is passed down through generations. Traditionally, DEC has delivered
26 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | GOAL #1: Keep New York’s Forests as Forests
Unfortunately, federal funding support to states for the Forest Stewardship Program’s implementation has diminished since its inception. In New York, new strategies and efficiencies need to be found to deliver this program to landowners in the most impactful way. Developing private/public partnerships with industry, nonprofits, and private forestry consultants could be a way to expand the reach of the program to provide landowners with forestry services.
Third-party certification programs on public/private forestlands The Benefits of Long-Term Most of the forest management standards and Forest Stewardship: On a guidelines for privately owned/family forests brisk day in March 2019, are, ultimately, voluntary. The private sector DEC Region 7 senior forester certification programs for industrial and family Matt Swayze met with the forests are all voluntary in nature. In each of Sykes family of Onondaga these programs, a landowner voluntarily enrolls and agrees to manage his/her forest to the County to update their forest standards of the program. The landowners can stewardship plan. The Sykes' also voluntarily remove their properties from forest ownership is especially the programs with little or no penalty. significant as it is in the
Private Certification Programs: headwaters of Carpenter's Brook, a popular trout stream ● American Tree Farm System (ATFS) that supplies clear, cool water (http://www.treefarmsystem.org/cms/ to the county's fish hatchery. pages/26_19.html)
● Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Matt is the third DEC forester (http://www.sfiprogram.org) to work with Mr. Sykes, who has collaborated with DEC for ● Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) nearly three decades. Over (http://www.fscus.org) the years, DEC has provided ● Program for Endorsement of Forest technical guidance regarding Certification (PEFC) precommercial thinnings, (http://www.pefc.org) recreational trail layouts, wildlife habitat improvements, tree plantings, and watershed protection. The relationship between the Sykes family and DEC foresters has been mutually beneficial, with both parties learning from each other during every site visit.
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There is increasing interest in and promotion ● 624,922 acres are SFI-certified, of third-party certification systems (SFI, FSC, ATFS, PEFC), prompted by certifying entities, ● 571,918 acres are FSC-certified, environmental non-government organizations ● 508,987 acres are in the American Tree (ENGOs), environmentally conscious Farm Program, consumers, and corporations that target those consumers. Government organizations and ● 5,749 acres are certified under elected officials are also targeted to specify Green Tag. the use of certified or sustainably produced Note: These acreage figures cannot be added wood products for publicly funded projects together as there is considerable overlap or purchasing. between them, with numerous properties holding The map below includes state-owned certified dual certification (SFI and FSC, ATFS and FSC, acres, as well as state-held working forest or ATFS and Green Tag). The largest single conservation easements, in the Adirondack block of (dual-) certified forestland is the Park that are certified, mostly under FSC or 764,050 acres of state forest managed by DEC. SFI. Throughout New York, there are many more acres of private forestlands certified under several programs, including:
Map of New York State’s Certified Forest Lands, 2019
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Focus Area: Indian Nations in our state DEC is engaged in a process United Nations of understanding how to meet Declaration on the Rights the requirements regarding of Indigenous Peoples indigenous peoples’ rights, ARTICLE 26 consistent with the agency’s conservation responsibilities. 1. Indigenous peoples have the The Center for Native Peoples right to the lands, territories and the Environment at SUNY and resources which they have ESF has been working to traditionally owned, occupied facilitate this process through or otherwise used or acquired. outreach and engagement with Indian Nations. 2. Indigenous peoples have the right to own, use, develop and Before New York State was established, control the lands, territories indigenous peoples lived in, cared for, and used and resources that they these forestlands. Today, there are eight possess by reason of federally recognized Indian Nations and one state-recognized Indian Nation (the Unkechaug) traditional ownership or other in New York. See ‘Map of New York State’s traditional occupation or use Federal Lands and Indian Reservations’ under … or have otherwise acquired. ‘Federal lands with Significant Forests’ above in this Assessment section. Indigenous people 3. States shall give legal continue their use of and care for forests. On recognition and protection to reservations and throughout aboriginal territories, these lands, territories and forests are considered essential for indigenous resources… with due respect culture, health, and economic well-being. to the customs, traditions and The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of land tenure systems of the Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), adopted by the UN indigenous peoples concerned in 2007, guarantees indigenous peoples rights to “lands, territories and resources which they have ARTICLE 25 traditionally owned, occupied, or otherwise used or acquired,” including forestlands. See “Who are Indigenous peoples have the indigenous people?” at https://www.un.org/esa/ right to maintain and strengthen socdev/unpfii/documents/5session_factsheet1.pdf. their distinctive spiritual
See https://www.un.org/development/ relationship with their desa/indigenouspeoples/wp-content/uploads/ traditionally owned or otherwise sites/19/2018/11/UNDRIP_E_web.pdf. occupied and used lands, territories, waters and coastal seas and other resources and to uphold their responsibilities to future generations…
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Strategy: Actively pursue afforestation and forest restoration efforts
Maintaining or even increasing the percentage of forestland in the state, either by encouraging efforts to revert areas of non-forest or by planting trees, serves multiple benefits. It maintains young forests for wildlife habitat, helps to sequester and store more carbon, and provides storm resiliency along stream buffers, just to name a few. Known and unknown pressures on existing forests may encourage the need to establish new forests.
● Develop and grow the newly created “Regenerate NY” cost-share program to improve forest regeneration on private forestland throughout New York State. This state-funded program is available to forest landowners beginning in 2020 and will help defer the cost of forest regeneration practices such as interfering vegetation control, tree planting and maintenance, and site preparation. Deer
fencing and tree protection are among Young “Trees for Tribs” program participant the funded practices.
● Promote and encourage planting projects ● Promote the “Trees for Tribs” program to on state and private lands that use locally help enhance stream corridors, also known sourced plant material to help maintain as riparian areas, and restore damaged diverse habitats for wildlife. For example, streamside and wetland areas. The goal of DEC’s Col. William F. Fox Memorial the program is to plant young trees and Saratoga Tree Nursery promotes and shrubs along stream corridors to prevent encourages various planting programs. erosion, increase flood water retention, Seedlings are used in many planting improve wildlife and stream habitat, and projects in state forests, and they are protect water quality. Trees for Tribs has also available to the public. For more engaged more than 8,700 volunteers in information see: https://www.dec.ny.gov/ planting more than 101,400 trees and animals/61320.html. shrubs at 600+ sites across New York State. The plants are exclusively native ● Identify old fields that have stagnated and chosen based on location, soil type, with regards to tree regeneration and site conditions, planting goals, etc. promote planting and restoration efforts Diversity in plantings is a main goal of on these lands. the program; some examples are red osier dogwood, wetland rose, elderberry, river birch, red oak, sand cherry, winterberry, silky dogwood, and northern white cedar (https://www.dec.ny.gov/ animals/113412.html).
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● Educate younger generations about the ● Continue complementing the Trees for importance of planting native trees. Partner Tribs program’s efforts in mostly rural with schools to grow, plant, and maintain areas by planting trees in urban and trees, and continue the school seedlings suburban areas, as well as through the program that provides free seedlings to implementation of the Buffer in a Bag local schools. Since 1985, 23,779 orders program, which began in 2019 were placed by schools or youth programs, (https://www.dec.ny.gov/ and DEC has provided 879,150 seedlings animals/115903.html). (https://www.dec.ny.gov/ animals/9393.html). Consider replicating successful watershed forestry education programs of the New York City’s Watershed Agriculture Council. Strategy: Maintain and restore connectivity between fragmented and parcelized forestland Case Study: Hand Hollow State Forest Hand Hollow State Forest in the Town of New Lebanon, Columbia County, NY was created in 2014 with the purchase of 216 acres. Currently, Hand Hollow is 518 acres, with more acreage to be acquired in the future. This state forest includes a 10-acre lake, as well as opportunities for hiking, biking, skiing, paddling, and snowmobiling. With the adjacent 447 acres owned by the Columbia Land Conservancy, the state forest creates a large contiguous protected area. Hand Hollow is one of the newest state reforestation areas acquired, and it exemplifies its traits: "forever devoted to reforestation and the establishment and maintenance thereon of forests for watershed protection, the production of timber, and for recreation and kindred purposes" (Article 9, Title 5, Environmental Conservation Law).
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● Continue the multipronged approach to ● When planning to improve forest conserving or restoring landscape connectivity, include connectivity of connections between fragmented and streams and waterways impacted by parcelized forestland, including man-made access infrastructure, plot community-level conservation, planning, division, logging, and other disturbances. and zoning; statewide tax law; private As forest plots are divided and reduced conservation easements; and state, in size, the amount of roads and trails municipal, and nonprofit land purchases. increases, which can result in blocking natural stream flows, preventing fish and ● Continue conservation or enlargement of other creatures from access to their forest blocks through public and nonprofit natural habitat. land acquisitions, conservation easements, and private land recruitment ● Continue public land acquisition, a through tax incentives or other valuable tool to protect forests with measures, which is essential to keeping vulnerable species that are under high fragmented and parcelized areas development pressure. connected. These conservation efforts will also reduce the threat of subdivision ● Continue DEC’s targeted land and and land use change. See DEC’s efforts easement acquisition program, which has to connect New York’s state forests and a list of qualified categories, including a map of forest matrix blocks, as well as reducing fragmented and parcelized The Nature Conservancy’s work on forests. Lands or easements that can be regional connectivity, such as the Staying purchased to connect fragmented or Connected Initiative parcelized forests are usually of high (http://stayingconnectedinitiative.org) regional importance and pursued by (https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_fore DEC. When a land acquisition or sts_pdf/sfconnectivity.pdf) easement project is first considered, (https://databasin.org/datasets/ management costs are considered as a e6c7374107624643be052c44d29ad246). component of the overall project cost.
● Strive to maintain connectivity among ● Support community-level land use forested habitats to allow movement of planning, which is critical for maintaining wildlife, including their migration in and restoring forest connectivity. See our response to climate change, and also strategy to ‘Support forest-protection- maintain the health of the habitat itself. minded local planning and zoning efforts’ Similarly, establish connections to under Goal #4. improve the ability of tree or other plant ● Explore partnerships and creative/ species in isolated or fragmented innovative solutions or funding sources to landscapes to migrate in response to conserve forests. climate change.
32 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | GOAL #1: Keep New York’s Forests as Forests
Strategy: Establish buffers for existing protected forests through partnerships
● Buffers adjacent to protected forestlands ● Establish buffers through a variety of serve to minimize conflicts with neighbors, means: engagement with private avoid land use change, support and neighbors or stewardship partners, improve connectivity between forest municipal zoning guidelines, easements, blocks, and keep forests as forests. Critical Environmental Areas, overlays, and land acquisitions. ● Establish buffers for already protected forestlands through partnerships, such as ● Manage these buffers through partnerships with municipal governments, conservation-minded land use practices. nongovernmental organizations, or conservation-minded neighbors. Case Study: Conserving Critical Environmental Areas The undeveloped Rondout Valley in Wawarsing, New York connects the unfragmented forests of the Shawangunk Ridge and the Catskills. The area is a priority regional project in the New York State Open Space Conservation Plan, 2016. Wawarsing recognized
the value of the Catskills- Shawangunks corridor as an Marsh in the Cedar Swamp CEA. important community resource in Photo by Laura Heady, DEC its 2014 open space inventory, 2015 comprehensive plan, and 2018 open space plan. (The town received funding and technical assistance for its open space inventory and open space plan from DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program.) The town recommended the designation of Critical Environmental Areas (CEAs), two of which were adopted in 2019. One CEA was the 3,000-acre Catskill-Shawangunk Greenway Corridor, a recreational link with agricultural and tourism potential. The community also cited the corridor’s biodiversity: “this may be the only remaining land complex that can provide … habitat connection between two … prominent conservation areas in New York.” The second, 8,000-acre CEA will help to protect Cedar Swamp, one of the largest wetlands in the Catskills, which was highlighted in the town’s and State’s open space plans. Cedar Swamp contains rare species and more than 800 acres of forested wetlands with nearly 500-year-old trees.
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Strategy: Promote more community-owned forests in urban and suburban areas
● Encourage municipalities to purchase, to obtain, increase, and enhance develop, or enhance current community-owned forests. greenspaces and community forests. ● Encourage communities with ● Create a statewide campaign to opportunities for community-owned forests encourage municipalities and community to establish them. For example, convert groups to buy open space for public use. vacant lots to public parks/forest areas.
● Provide technical assistance to local ● Help municipalities to ensure their forests planning efforts and municipalities, such are sustainable in the long run, as they as creating natural resource inventories, address challenges such as deer browse mapping and data analysis, watershed or opposition to hunting in suburban areas. protection, community planning, etc.,
Case study: Mill Brook Preserve in New Paltz, New York The Open Space Committee of New Paltz Village, New York, developed the Mill Brook Preserve plan in 2014, with collaboration between landowners, neighbors, government, and the public. Consisting of stream, wetland, and upland habitats nestled in the Village, the undeveloped area contributes much to the local quality of life: recreation, wildlife habitat, water pollution prevention, and a unique “wilderness in the city” character due to the proximity of the urban Village. The tributaries and
their surrounding lands make up one From ‘The Mill Brook Preserve,’ 2014 of the last remaining undeveloped areas in the Village. The Preserve serves as a model in the region for how urbanized areas can have a positive relationship with the local natural systems to make human and natural communities mutually supportive and sustainable. The Preserve provides a retreat where people can recreate, contemplate, and enjoy the natural world (http://www.townofnewpaltz.org/ sites/newpaltzny/files/file/file/mill_brook_preserve_management_plan- final_08.28.2014_01.pdf).
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With a large portion of the state’s population ● Communicate the benefits (health and residing in metropolitan, urban, and suburban economic) of green spaces. areas, it is important that DEC’s Urban and Community Forest Program not only works with ● Continue to work with volunteer groups, municipalities, but also with the general public. colleges, and schools to promote the Education is a key component to connecting benefits of urban and community forests. people with trees and recognizing their benefits. ● Utilize waste tree wood from municipal- In addition, engaging students from k-12 and owned properties for future projects (park colleges to assist with these efforts will benefit benches, shelters, etc.). current and future generations.
● Help to get the public outside, walking amongst trees along a street or in parks. It is key to securing the public’s support for government funding of community- owned forests. Strategy: Help private landowners keep and manage their forests sustainably Increase the number of acres ● Work with federal, regional, state, and of private forestland under local agencies and organizations to support forest products markets for professional forest management New York forest landowners to sell forest from 1.7 million acres currently products derived from sustainable to 5 million acres by 2030. forestry management. Provide incentives and a policy and regulatory climate that Only 12 percent of the state’s promotes forest product markets while private forestland is currently also supporting sustainable forestry. under 480a tax law plan or ● Explore developing a “Call Before You a U.S. Forest Service Forest Cut Program” to connect landowners with Stewardship Plan. a professional forester before harvest. This allows the forester to visit with a Helping New York’s private landowners keep private landowner at the very pivot point and manage their forestland benefits all when that landowner has identified the New Yorkers. To reach our objective of opportunity for a harvest. Many states increasing private forestland under professional have implemented this program. forest management from the current 1.7 million acres to 5 million acres by 2030, we will take the ● Work with public and private partners to following actions: create new financial and tax incentives to offset the costs of ownership and forest ● Create efficiencies in enforcing the management for private forest current 480a tax law program through landowners. Specifically allow for regulation reform and modernization broader uses, such as wildlife efforts that will allow field staff to spend management, sugar bush management, more time in the field and less time and carbon management, as well as administering the program. traditional timber management.
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● Develop and grow the newly created ● Investigate techniques that encourage “Regenerate NY” cost-share program to forest landowners to incorporate forests improve forest regeneration on private and forest management planning into forestland throughout New York State. This estate planning. Specifically support state-funded cost-share program became Cornell’s “Your land, Your legacy” program. available to forest landowners in 2020. ● Increase technical assistance by DEC ● Develop and grow the Forest staff for on-the-ground practices such as Conservation Easement Land Trust timber stand improvement, tree planting Grants program to protect private BMP layout, etc. forestland. This program can focus on protecting smaller parcels, including working forests, from development. Strategy: Continue research and assessment efforts to document forest resources
● Continue to foster research projects in ● Create a research consortium to support state forests and forest preserve by and advise the Climate and Applied swiftly reviewing proposed protocols in a Forest Research Institute (CAFRI) timely manner and, where appropriate, housed at SUNY ESF. issuing permits. Research, field assessment, and mapping of various ● Enhance carbon accounting in forests invasive species, tree diseases, and and wood products in NYS. other topics are proactive ways to decide how to manage our forests in the future. Strategy: Understand and respond to negative effects of climate change on forests
As forests face new stresses from climate ● Working with partners, provide technical change, stewardship needs to anticipate threats assistance to forest managers to and work to minimize their effects on forests. incorporate BMPs and stewardship Changes in climate and extreme weather events strategies, based on the best available are also expected to affect infrastructure such as science, into the management of public roads, bridges, and culverts on forestlands and and private forests. will require our adaptive approach. ● Ensure accessibility of climate science ● Partner with academic institutions, federal and resilience data to support state agencies, and other entities to research agencies, local governments, land trusts, effects of climate change on forests. and others in integrating climate change resilience into local and regional ● Working with partners, identify areas community planning, as well as with high connectivity and biophysical conservation planning. complexity (TNC’s “Resilient and Connected Network for New York State”), as well as ways to determine how ecosystem drivers and stressors will change in a particular area or for a particular forest community.
36 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | GOAL #1: Keep New York’s Forests as Forests
● Increase protection of resilient sites for As our climate changes, we may also need to species and communities. Evaluate prepare for the following: New York’s existing conservation lands to identify gaps that need to be filled to ● As wildfire risks increase, more ensure conservation of the full range of resources may be needed to reduce fuel habitats and support of the state’s loads, suppress fires after ignition, and biodiversity. This is currently done by manage ecosystems affected by wildfire. regional DEC staff identifying the gaps ● Management activities such as wildfire and new projects that are regionally suppression or recreational activities significant, as well as by coordinating such as snowmobiling and skiing may with key program staff to acquire need to be altered as temperatures and regionally important lands from willing precipitation patterns change. sellers. ● To manage forests and infrastructure, as ● Protect unique forest areas as refugia for well as to prepare for severe weather at-risk plant and animal species. events, greater financial investments ● Work to increase connectivity of may be required. vulnerable forests where connections The effects of climate change on forests and the would benefit the migration of species essential role that forests play in mitigating while continuing to isolate areas where climate change are outlined in Goal #1. invasive species pose a threat. Strategies to support forest management to ● Adjust the timing of activities, including address climate change are outlined under timber removal, prescribed fire, and Goal #3. recreation, as temperatures and precipitation patterns change.
NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN | GOAL #1: Keep New York’s Forests as Forests 37
38 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN 2020 | Goal #2: Keep New York’s Forests Healthy
GOAL #2: Keep New York’s Forests Healthy
The combination of numerous stressors, and other stressors, they also “enhance public such as invasive species, increasingly severe benefits from trees and forests” through and frequent weather events, a changing continued research, assistance to private forest phenological calendar, unsustainable owners, targeted forest fire management, and management practices and/or recreation, and implementing indigenous knowledge. This goal localized imbalances of wildlife populations, also supports the priority to “conserve and along with outright loss of forests to manage working forest landscapes for multiple development or agriculture, all threaten to values and uses,” since resilient, adaptive, and undermine the health of New York’s forests. biologically diverse forests can be managed for In many cases, these stressors may increase a variety of benefits and values. or accelerate the damage and complicate the diagnosis and management of agents that “Nature has introduced great impact forest health. Jointly with the first goal variety into the landscape, but to keep New York’s forests as forests, we strive man has displayed a passion for to ensure our forests remain resilient, adaptive, ecologically intact living systems. simplifying it. Thus, he undoes the built-in checks and balances This overarching goal supports all three National by which nature holds the State & Private Forestry Priorities. Not only do species within bounds.” our strategies “protect forests from threats,” including invasive species, a changing climate, RACHEL CARSON, SILENT SPRING Assessment: Forest health affected by potentially damaging agents Invasive pests, plants, DEC conducts annual aerial and ground surveys and pathogens to evaluate population trends of pests known to cause serious damage to forests and to The major contributors of annual damage to determine the impact and cause of health forest resources are from exotic invasive problems on tree species or sites of concern. species like the emerald ash borer and southern Most of the aerial observations lead to a ground- pine beetle. Some large areas are affected by based inspection, and forest health diagnostic defoliation events caused by the gypsy moth or laboratory staff identify the damage-causing the forest tent caterpillar. The damage from agent and store specimens. these insects is exhibited in a cyclical nature, with few areas suffering more than three Threats and challenges consecutive years of defoliation. Other agents of New York’s forests are facing accelerated interest are breakage caused by wind and ice threats from invasive insects, plants, and storms; declines in spruce, maple, and white diseases, often brought into our country through pine from a variety of known and uncertain international trade. The effects to our forests agents; flooding caused by beavers; wildfires; from these invasive agents are similar to the and more. impact of western wildfires. These agents can potentially destroy millions of acres of trees and even eliminate certain species from our
NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN 2020 | Goal #2: Keep New York’s Forests Healthy 39
ecosystems. They can drastically alter wildlife As previously mentioned, New York contains habitats, harm water quality, and reduce carbon 18.9 million acres of forestland, more than any sequestration by our forests. In addition, they other state in the New York-New England may devastate forest-based industries, restrict region. It is a tremendous challenge to monitor recreational opportunities, and damage the such a vast forest for the presence of invasive tourism industry. Forest pests also affect the pests and diseases. Once a pest is detected, health of our watersheds, with consequences it is necessary to determine the extent of the for human health. affected area and estimate the potential impact. An initial rapid response may have to be The effects to our forests followed by a more extensive eradication effort. from these invasive agents It is impossible to predict what pathogen will are similar to the impact of cause the next extirpation. western wildfires.
Select List of Significant Damage-Causing Agents in New York’s Forests Agent Forest Type Affected Native/Exotic
Lepidoptera (moths & butterflies) Cherry oystershell moth Prunus: cherry, apple, etc. N
Fall webworm Maple, birch, poplar E Gypsy moth Hundreds of plants, especially oak, aspen E Spruce bud worm Spruce, balsam N
Tent caterpillars Deciduous N Winter moth Coniferous, deciduous, berries E
Adelgids
Balsam woolly adelgid Fir E Hemlock woolly adelgid Hemlock E
Coleoptera (beetles) Asian longhorned beetle Deciduous, especially maple E
Brown spruce longhorned beetle Spruce E Emerald ash borer Ash E Hickory bark beetle Hickory N
Peach bark beetle Cherry E Sugar maple borer Sugar maple N
Two lined chestnut borer Oak, ash, maple, others N White pine weevil White pine, Norway spruce N
Southern pine beetle Hard pines E
Walnut twig beetle All Juglans E Hymenoptera (flies and wasps)
Sawflies – various, periodic outbreaks Periodic multiple coniferous and deciduous hosts N Sirex noctilio Pines E
40 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN 2020 | Goal #2: Keep New York’s Forests Healthy
Select List of Significant Damage-Causing Agents in New York’s Forests (continued) Hemiptera (true bugs)
Spotted lanternfly Tree of Heaven, maples, others E Diseases
Anthracnoses Multiple deciduous hosts, particularly maple, dogwood, N/E sycamore, oak Armillaria All trees – fungal diseases that might be the killer of N/E more trees than anything else in New York each year Bacterial leaf scorch Oak, particularly red oak E Beach bark complex American beech E
Butternut canker Butternut E Caliciopsis canker White pine E?
Chestnut blight Chestnut E
Dutch elm disease American elm E Oak wilt Oaks – New in 2008 E
White pine blister rust White pines N Beech leaf disease Beech E
Macrofauna Deer Overbrowse of climax/species, hindering regeneration N Rabbits Girdle seedlings, hindering regeneration N
Voles Girdle seedlings, hindering regeneration N Earthworms Change in breakdown of leaf litter, soil nutrients, pH E
Deer browse Because mature trees are not affected, deer impacts on a forest may not be immediately evident, White-tailed deer were nearly eliminated from but they are profound and long-lasting. New York by unregulated hunting in the 1800s Overbrowsing by deer reduces plant diversity in the and early 1900s. With the advent of protective forest understory and enables invasive species to regulations and science-based wildlife out-compete natives. Deer browsing impairs management, the deer population in New York forest regenerative processes, preventing rebounded. With abundant forest edge habitat seedlings from growing into the next generation and a lack of natural predators such as cougars of trees, which ultimately leads to fewer mature and wolves, recreational hunting became the trees and a less diverse plant community in primary control on deer populations. Over the forests. The ecological changes brought about last 50 years, increased human development by deer cascade through forest plant eliminated many of the locations formerly communities also negatively impact wildlife, available to hunters, and societal changes reducing the abundance and diversity of species reduced the number of hunters, resulting in that require understory and mid-canopy habitat. overabundant deer populations. Now there is The State Wildlife Action Plan widespread recognition that the overabundant (https://www.dec.ny.gov/ docs/wildlife_pdf/swapf deer population is negatively impacting human inaldraft2015.pdf) identified more than a dozen and ecological communities. wildlife species that are threatened by deer overbrowsing, mostly forest-dwelling songbirds
NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN 2020 | Goal #2: Keep New York’s Forests Healthy 41
and host plant-dependent lepidoptera. It is likely the increasing number of visitors, vacationers, that reduced vegetation density in the understory and recreationists has the potential to cause also negatively impacts some species of direct impacts on forest health. Popular amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals. destinations on DEC and OPRHP lands, in the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve in Direct measurement of deer population density can particular, continue to attract an extremely high be difficult and expensive, but ecological impacts number of users. There are many impacts can be used as an indirect measure of deer density. associated with these high levels of use, including DEC is collaborating with researchers at SUNY ESF overcrowded parking areas; degradation of trail and Cornell University to assess deer impacts. A infrastructure; and crowding on trails, summits, and protocol called Assessing Vegetation Impacts other popular destinations. The physical and from Deer (AVID) has been developed based on ecological impacts of unsustainable recreation use forest inventory analysis data and incorporating include vegetation loss, human waste along trails, deer harvest data as an index of deer density. soil compaction, erosion, sedimentation, and A modeling project published in 2019 (link below) displacement of certain wildlife species. shows locations in New York where deer are significant factors causing poor forest regeneration, With the increase in recreational use of forests it and provides data to support efforts to reduce comes the increased potential for the spread of deer populations in those impacted areas invasive species and other vectors affecting (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ forest health. Recreation within forested areas is article/abs/pii/S0378112719305080). an important way to build support for forests, but negative recreational experiences caused by Threats from unsustainable overuse or other factors have the potential to recreational use reduce this support.
In addition to unintentionally introducing non-native Strategies to manage recreational impacts are or otherwise invasive species to New York’s forests, outlined under Goal #4.
Assessment: Forest regeneration A key component of keeping forests healthy Successful regeneration of in New York State is securing quality forest forests has become increasingly regeneration. Forests are regenerated either through natural or artificial means. Natural difficult due to several biological means include trees established by seed and societal factors. germination, sprouting, or root suckers. Most FIA data from the U.S. Forest Service was forests in New York rely on natural regeneration analyzed by TNC New York (Zimmerman et al., to renew themselves. The planting or seeding 2020) to evaluate the status of forest of forests by human intervention is considered regeneration for our state. Overall, forest artificial regeneration. regeneration of all tree species was found to Advanced regeneration includes the seedlings meet the target regeneration objective in and saplings that are currently established in a 46 percent of the 2,014 plots. Fifty--four percent forest. This data is often a key guideline used in of plots did not have sufficient advanced scientific forestry publications, and foresters rely regeneration to produce a fully stocked stand on it to sustainably manage forests. after a timber harvest or disturbance to the forest canopy. Fifteen percent of FIA plot had no seedlings or saplings present. This analysis included all tree species.
42 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN 2020 | Goal #2: Keep New York’s Forests Healthy
Failure-Zero American Beech 13% Failure Small Trees* 22% Insecure 16% 15% Ash 5% Secure Balsam Fir 6% Sugar Maple 6% 30% Red Spruce 39% 21% Red Maple 6% Yellow Birch 7% 14% Other Pie chart indicating the proportion of FIA plots in Pie chart indicating the proportion New York State by regeneration objective (n = 2,014). of all tree seedlings by species Zimmerman et al., 2020 in FIA plots in New York State. *Small trees include: striped maple, hophornbeam, serviceberry, chokecherry and others. Each FIA plot represents roughly 6,000 acres. Therefore approximately 6.5 million acres of Spatial Analysis forest in New York likely have insufficient Mapping was then completed for a forest advanced regeneration to fully recovery from a regeneration index to highlight regeneration disturbance and will be difficult to regenerate across the state. The regeneration is poorest in successfully based on the criteria in the analysis the Catskills and Lower Hudson Valley, as well outlined in this report. as in smaller pockets across the Southern Tier Composition of Seedlings region, while the northern regions of the state were doing the best. Regeneration in the Thirty-six percent of seedlings were American Adirondacks is driven by low-value timber beech and ash (Fraxinus spp.), which are species such as American beech and balsam currently impacted by widespread pests and fir. It must be acknowledged, however, that pathogens, and 21 percent of seedlings were these are critical species as wildlife habitat and small trees, such as striped maple, that will not a food source for wildlife, and they are also reach the forest canopy. Balsam fir, red spruce, among the long-lived, shade-tolerant species sugar maple, red maple, and yellow birch of pre-colonial times. ranged from 5 to 7 percent and totaled 29 percent of the seedlings. Oak (Quercus spp.) and hickory (Carya spp.) combined made up approximately 2 percent of total seedlings.
The FIA regeneration data was also analyzed by the USFS forest-type group. The maple/beech/ birch group and spruce/fir had the greatest percent of plots meeting the regeneration target objective, at 57 and 52 percent of the plots respectively. The oak/hickory group had the greatest percent of plots in the “failure” category at 67 percent.
NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN 2020 | Goal #2: Keep New York’s Forests Healthy 43
Map of Canopy Tree Species Forest Regeneration Index in New York State, 2020 (TNC)
Deer browsing and to regenerate seedlings in sufficient numbers to interfering vegetation outpace the negative effects of deer browse and competing vegetation. See also this Plan’s Deer browsing and interfering vegetation invasive species discussion. are cited as chief causes of the regeneration problem in New York Timber regeneration (https://counties.extension.wisc.edu/ The lack of regeneration, especially with regards buffalo/files/2011/01/Impacts-of-White-Tailed- to timber species, is troubling, as it indicates an Deer-Overabundance-in-Forest-Ecosyst.pdf). uncertain future for some species that now Another contributing factor to poor regeneration provide vital economic and ecosystem benefits is the absence of appropriate timber for New York State. The composition of management methods. Landowners often lack regeneration shows the establishment of interest or are unwilling to implement/invest in commercial species such as sugar maple, ash, recommended management practices and red maple, but they are quickly dominated (e.g., timber stand improvement) to control by beech. The regeneration of beech is less desirable tree species. Unsustainable problematic due to the prevalence of beech bark harvesting practices, such as high-grading, disease, which prevents a tree from reaching inhibit regeneration by maintaining an overstory maturity. In addition, the increased sprouting of lower quality trees as the seed source, in response to beech bark disease causes an encouraging shade-tolerant species, and failing
44 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN 2020 | Goal #2: Keep New York’s Forests Healthy
understory dominated by beech. This beech was assigned when advance regeneration was understory not only reduces the commercial likely to fall short of the objective with normal viability of timberlands in New York, but also seedling mortality. Secure was assigned to plots reduces the overall diversity of stands, which that had sufficient regeneration to meet objective negatively impacts forest vitality and resilience. and results in a full stocked stand. Modified from Vickers et al., 2019. The pie chart indicates FIA plots by regeneration objective; failure was assigned if the weighted The number of FIA plots per forest-type group regeneration was less than the target for a is shown in the parenthesis. See Vickers et al regeneration objective. Zero denotes no (2019) for regeneration target objective for each regeneration was present in the plot. Insecure forest-type group.
White/Red/Jack pine (120)
Spruce/Fir (72)
Other Hardwoods (22)
Oak/Pine (72)
Forest Type Forest Oak/Hickory (365)
Maple/Beech/Birch (1,162)
Elm/Ash/Cottonwood (146)
Aspen/Birch (55)
0 20 40 60 80 100 Percent
Failure-Zero Failure Insecure Secure
Graph indicating the proportion of FIA plots in New York State by USFS forest-type group and regeneration objective rating.
Regeneration of fire- New York has several fire-dependent dependent forests ecosystems located across the state, ranging from pitch pine barrens in Albany and Long Island to Wildfires are part of the natural environment oak openings (savannah) in Monroe County to and serve ecological and cultural purposes. the jack pine stands in Clinton County. Their New York experiences hundreds of wildland existence and regeneration depend on regular fire fires each year that burn forests, brush, and disturbance. These ecosystems contain many of grasslands. Most of these fires are small, but the state’s rare and endangered plant and animal occasionally some reach hundreds or species, which are declining due to suppression thousands of acres. of forest fires. We recognize, of course, that wildfires are also capable of exposing millions of New Yorkers to smoke and particulate matter, and can threaten homes and property.
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Assessment: Status of forest biodiversity
The extent of biological diversity is a strong Of New York’s 49 forest communities (listed indicator of forest health and the forest’s resiliency in Appendix E, Table 1), 16 (33 percent) are in the face of potentially damaging agents, classified as forested wetland (i.e., “swamp” disturbance, severe weather events, and a or floodplain forest) and eight (16 percent) are changing environment. Biological diversity (often “woodland” types that usually have less than shortened to biodiversity) refers to the variety of 60 percent tree canopy cover. The remaining organisms, and their genetic variants, that occupy 25 (51 percent) are classified as upland forests, the earth. It includes all the ecosystems on the with greater than 60 percent canopy; these planet and their plants, animals, fungi, and range from coniferous forests (e.g., spruce flats microorganisms. Forest biodiversity encompasses and balsam flats) to mixed conifer-deciduous not just trees, but all other life forms that depend forests (e.g., hemlock-northern hardwood forest, on them. Therefore, biodiversity is a critical and pine-northern hardwood forest) to element of forest sustainability. deciduous forests (e.g., beech-maple mesic forest and maple-basswood rich mesic forest). New York is home to 49 forest and woodland The distribution of the forest types generally community types, catalogued and described by follows ecoregional boundaries within the state the New York Natural Heritage Program (see map below). Within a given ecoregion, (Edinger, 2014). These include several state- forests may occur as a matrix forest that rare communities, such as the maritime forests of blankets the ecoregion or as large and small coastal Long Island and the high alpine forests patch forests embedded within the matrix forest. of the Adirondacks (See Appendix E, Table 1).
Map of New York State’s Ecoregions (Level III). (Source: http://maps.tnc.org/gis_data.html)
46 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN 2020 | Goal #2: Keep New York’s Forests Healthy
Northern Appalachian/Acadian Ecoregion North Atlantic Coast Ecoregion (NAC): (NAP): ● NAC Matrix forests: oak-tulip tree forest, ● NAP matrix forests: beech-maple mesic pitch pine-oak forest, coastal oak-heath forest, spruce-northern hardwood forest, forest, and coastal oak-hickory forest. spruce flats, and mountain spruce-fir forest. ● NAC large and small patch forests: ● NAP large and small patch forests: “coastal” and “maritime” forests “mountain” forests and “talus slope (Appendix E, Table 2) and several woodlands” (Appendix E, Table 2), plus swamp types, especially coastal plain hemlock-northern hardwood forest, Atlantic white cedar swamps. maple-basswood rich mesic forest, and several swamp types. Biodiversity Trends
Lower New England/Northern Piedmont Fragmented forests decrease Ecoregion (LNE): benefits to neighboring towns and ● LNE matrix forests: chestnut oak forest, villages, such as clean water, Appalachian oak-hickory forest, beech- mitigation of floods and droughts, maple mesic forest. pollination in agricultural fields,
● LNE large and small patch forests: and pest control.
hemlock-northern hardwood forest, “talus For the last several hundred years, New York’s slope woodlands” (Appendix E, Table 2), forests have undergone a series of changes, and several swamp types. from intense logging for lumber, land clearing Great Lakes Ecoregion (GL): and plowing for crops and livestock, reforestation to both native and non-native forest ● GL matrix forest: maple-basswood rich types, and natural reforestation. The result has mesic forest. been a progressive homogenization of forests in New York to early and mid-successional forest ● GL large and small patch forests: types, the landscape no longer dominated by the hemlock-northern hardwood forest and long-lived, shade-tolerant beech, maple, the more calcareous woodlands and hemlock, and spruce forests of pre-colonial forests (Appendix D, Table 1), and times. In the absence of human disturbance, several swamp types, especially silver over time, we would expect succession to bring maple-ash swamp. about forests similar in composition, structure, High Alleghany Plateau (HAP) and Western and function to pre-settlement forest. This Alleghany Plateau (WAP) Ecoregions: occurs in areas with high levels of protection, such as the Adirondack and Catskill Parks, and ● HAP matrix forests: Allegheny oak forest, in some state parks like Allegany, Letchworth, hemlock-northern hardwood forest, and and Minnewaska. While vast areas of the state beech-maple mesic forest. are recovering from the rapid, broad-scale clearing of forests, comparisons of pre-colonial ● HAP large and small patch forests: rich and existing forest data indicate that New York mesophytic forest, maple-basswood rich forests are still in early stages of recovery mesic forest, hemlock-northern hardwood (Thompson, 2013). Furthermore, ongoing forest, and several swamp types. harvesting and land conversion associated with residential and industrial development, along with the side effects of this development (invasive species, deer browse, climate change,
NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN 2020 | Goal #2: Keep New York’s Forests Healthy 47
etc.), as well as global trade practices over the them to fully recover from the vast clearing that last 150 years, all continue to impact the occurred before the turn of the twentieth century. biodiversity of New York’s forests at both local The homogenization and simplification of our and regional scales. forests through historical clearing and ongoing human activities (see “Threats” section below) Natural disturbances, such as wind-blown trees, has reduced the overall integrity of our forests wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes, ice storms, etc., statewide by decreasing forest structure and the also alter forested landscapes. These natural number of species found there. Native species events, however, increase species diversity and richness, an observable measurement of structural diversity over the course of hundreds biodiversity, has declined over time across the of years, both among and within forest stands, state, with about 3.5 percent (118) of NYNHP- creating more resilient, uneven-aged natural tracked species extirpated, 5.3 percent (181) forest systems. Trees fall and create gaps that known only from historical records, and are filled in by seedlings and saplings, and the 38 percent (1,275) listed as Critically Imperiled fallen logs provide new areas for colonizing to Vulnerable. mosses and understory plants. What began as an even-aged forest will take hundreds of years Data are not available specifically for forest to develop the age-class and structural diversity species, but because of the predominance of it had before a stand replacement event, such forests in New York’s landscape, the status of as clearcutting. species in general is likely to be mirrored in forests. Figure A below represents all vascular Fortunately, forests in New York’s Catskill plants, vertebrates, and select invertebrates and Adirondack Parks, as well as state native to New York State across seven different parks, especially large ones like Allegany categories of rarity or imperilment. and Minnewaska, have been protected to allow
Figure A. Status of all native vascular plants, vertebrates, and select invertebrates in New York (nynhp.org)
48 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN 2020 | Goal #2: Keep New York’s Forests Healthy
Many of the plants and animals tracked in the cover and oviposition sites for aquatic animals. New York Natural Heritage Program databases Grassland plants may be pollinated by insects that are dependent upon or associated with forests emerge from the adjacent forest. Even marine (Table 1, below). At minimum, 369 species of and estuarine animals may benefit from nutrient forest-dependent plants and animals tracked in uptake in adjacent forests, which prevent chemical the program’s databases are currently listed as changes due to runoff from developed areas. Imperiled (S2) and Critically Imperiled (S1) in New York, as determined by expert opinion and Forest Diversity the intersection of their occurrences with known Forest owners and managers in all forested lands. circumstances (urban and rural) are often Heritage-tracked animals include all species confronted with forests dominated by a single ranked as Critically Imperiled (S1), Imperiled species or narrow age distribution. As noted in (S2), and select Vulnerable (S3) species, and the Assessment portion of this Plan, much of Heritage-tracked plants include all species New York State’s pre-colonial forest was cleared ranked S1 and S2. This information is by the early 1900s for agriculture, timber, pulp, incomplete, however, as additional tracked and development. Since then, a large part of the species not found in these two data sources state has returned to forests, with many of those may be forest associates. forests originating about the same time. With the exception of the few areas that have not seen # of Imperiled and ongoing activities or forest management Critically Imperiled (Adirondacks and Catskills), most forests in Taxonomic Group Species New York are composed of trees that are roughly Animals (class) the same age, what foresters call an “even-aged Mammals 10 stand.” As previously discussed, this sameness poses concerns with respect to biodiversity and Birds 23 management options for forest owners. Reptiles 9
Amphibians 5 Urban Forest Diversity Gastropods 1 Urban forests are also unnaturally similar in age or Insects 118 species composition, often dating back to the time of settlement. Historically, many cities, towns, and Plants (subkingdom) villages were heavily populated with stately elm Non-vascular plants 13 trees that succumbed to Dutch elm disease over Vascular plants 190 a relatively short period of time. Communities often replaced those elms with Norway maples, TOTAL 369 silver maples, and ash, which have now proven
to have their own problems and threats, Table 1. The number of forest-dependent rare especially from storms and invasive pests such species tracked by taxonomic group, NYNHP as the Asian longhorned beetle. Urban foresters
are finding that “too much of a good thing” is a In addition, species occurring in non-forested bad idea, as they now recognize the importance ecosystems within forested landscapes may of maintaining diversity in both species and ages depend upon the surrounding forest to a within the urban forest environment. considerable extent. For example, aquatic species in streams, rivers, and ponds depend on adjacent Threats to Forest Biodiversity forest as a buffer from development and a protectant of water quality. Deposits of coarse, A primary threat to New York’s forests includes woody debris in aquatic ecosystems provide linear infrastructure (e.g., roads) and land use
NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN 2020 | Goal #2: Keep New York’s Forests Healthy 49
changes (e.g., development) that can fragment identified as SGCN in the SWAP—depend upon forest patches and reduce forest patch size. forest habitats, including representatives of all Forest fragmentation is possibly the largest taxonomic groups that rely on terrestrial threat to the integrity of the large matrix forests habitats, as shown in Table 2. The species in the state. Fragmentation can restrict the assessment documents developed for the movement of plants and animals through the SWAP include details on forest habitat needs of forest, often resulting in the loss of species that these SGCN, such as tree species, canopy or require larger blocks of habitat (e.g., black bear, ground layers, edge or interior, and size of forest bobcat, certain bird species). The presence of blocks. The species assessments are available invasive species (e.g., insects, diseases, and at https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7179.html. plants), overbrowsing by deer and the associated lack of regeneration, fire suppression, Seventeen forest habitat types that support SGCN air pollution (e.g., ozone and acidic deposition), were identified (Table 3), but this does not include and climate change are other threats to forest some early successional forests categorized as conditions, as well as to native species richness shrublands, nor aquatic habitats in streams and composition. See “Effects of a changing flowing through forests. Some of these forest climate and environment on forest health,” habitats, especially those restricted to coastal “Connectivity of forests,” and “Forest Health locations, are limited in distribution, while other Monitoring” in the Assessment of Goals #1 forest types are widespread throughout the state. and #2 section.
# of Forest Habitat- # of Class Dependent SGCN Forest Habitat SGCN Amphibian 10 Atlantic White Cedar Swamp 4
Bird 42 Boreal Forested Peatland 15 Insect 92 Boreal Upland Forest 2 Mammal 18 Coastal Coniferous Barren 19
Reptile 18 Coastal Hardwood 7 Coastal Red Maple-Black Gum Swamp 3
Table 2. Forest Habitat Dependent SGCN Conifer Forest Swamp 6 NYSDEC Division of Fish and Wildlife Floodplain Forest 16
Forest habitat-dependent Hardwood Swamp 7 Species of Greatest Mixed Hardwood Swamp 6 Conservation Need (SGCN) Mixed Northern Hardwood 20 This Plan and New York’s State Wildlife Action Mountain Spruce-Fir Forest 3 Plan (SWAP) have fundamental shared Northeast Upland Forest 11 interests and priorities: conserving forested Oak Forest 12 lands, protecting healthy watersheds, conserving and restoring diminished native tree species, Oak-Pine Forest 22 conserving and creating young forest habitat, Pine Barren 20 and using fire to enhance forest conditions. Riparian Forest 7 The SWAP described the varied forest habitats in New York, and the diverse wildlife species Table 3. Forest Habitats that Support SGCN, these forest habitats support. A total of 180 NYSDEC Division of Fish and Wildlife different species—almost half of the 366 species
50 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN 2020 | Goal #2: Keep New York’s Forests Healthy
Threats to SGCN atmospheric pollutants, invasive species, climate change-induced habitat shifts, excessive human The process of drafting the SWAP assessed recreation, and overabundant white-tailed deer. threats to species but did not directly evaluate threats to habitats. Loss of habitats, including Forest management actions to improve habitats forest habitats, is one of the major threats to the for SGCN are ongoing, including silvicultural populations of SGCN. Forest habitat is most harvest and prescribed fire. Protection of key often lost to development, but for species that forested lands through the purchase of fee title or depend on young forests, their habitat is also a conservation easement is a recommended lost to natural forest succession. Natural system action in New York’s SWAP. Protection of modifications through alteration of fire regimes floodplain forests is especially important for the threatens 35 SGCN, especially those dependent multiple conservation benefits these riparian on pine bush habitats. Logging is a threat to 51 areas provide: habitat, flood protection, and SGCN, mostly related to siltation of aquatic connectivity. (See also Audubon New York’s habitats that can result from improper silviculture “Forest Management for New York Birds. A practices. Other threats to forest-dependent SGCN Forester’s Guide,” 2017; http://ny.audubon.org/ include gypsy moth, spruce budworm, and sites/default/files/audubonny_ hemlock woolly adelgid infestations, deposition of forestmgmtfornybirds.pdf.) Case study: Palmertown Range in Saratoga County, New York The Southern Palmertown Conservation and Recreation Strategy (Open Space Institute, 2018) is a new vision for this unique area in northern Saratoga County. This area is an ecologically intact landscape with unfragmented, and diverse forests and wetlands. It is also an important ecological linkage Public workshop for the Southern Palmertown Conservation and Recreation Strategy, 2017 between the Adirondack Park, Lake George, the Capital Region, the Hudson River Valley, the Taconic Mountains of Massachusetts, and the Green Mountains of Vermont. The Southern Palmertown Area is also in close proximity to growing population centers in Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls, and Wilton, and it has the potential to link these communities through thoughtful use of a connected landscape of already protected lands. This Strategy includes recommended conservation lands and recreational trails, with connections to many communities, businesses, and managed landscapes. This plan suggests steps that local communities can take, combining thoughtful, cooperative planning and action to protect the environmental services and natural resources of the landscape and simultaneously stimulate compatible economic development activities (https://s3.amazonaws.com/osi-craft/PalmertownRangeFINAL_ SUMMARY-for-Web.pdf?mtime=20181105163611).
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Assessment: Connectivity of forests
Protection of large blocks of forested land is an Staying Connected Initiative important component of wildlife conservation in (http://stayingconnectedinitiative.org), led by TNC, New York, but connectivity of these protected utilized landscape permeability modeling to forestlands is also crucial to provide wildlife the identify the least-cost path linkages across the opportunity to move across the landscape. Northeast. In New York, these linkages include Habitat connectivity is important on many Tug Hill to the Adirondacks across the Black geographic scales, from the local scale of River Valley, Adirondacks to the Green seasonal migration of amphibians between Mountains across the Lake Champlain Valley, breeding pools and upland habitats, to the and the Green Mountains to the Hudson regional range expansion of moose between Highlands through the Berkshires and northeastern states. The unimpeded movement Rensselaer Plateau. This conservation work has of animals is important to maintain their genetic included partnering with transportation agencies diversity, and also allows wildlife to move to on wildlife road crossing structures, suitable habitats, which is an important strengthening local conservation planning adaptation strategy to climate change. Among its capacity, protecting “stepping-stone” parcels in objectives, the SWAP identified “Promote habitat identified linkage areas, and developing tools to connectivity for SGCN.” Among actions to assess connectivity opportunities and measure achieve this objective, the SWAP listed dam project outcomes. removal and culvert replacement for aquatic connectivity, and the restoration and In addition to these Northeast regional-scale maintenance of natural habitats in linkage areas projects, habitat connectivity efforts are for Northeast regional habitat connectivity. underway throughout New York to maintain connectivity between large forested areas, as The Habitat Assessment chapter of the SWAP well as between smaller forest blocks. The three identified five areas of large, relatively intact large regions in our state that contain a matrix of forests within New York—Adirondacks, Catskills, smaller forest blocks are the Lake Ontario and the Allegheny, Tug Hill, and Rensselaer Plains, the Mohawk River Valley, and the Plateaus—as well as smaller forest blocks that Hudson River Valley. In these regions, forest occur at several locations throughout the state. blocks are often separated by agricultural areas, Connectivity to the Adirondacks has long been major highways, or both. The Strategic Plan for a conservation priority. The Algonquin to State Forest Management describes DEC’s Adirondacks Collaborative has sought to work to identify connectivity between forest maintain and restore connectivity between these matrix blocks (https://www.dec.ny.gov/ two large protected areas across the heavily lands/64567.html). developed St. Lawrence River Valley. The
52 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN 2020 | Goal #2: Keep New York’s Forests Healthy
Assessment: Soil resources in forests
Soil is important to forest sustainability since it in many parts of the state. The most ubiquitous is, literally, what supports trees. Soil conditions material left behind as the ice retreated is glacial and their ability to support tree and forest growth till, the rough mixture of rocks, sand, and clay are negatively impacted by a variety of factors, scraped up and bulldozed by the glacier’s ice. including development, compaction and hard- surfacing, erosion, land cover type, fire, severe Soils and Associated Tree Species weather events, changing soil temperature Glaciers of the last ice age erased the existing regimes, and even non-native earthworms. forests and landforms of New York so thoroughly that there is almost no trace of the Geology pre-glacial ecology. New soils slowly began to Bedrock geology forms the framework of the develop as organic matter accumulated, laying landscape, influencing soil and water chemistry, the foundation for plant succession. About drainage patterns, the shape and orientation of 11,000 years ago, tree species, led by spruce, much of the topography, and the resulting local migrated back north from their glacial refuges. climate patterns. Some of the early trees arriving soon after white spruce included black spruce, elm, and black The topography of New York has been shaped ash. One of the last major species to arrive in by a complex and turbulent geologic history, New York was chestnut, reaching the state including multiple tectonic plate collisions, uplifts about 2,000 years ago. and erosions of several mountain ranges, and volcanic activity, as well as advancing and Most of the bedrock in New York, including retreating sea levels. New York has one of the shale, sandstone, and most metamorphic rock, world’s best fossil records of the Devonian produces acidic soils. Where the bedrock is Period (408 to 360 million years ago) with limestone or marble, soils are high in calcium. remarkably well-preserved marine sequences, The difference between forest types growing on and also non-marine fossils that show the acid soils and calcareous soils can be dramatic. transition to land. Most of the bedrock in Where sandstone bedrock is next to limestone New York is over 250 million years old, with bedrock, the change in vegetation is often younger rocks having been almost completely abrupt. Pitch pines, chestnut oaks, blueberries, removed by erosion. and other acid-loving plants do not grow well on limestone. Other species are more tolerant, New York’s present landscape is dominated by notably red cedar, which grows well on rocky the impacts of the last ice age, which ended sites. For red cedar, lack of shade from 15,000 years ago. Only a small area of the competition is a more important factor than southwestern part of the state—the southwest soil chemistry. corner of the High Allegheny Plateau Many elements of a site affect a tree, including Ecoregion—escaped glaciation. Glaciers shaped soil thickness and rooting depth, frost effects, the high peaks in the Catskills and Adirondacks, soil chemistry, elevation, moisture availability, created Long Island, formed huge lakes, wind exposure, etc. Different species have changed hydrology, and covered much of the different site requirements, and their health and state with a layer of glacial till. Where huge vigor ultimately depend on where they grow. glacial lakes once held meltwater, there are For example, sugar maple growing on a south- now thick sand and clay deposits, such as facing, dry slope is likely to be stressed by those in the Hudson Valley and parts of Central drought and heat, and more susceptible to New York. The remnants of ice age features— insects and disease. However, many oak such as sand dunes, river sand and gravel species would thrive on such a site since they deposits, and muck-filled bogs—can be found generally prefer warm, well-drained conditions.
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Forest Management Implications destructive. Even when it merely fertilizes hemlocks, it has been linked with increased Encouraging the growth of tree species on sites vulnerability to adelgids. Soils can become with optimal conditions is one of the important saturated with nitrogen to the point that plants benefits of wise forest management. Foresters can no longer absorb it, and the excess nitrogen must rely on their knowledge of what each tree leaches out of the soil to contaminate water. and forest community requires, so that their Calcium leaching from acidic soils is a management efforts result in resilient and particularly serious problem, not only because healthy forests. A harvest on a south-facing dry soils become even more acidic, but also slope would focus on perpetuation of species because calcium is critical for so many plant that do best in those conditions, such as oak. processes. Reduced soil calcium levels have This purposefully parallels what we observe on been implicated in increased frost injury and the landscape and know about species long-term decline in New York’s sugar maples requirements for optimal growth. and red spruces. Long-term Effects of Effects of Climate Change Acid Rain on Forest Soils on Forest Soils
In the1980s, the worst pollutants from coal- Forest soils formed as a result of particular burning utility plants in the Midwest, sulfur temperature and precipitation regimes, which in dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), were turn, affected forest development, composition, deposited across the Northeast in the form of and productivity. Climate change impacts acid rain or as dry acid particles. Unfortunately, observed in New York are expected to continue many forests in the Catskills, Adirondacks, and to include rising temperatures and altered Hudson Highlands grew on naturally acid soils precipitation patterns. The resulting changes in with no buffering capacity to neutralize the acid soil temperature regimes have the potential to deposition. Soils became even more acidic, undermine the resilience of our forest species, leading to the release of unbound aluminum both trees and understory plants. Shorter, warmer from soil compounds. Hundreds of lakes winters may not provide timely or sufficient cold became too acidic and poisoned by aluminum periods for trees to become frost hardened, and to support any life, and the high-elevation frequent thaw-freeze cycles during winter may forests were dying, their roots damaged by affect dormancy and essential early spring free aluminum in the thin acid soil. nutrient-uptake cycles. High temperatures and a potential lack of precipitation in the growing New York passed the 1984 State Acid season may increase drought stress and the Deposition Control Act, which was later followed potential for non-native, drought-tolerant species by Article IV of the 1990 EPA Clean Air Act, to establish and outcompete native ones. known as the Acid Rain Program, which required utilities to reduce emissions of SO2 Note: The benefit of soils storing carbon is and NOx. As precipitation became less acidic, discussed under Goal #1, ‘Assessment: forests began to recover. Valuing forests for carbon storage and community adaptation.’ Yet even today, the impact of acid rain has not gone away. Long-term studies of forest soils show that acid rain has caused major changes in ecosystem cycling of nitrogen, calcium, and carbon. Nitrogen deposition may be lower than it was before acid rain legislation was enacted, but it continues to accumulate in forest soils. Continued nitrogen deposition is especially
54 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN 2020 | Goal #2: Keep New York’s Forests Healthy
Assessment: Forest health monitoring
Since 2015, New York has regulated many The iMapInvasives database provides a venue invasive plants and animals that are particularly for citizens to report invasive species harmful to native species and/or human health. observations, and the PRISMs program These invasives cannot be sold, imported, (Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species purchased, transported, or introduced without Management, https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/ a permit (6 NYCRR Part 575, 47433.html) is responsible for developing early https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/99141.html). detection networks comprised of trained staff and volunteers. Other existing programs, such In 2018, DEC’s Division of Lands and Forests as the Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment established an Invasive Species Comprehensive Program (CSLAP) and Water Assessments by Management Plan to guide New York agencies Volunteer Evaluators (WAVE), involve many and their partners toward an effective and stakeholders across the state who collect coordinated monitoring and response effort ecological data. However, these programs are across the state, including on private and public not specifically designed to detect invasives. forests. The goal of this Plan is to minimize the There are opportunities to strengthen introduction, proliferation, and negative impacts New York’s early detection capacity and build caused by invasive species partnerships through public engagement by (https://www.dec.ny.gov/ expanding existing citizen monitoring programs docs/lands_forests_pdf/iscmpfinal.pdf). to include invasive species, or creating similar Prevention is the first line of defense against programs with an invasives focus. would-be invaders and is the preferred management strategy. Because of the potential Threats and challenges for new preventative measures to affect While these examples represent significant commerce and trade, an economic assessment progress toward effective statewide prevention of the risk of harm from specific invasives can and early detection/monitoring systems, there is provide critical information for decision-makers. a need to take stock of current practices to This allows them to evaluate the economic identify gaps in the State’s early detection impacts of proposed prevention measures in the program, including taxonomic expertise; context of potential (negative) economic impacts technological, human, or financial resources; of invasives. TNC’s Forest Health Score Card and spatial or ecosystem-specific gaps. offers an opportunity for collaboration in forest health assessment. New York is a major port of entry for a wide range of taxa from other lands and waterways. Though investment in prevention measures at all For decades, state officials and resource scales is the first line of defense, even the most managers have provided a critical line of robust prevention efforts will not be 100 percent defense to prevent the establishment and effective. For this reason, early detection of proliferation of invasive species that can harm invasives and a rapid response to infestations public health, ecosystem integrity, agricultural are essential. Emerging technologies may productivity, and market access, as well as assist with early detection. For example, DEC commerce. Despite these ongoing management has deployed a fleet of 22 Unmanned Aerial efforts, global trade, climate change, and the Vehicles (UAVs) for invasives detection. In spread of invasive species across state addition, current and potential citizen science boundaries continue to elevate the risk programs present important opportunities invasive species pose to all New Yorkers. to expand early detection capabilities, complementing technological approaches with boots on the ground.
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Focus Area: Urban forest health
In urban communities, there are fewer trees, so increase in numbers of people looking for each individual specimen is more important than threats. For example, the first ALB in New York it would be in a rural forest. Tree diversity and City was found by a private citizen. healthy trees make a community forest more resilient, which is important since these Loss of trees due to Dutch elm disease and, to a communities are where most New Yorkers live. lesser extent, EAB showed the importance of Invasive species and diseases like ALB, EAB, good urban forestry, including having inventories and Dutch elm disease have threatened and (i.e., knowing what you have and where it is devastated urban forests, causing associated located) and management plans for storms and economic and human health impacts. other disasters. Streets and entire blocks used to be lined with elm trees. Ash trees were often Outreach to the general public and municipal planted to replace the elms, but when EAB staffs is essential to early detection of threats to infested communities again, street after street our trees. Often, private citizens prove to be had to be cleared of dead ash. invaluable in these efforts because of the Strategy: Foster diversity of native plants and animals in forests
● Continue to work with the State’s NHP, ● Focus conservation efforts on areas DEC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife, and where forests will provide habitat for OPRHP to identify, maintain, and wildlife under warming climate encourage important natural conditions. Consider how shifts in the communities and species of special range of forest wildlife species will need concern through field surveys and to be accommodated as the species mapping. Expand this effort to include move to higher elevations or northward. sharing known occurrences with private landowners. Low-diversity forest
● Encourage landowner participation in communities are at greater Natural Resource Conservation Service risk during severe weather (NRCS) programs, such as the events and shifting phenology Environmental Quality Incentives schedules. Studies have Program and Wildlife Habitat consistently shown that diverse Improvement Program. These programs systems are more resilient to help to encourage and promote local native plant and animal diversity by disturbance, and low-diversity utilizing cost-share programs for ecosystems are more practices such as planting, wildlife food vulnerable to change. plots, habitat improvement, and reducing soil erosion.
56 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN 2020 | Goal #2: Keep New York’s Forests Healthy
Strategy: Boost forest regeneration and healthy forest structure Private lands ● Work with partners to develop innovative outreach methods and new products to The lack of forest regeneration in New York is a attract landowners to forestry and major threat to the economic and ecological efficiently meet their needs (Forest Health productivity of its forestlands. The cost burden of Plans, Snap-out plans, etc.). Implement establishing forest regeneration for 75 percent of management strategies that ensure the the forested acres in the state falls directly on long-term health of the soil, root-zone, private landowners. ground cover, understory, and canopy.
● Develop and grow the newly created ● Continue to provide native tree seedlings “Regenerate NY” cost-share program to for forest restoration. Emphasize native improve forest regeneration on private plants, pollinators, and insects in forest forestland. This state-funded program management. Align forest health became available to forest landowners protection efforts with the NYSDEC statewide in 2020 and will help defer the Pollinator Protection Plan, 2016 cost of forest regeneration practices, (https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/ such as interfering vegetation control, administration_pdf/nyspollinatorplan.pdf). tree planting and maintenance, and site preparation. ● Implement harvesting strategies and cycles with an eye toward long-term ● Evaluate strategies and policies to ecological productivity, climate change, reduce or remove barriers for consulting and regeneration of all living organisms foresters and loggers to obtain pesticide sustained by the forest. licenses, as well as increase the number of commercial pesticide applicators State forests statewide. ● Manage state forests using an ecosystem ● Work with DEC’s Division of Fish and management approach, integrating Wildlife and conservation partners to help principles of landscape ecology, multiple landowners and communities manage use management, and silviculture to deer populations. promote habitat biodiversity, while enhancing the overall health and ● Explore shared stewardship opportunities resiliency of state forests. Because with the U.S. Forest Service to discover forests are dynamic systems that are and develop innovative solutions for constantly being shaped by the forces of solving forest regeneration problems. nature, also apply adaptive management ● Develop outreach and education techniques to respond to insect and products and strategies to encourage disease epidemics, wind and ice storms, private landowners to manage for and other natural occurrences. Follow intolerant tree species, where guidelines established in the Strategic Plan appropriate, through the use of for State Forest Management clearcuts, seed trees, shelterwoods, (https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/64567.html). and patch cuttings. ● Manage state forests sustainably for forest products, utilizing accepted silvicultural methods to enhance existing specimens while regenerating future timber products.
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● Advance DEC’s Young Forests Initiative ● Look to communities that are already to increase acres in early successional modeling these efforts, even if they are habitat. These seedling- and shrubland not located in New York State. acres are beneficial for migrant songbirds, native gamebirds, and other wildlife. Unit Management Plans and ● Use uneven-aged management on state Master Plans for State lands forests to achieve large unbroken ● Evaluate each DEC unit and each OPRHP expanses of woodland needed by many State Park individually for forest wildlife and birds. regeneration opportunities, and work ● Assess stressors and threats outside of directly with DEC’s Division of Fish and invasives and identify priorities in the Wildlife and NYNHP while creating Unit SWAP. Management Plans and Master Plans.
● Partner with the plant conservation ● Be wildlife and plant sensitive, as well community to protect forests and the as habitat oriented in trails and habitat they provide for native plants recreation planning. and animals. ● On DEC’s state lands, implement harvesting strategies that will minimize ● Educate New Yorkers to be part of adaptive effects on wildlife activity and habitat conservation communities that are either during forest management activities. (Tree proactive about stressors and threats to harvesting in state parks is prohibited.) native plants and animals or respond quickly to changing conditions. ● Limit or avoid human access to sensitive areas as an explicit strategy. Strategy: Defend against, remove, or mitigate impacts of invasive species and pests
Multiple New York State agencies and partners ● Strengthen relationships with local have collectively developed a nationally municipalities to improve local recognized invasive species management engagement and buy-in. program that is positioned to continue being a ● Engage climate change experts in leader in invasive species prevention and invasive species collaborations. management (https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/ lands_forests_pdf/iscmpfinal.pdf). ● Utilize tools, such as IPMDAT, to improve invasive species management Continue to build actions by considering the total partnerships and capacity landscape factors affecting an invasive Overcoming the threats posed by invasive species species infestation. requires the combined and synchronized actions ● Coordinate management actions and of many parties, including private citizens, elected funding sources to incentivize integrated officials, and resource management agencies. management activities across the ● Develop campaigns specifically targeted landscape, between resource managers to reach private landowners to and land ownership boundaries. encourage them to manage invasives in ● Connect with national invasive species their forests. organizations and neighboring states to leverage knowledge and resources.
58 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN 2020 | Goal #2: Keep New York’s Forests Healthy
● Advance the capabilities of Develop a centralized framework iMapInvasives. for sharing invasive species ● Consider citizen science projects (i-Tree information and other resources) to engage the ● Establish a collaborative Horizon public. Projects should not only look for Scanning Committee focused on and report invasives but help to prioritization at the state level. document overall forest health. Leverage citizen science opportunities and other ● Advance preparedness through engagement with community members, information sharing. students, and landowners to help implement monitoring or research Advance prevention, early projects that target detection or detection, and rapid response management of invasive species. to invasive species Continue to coordinate ● Maintain and expand resources dedicated regional invasive species to prevention and early detection. management functions ● Conduct economic impact evaluations of Eight Partnerships for Regional Invasive invasive species to support cost-benefit Species Management (PRISMs) provide analyses and set priorities. complete coverage of New York, with a focus ● Support the advancement of the early on facilitating cooperation between public and warning notification system. private interests. ● Develop and apply emerging ● Continue building expertise within the technologies to detect and manage eight PRISM regions of the state. invasive species ● Provide regionally adapted, on-the- ground actions regarding outreach, ● Continue to support research and prevention, management, and monitoring. development. ● Identify regional priorities for allocation Evaluate success of resources. ● Develop quantitative metrics designed to evaluate progress and outcomes of key recommendations.
● Develop a template for cooperators and contract partners to define objectives and measures of success.
● Conduct post-intervention monitoring to evaluate and document effectiveness in accordance with the pre-defined DEC’s Jess Cancelliere (on right), along with objectives and criteria. staff of the U.S. Forest Service, Long Island Pine Barrens Commission, and Dartmouth College investigate an outbreak on Long Island of southern pine beetle in white pine, which is not its traditional host. (DEC, 2017)
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Case Study: Iona Marsh Restoration Work Located along the Hudson River in Bear Mountain State Park, Iona Island has seen various uses over the years, including housing a U.S. Navy arsenal. Five Navy buildings still stand on a small portion of the island. Most of the island, however, has returned to a more natural state, with woods, meadows, and rocky outcroppings, and currently serves Cattail and blooming rose mallow have regrown as a sanctuary for wintering bald where phragmites once was. Iona Marsh, 2016. eagles. In 1974, the island achieved National Natural Landmark status, and was designated a New York State Bird Conservation Area and Audubon Important Bird Area shortly thereafter. A key natural feature of Iona is the extensive marshlands, 153 acres on its western side. Part of the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve, this brackish tidal marsh teems with life, including fish, waterfowl, waterbirds, plants, and crustaceans. However, the rich biodiversity, which includes a number of state-rare species, has been threatened in recent times. Phragmites australis (common reed) eventually covered nearly 80 percent of the marsh, concurrent with the decline in marsh specialist birds and specialized brackish marsh plants. In an effort to reverse these trends, the partnership of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve, and the Highlands Environmental Research Institute began in 2008. This DEC-funded management program focused on a 10-acre test area, with the goal to reduce the presence of invasive phragmites and make room for native plants. If the program was successful in this small area, it could be expanded to additional marshlands. A monitoring program was implemented and showed dramatic results. More than 90 percent of the phragmites in the test area were eliminated within a year and nearly 97 percent by the third year. Researchers saw the return of huge meadows of annual native marsh plants, including some state-threatened species, followed by native cattail stands. Marsh specialist birds, such as Virginia rail, least bittern (state-threatened), and marsh wren, soon followed. The project was expanded to an adjacent 32-acre marsh area known as Ring Meadow. Both target areas now have less than 5 percent phragmites cover, an overall success on the journey to reestablish native vegetation and improve the marsh ecosystem.
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Strategy: Manage forest fires for the benefit of forests
New York’s forest fire-dependent ecosystems ● Increase the capacity for conducting and the rare species they support are declining prescribed fires, including pre-fire because of fire suppression. Benefits of fire treatments and post-fire monitoring. include recycling nutrients back into the soil, changing the soil chemistry and structure to ● During and post-fire, continue the promote the growth of certain species of plants, productive collaboration between forest promoting seed germination, and creating gaps rangers and natural resource advisors at for light-dependent plants. Fire used in a DEC and OPRHP. prescribed manner can accomplish these goals. Indigenous peoples’ In addition, prescribed fire can be used to reduce fuels (e.g., dry matter on the forest floor) fire management available in the event of a wildfire, thereby Indigenous peoples living in the boundaries of reducing the intensity and size of the wildfire, as present-day New York, notably Shinnecock in well as reducing its overall impact to nearby the Pine Barrens, have a long history of using communities. fire to care for and enhance forest resources. These practices help forests regenerate, reduce ● Improve minimal impact strategies and insect pests, and increase the availability of techniques (MIST) for containing wildfires certain cultural resources. Many indigenous by developing enhanced hand-crew people, especially elders, still hold knowledge of firefighters and expanding aviation burning practices. capabilities. ● Engage indigenous peoples’ fire ● Support state and local governments and management knowledge and practice. non-government organizations using prescribed fire to manage fire-dependent See also Strategy below: Cooperatively ecosystems. implement indigenous knowledge to maintain forest health. ● Maintain and improve the expertise and capability of state agencies, compact members, and federal agencies to control wildfires. Strategy: Cooperatively implement indigenous knowledge for forest health
Indigenous peoples maintain extensive ecological Cooperative implementation of this knowledge knowledge systems, sometimes referred to as would include assessment, monitoring, Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). Far management planning, and implementation from being an anachronism, the widespread (https://us.fsc.org/preview.fsc-std-usa-v1-1- engagement of TEK to address contemporary 2018.a-719.pdf.) issues such as climate change, sustainable resource management, and ecological restoration illustrates its value for contemporary sustainability solutions.
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What is TEK? Forest Stewardship Council – TEK refers to the body of Forest Management Standard knowledge, practice, and belief Principle 3: Indigenous concerning the relationship of living Peoples’ Rights beings to one another and to the physical environment, which is Criterion 3.4 Indigenous held by people in societies with a peoples shall be compensated long history of direct dependence for the application of their on local resources (Berkes, 1993). traditional knowledge regarding TEK is part of the cultures it comes the use of forest species or from. Like Western science, TEK is management systems in forest based on systematic observations operations. This compensation of nature. Both knowledge shall be formally agreed traditions have predictive power, upon with their free and and in both traditions, observations informed consent before are interpreted in a cultural forest operations commence. context. TEK has value not only Indicator 3.4.b When traditional for its wealth of factual knowledge is used, written information, but also for the protocols are jointly developed cultural framework of respect, prior to such use and signed by reciprocity, and responsibility in local tribes or tribal members to which it is embedded (Kimmerer, protect and fairly compensate 1998, Pierotti and Wildcat, 2000). them for such use. Scientific approaches for sustainability solutions have Indicator 3.4.c The forest been effective in certain arenas, owner or manager respects the but it has become clear that confidentiality of tribal traditional science alone is limited in its knowledge and assists in the ability to address problems that protection of such knowledge. include human values.
Strategy: Help private forest owners keep their forests healthy
Private landowners are increasingly finding it ● Develop and grow the newly created difficult to manage their forestland for forest “Regenerate NY” cost-share program to health. Pests and interfering vegetation threaten improve forest regeneration on private the short- and long-term economic values of forestland. Cost-share forest regeneration their property. Other values, such as ecological practices include interfering vegetation integrity and aesthetic beauty of their forestland, control, tree planting and maintenance, could also be diminished. The following strategies and site preparation. will be pursued to help landowners keep their forestland healthy (See more under Goal #4):
62 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN 2020 | Goal #2: Keep New York’s Forests Healthy
● Promote local wood markets and ● Promote the “Trees for Tribs” program to operations as a mechanism for removing improve stream health and increase and utilizing unhealthy trees to create connectivity, which support forest health healthier, more resilient forests on private and create or expand buffers to existing forest lands in New York State. forest. Also promote the “Buffer in a Bag” program (https://www.dec.ny.gov/ ● Implement a Forest Health Cooperator animals/115903.html) a program Program. Establish a network of long- introduced in 2019, that provides a bag term forest health monitoring plots on of tree and shrub seedlings for private forestland through voluntary landowners to plant along streams. agreements with forest landowners. Set up permanent forest health plots on ● Develop additional property tax private lands to assist with early detection incentive programs to encourage of forest health issues. sustainable forestry.
● Provide landowners a “forest health ● Build DEC program capacity with more check-up” assessment of private forests invasive species and forest health as part of DEC initiatives. Develop a experts to assist private landowners with “forest health checkup” as a targeted protection and management product for forest landowners who want opportunities when the landowner is to know if their land is healthy, but don’t ready. want or don’t need a full forest stewardship or management plan. ● Work with local, state, and federal Engage landowners in assisting with a agencies to incorporate considerations “check-up” and work to establish a regarding forest health, forest pests, and protocol to monitor forest health issues invasive species in current private that landowners can follow. forestland programs and plans. Especially target water protection, ● Prior to—as well as during—timber adapting to climate change, and deer harvest, as well as prior to allowing public management. access for recreation and hunting, landowners should consult with DEC fish The cost for landowners to and wildlife experts to incorporate maintain a healthy forest is high. strategies for specific forest types that Encouraging tree regeneration maintain and enhance wildlife habitat on private land through certain activities, are wildlife- and plant-sensitive, and are habitat oriented. types of silviculture treatment is especially costly. High costs can ● Limit human access to sensitive areas deter forest owners from acting. and take steps to avoid sensitive areas altogether as an explicit tool for forest health protection.
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Strategy: Continue forest health-related research initiatives
● Investigate issues and strategies for status of our state’s forests and is the overcoming forest regeneration problems. best dataset for researchers to address top challenges, such as forest ● Determine what mosaic of forest regeneration. age/type and other characteristics best support forest health and resist invasions ● Continue to develop forest health or pests. research projects that:
● Build and maintain statewide forest – Answer biological questions about a health data sets. tree or pest,
● Develop and implement monitoring/ – Assess the efficacy of our research projects that target detection management of a pest or disease, and management of invasive species by: – Improve forest management on a – Understanding invasive species biology, landscape level scale. ecology, interactions, and impacts, ● Develop a robust research laboratory. – Forecasting and prioritizing invasive species for action, ● Work with land managers to translate science into practical applications. – Identifying and detecting invasive species, ● Develop cutting-edge tools to analyze forest conditions, as well as accelerate the – Managing invasive species and pace and scale of forest management or altered ecosystems. invasive species treatments.
● Build a network of cooperating ● Increase research that will enhance the researchers to expand forest health productivity, utilization, and sustainability of research and promote New York State tree species threatened by climate change: as a leader in forest health science. – Implement experimental treatments in ● Maintain support and resources for the permanent research plots on state U.S. Forest Service’s FIA Program and forestland to potentially increase the DEC staff’s coordination of the program. productivity and sustainability of The FIA Program, a comprehensive vulnerable tree species, forest monitoring network used by New York, provides timely analysis of the – Manage uncertainty by using results from permanent plots to develop and validate models that predict how forests change over time and how they respond to climate change, biotic invasions, and land management, and
– Use research results to educate the public and increase acceptance of active forest management.
DEC’s Liam Somers identifies nitidulid beetles under a microscope as part of an ongoing research project to study the important vectors of oak wilt (DEC, 2019)
64 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN 2020 | Goal #2: Keep New York’s Forests Healthy
GOAL #3: Increase Forest Benefits for Humans and All Living Creatures “The best friend on earth of man our mental and physical health and happiness, is the tree. When we use the tree and supply us with food, shelter, and renewable economic goods. As changes in our environment respectfully and economically, and climate accelerate and threaten our access we have one of the greatest to these benefits, our forests become resources on the earth.” increasingly important, with beneficial impacts FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT well beyond our state borders.
Once New York’s strategies are in place to This goal directly addresses the National S&PF keep forests as forests and to keep them healthy Priority to “Enhance public benefits from trees (our first two goals), the stage is set for targeted and forests.” The strategies identified under this efforts so humans and other living organisms goal also aim to “conserve and manage working can continue to receive vital benefits from our forest landscapes for multiple values and uses” forests. New York’s forests generate life- and to “protect forests from threats,” the other sustaining clean air and water, contribute to two National State & Private Forestry Priorities. Assessment: Forest protection for drinking water quality and supply Drinking Water Quality and Supply In addition to being a forest-rich
Forests are the first line of defense when state, New York has a seeming protecting water quality, which is essential for abundance of clean, high quality people and all living organisms. Forests and water. Watershed protection is their soils act like huge sponges, soaking up the first and most fundamental enormous amounts of precipitation. By the time step in a multi-barrier approach rain and snowmelt seep through forest soil into to protecting drinking water. groundwater or nearby surface water, the precipitation is cleaned and purified. Forested New York State’s involvement in land acquisitions watersheds also moderate water quantity by in critical watersheds has been essential to slowing surface runoff and increasing the protecting drinking water quality throughout our infiltration of water into the soil. The result is less state. Protecting natural ecosystems and the flooding, cleaner water downstream, and greater drinking water they provide is easier, more groundwater reserves (Ernst, Caryn, 2004). efficient, and more cost-effective than the Watershed protection is the first and most engineered alternative. When communities invest fundamental step in a multiple-barrier approach in land protection as a way to protect their drinking to protecting drinking water. In 2018, DEC water, they are investing in the long-term health updated its NYS Forestry Best Management and quality of life of their residents—guiding Practices For Water Quality BMP Field Guide, growth away from sensitive water resources, (https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/37845.html). providing new parks and recreational opportunities, and protecting farmland and natural habitats, as well as preserving historic landscapes. Many communities don’t realize the natural filtration forests provide, and the cost-
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saving benefits of source protection versus the manages more than 200,000 acres in the potentially dramatic increase in treatment costs Catskill Watershed. Jointly, the City and State that can result from the loss of forests (Ernst, encourage private owners in the New York City 2004). watershed to keep forests as forests, and implement forestry practices that restrict runoff, New York State has taken many actions to protect reduce sedimentation, and take up contaminants. forests in order to maintain and enhance water quality, including the creation of the Adirondack Example – Long Island and Catskill Forest Preserve, the establishment of New York City’s surface reservoir system, and the Similarly, the Long Island Pine Barrens and its forest protection component of their Filtration underground aquifer provide virtually all the Avoidance Determination. Island’s drinking water, supplying millions of people. Two hundred years ago, the Pine Example – New York City Barrens blanketed a quarter of Long Island. Today, most of that land is developed. The The primary source of New York City’s drinking approx. 106,000 acres remaining, as of 2019, water is the Catskill area watershed. The City have been divided into two categories by the works to protect and restore this watershed New York State Central Pine Barrens rather than build a multi-billion-dollar water Commission: the Core Preservation Area (over filtration plant. New York City estimated the cost 57,000 acres) and the Compatible Growth Area of installing filtration alone to be nearly $7 billion, (over 48,500 acres).5 The U.S. Environmental with over $300 million in annual operating costs. Protection Agency designated this aquifer Instead, they chose to support the quality of land system as the nation’s first sole source aquifer, management in its source watershed, which will requiring special protection. It is managed jointly sustain high water quality at a substantially by state, county, and local governments. lower investment. New York City manages about 55,000 acres in the Catskills, and the State
Map of New York State’s Watersheds
5 The Pine Barrens Legislation - NY Environmental Conservation Law Article 57.
66 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN 2020 | Goal #3: Increase Forest Benefits for Humans and All Living Creatures
Threats and challenges ● Undermines the land’s capacity to absorb and hold water, Most people do not make the connection between forested watersheds, the water coming ● Increases pollutant runoff from paved from their faucet, and stormwater or flood surfaces, rooftops, treated lawns, mitigation. Similarly, the public is generally agricultural lands, etc., unaware of the threats to their water supplies. ● Disrupts the natural hydrology of Considering that the majority of New York’s water flows, volumes, rates, retention, forests are privately owned, a similar statement and storage. can be made that most people don’t make the connection between privately owned forests and Protecting and managing forests in source the water coming from their faucet. This lack of watersheds is an essential part of future public awareness can lead to poor management strategies for providing clean, safe drinking decisions and insufficient support for forest water that people can afford. One of the main retention and management. This lack of support, reasons why suppliers are revisiting the idea of in turn, leads to urban and suburban sprawl, or source protection is the growing realization that conversion of forests to agricultural use. The allowing untreated water quality to degrade resulting loss of forested cover: increases treatment and capital costs. Assessment: Benefits of urban tree canopy and green infrastructure
Collectively, community trees constitute an them cooler and reducing air conditioning or urban forest that can be thought of as a city’s other energy costs. In addition, strategically green infrastructure, while a city’s roads, placed trees of appropriate species shelter sewers, bridges, and water treatment plants buildings from cold winds in winter months, constitute its gray infrastructure. reducing heating costs. Social and economic Investment in maintaining green infrastructure urban benefits pays off multifold: it reduces spending on high- cost gray infrastructure, such as facilities to Eighty-seven percent of New Yorkers live and manage stormwater and water pollution; it work in urban or suburban areas (Nowak et al. insulates against temperature extremes; and 2018; See also “Map of New York State’s it filters and purifies our air. The planting and Population Density, 2010” in Goal #1). care of community trees represents a wise Community forests represent most people’s investment in what is perhaps the only part of daily environment. Urban tree cover contributes a city’s infrastructure that actually increases to walkable neighborhoods, as well as distinctive in value and contribution over time. and attractive places with a strong sense of place. The presence of parks and trees in Thus, greening our urban areas and neighborhoods encourages socializing, bonding, communities helps to support New York’s Smart and exercise, and can reduce crime. As a result, Growth initiative to combat urban sprawl, make trees and a property’s proximity to parks have our existing urban areas and communities more been shown to increase residential and attractive, and mitigate pressures on open space commercial property values. conservation in rural areas that often attract sprawl-type development (www.dot.ny.gov/ The urban tree canopy also reduces heating and programs/smart-planning/smartgrowth-law). cooling costs. In the summer, trees reduce the urban heat island effect: they shade buildings, sidewalks, streets, and other structures, keeping
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Urban health and Environmental urban benefits performance benefits Community forests are important for birds, Social and economic benefits of the urban tree pollinators, and other wildlife. In the natural food canopy are supplemented with improved mental chain, trees provide food for insects, which, in and physical health, school performance, and turn, are food for birds and other wildlife. Parks patient recovery, among others. These benefits can provide needed rest stops for migratory are explored further under ‘Assessment: Human birds. Urban forests can also provide vital health, safety, and other ecosystem benefits corridors between larger tracts of rural forests. from forests.’ Decades of research shows that spending time around trees and being exposed Impact of losing urban trees to the chemicals they give off boosts our The invasion of the emerald ash borer (EAB, immune system, reduces stress levels, helps Agrilus planipennis), which began in 2002, children learn better, and allows patients to provided an unfortunate opportunity to look at recuperate faster when they have views of trees the effect of tree loss on human health. EAB is from their window. Just five minutes around a non-native, wood-boring beetle that can kill trees can improve personal health. Most urban all species of ash trees within three years of populations rely on urban forests to provide this infestation. In some communities, entire streets exposure, since many people may not be able to lined with ash were left barren after the beetle visit rural forests during their workweek and arrived in the neighborhood. A study that looked some may never leave their urbanized at human deaths related to heart and lung environment. It is the urban forest that provides disease in areas affected by EAB infestations the above outlined benefits to the majority of found that across 15 states, EAB was New Yorkers. associated with an additional 6,113 deaths related to lung disease and 15,080 heart disease-related deaths. Assessment: Health, safety, and other benefits from forests Access to clean air and water Phytoncides have antibacterial and antifungal qualities. When people breathe in these The life-sustaining and health benefits of clean chemicals, their bodies respond by increasing air and water are undeniable. Both through their the number and activity of a type of white blood leaves and roots, trees naturally filter or absorb cells called natural killer cells, or NK. These cells pollutants in air and runoff from farm fields or kill tumor- and virus-infected cells in our bodies. urban surfaces. Forests and their soils prevent In one study, increased NK activity from a 3-day, these pollutants from entering streams, thereby 2-night forest bathing trip lasted for more than improving water quality for entire watersheds 30 days. Japanese researchers are currently and corresponding aquifers. exploring whether exposure to forests can help prevent certain kinds of cancer. Additional human health benefits Spending time around trees also reduces Research in the U.S. and around the world is stress; lowers blood pressure and the stress- showing that being surrounded by trees or related hormones cortisol and adrenaline; visiting a forest has real, quantifiable health decreases anxiety, depression, anger, benefits, both mental and physical. Exposure to confusion, and fatigue; and improves a person’s forests boosts our immune system. When we mood. And because stress inhibits the immune breathe in fresh air, we also breathe in system, the stress-reduction benefits of forests phytoncides, airborne chemicals that plants give are further magnified. off to protect themselves from insects.
68 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN 2020 | Goal #3: Increase Forest Benefits for Humans and All Living Creatures
Spending time in nature helps people focus. Floodplain forests, once common along Trying to focus on many activities or even a northeastern rivers before European settlement, single thing for long periods of time can mentally are now a rare natural community. Their fertile drain us, a phenomenon called “Directed soils with few stones were prized for farming and Attention Fatigue.” Spending time in nature, easy to build on, so most floodplain forests were looking at plants or water, and observing wildlife cleared for agriculture and development. Current give the cognitive portion of our brain a break, threats to our remaining floodplain forests allowing us to focus better and renewing our include dams and invasive species. Dams alter ability to be patient. The part of the brain the river’s natural flooding regime and trap affected by attention fatigue is also involved in nutrient-rich sediments that would normally be Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). deposited in these forests. Invasive species, Studies show that children who spend time in Japanese knotweed, for example, do well in the natural outdoor environments have a reduction exposed soils and abundant sunlight of former in attention fatigue. Similarly, children diagnosed floodplain forests and can outcompete native with ADHD show a reduction in related vegetation. Run-of-the-river dams, which allow symptoms. Researchers are investigating the normal flow except in periods of high water, are use of natural outdoor environments to better for floodplain forests. supplement current approaches to managing ADHD. Such an approach has the advantages Wildlife benefits of being widely accessible, inexpensive, and The overhanging tree canopy of floodplain free of side effects. forests keeps the water cooler in summer, aiding Patients recover from surgery faster and better coldwater fish such as brook trout, not to when they have a "green" view. Hospital mention providing great fishing opportunities. patients may be stressed from a variety of The rich soils of a floodplain forest create ideal factors, including pain, fear, and the disruption of habitat for insects and amphibians, which in turn normal routine. Research found that patients become prey for animals like woodcock, mink, with views of trees had shorter postoperative and raccoon. stays, took fewer painkillers, and had slightly Spring flooding thaws the soils of floodplain fewer postsurgical complications compared to forests earlier than the soils of surrounding those who had no view or only a view of a areas, making insects available to birds earlier. cement wall. For this reason, spring migrants follow rivers and Note: the benefits of recreational opportunities feed in floodplain forests as they journey north. are assessed separately under this Goal. Some, like the warbling vireo, northern oriole, and great crested flycatcher, stay and nest in the Flood and erosion resilience Northeast, including northern New York. Birding enthusiasts enjoy exploring streamside forests in The many benefits floodplain forests provide were every season. lost with their disappearance. Floodplain forests help prevent catastrophic flooding downstream Note: The urban-specific ecosystem benefits of by storing and slowing floodwaters. Tree roots forests are discussed under Goal #3, help stabilize riverbanks, controlling erosion. ‘Assessment: Benefits of urban tree canopy and green infrastructure.’ The benefit of soils storing carbon is discussed under Goal #1, ‘Assessment: Valuing forests for carbon storage and community adaptation.’
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Assessment: Productive capacity of timberlands
Over 15.5 million acres of forestland in 100% 6 New York are classified as timberland, 9 15 13 according to the USDA Forest Service’s FIA 90% Program—over 13 million acres of which are 80% privately owned. The main economic benefit to 31 both landowners and society at large is the 34 28 production of traditional forest products from 70% timberlands. 45 60% The most updated FIA inventory for New York was completed in 2017 (New York Forest, 2017). 50% These data show that the trend in the structure of lands classified as timberlands closely follows 40% that of all forestland in the state. Timberlands 44 58 continue to grow older and larger: 65 percent of 30% 51 timberland area is classified as large tree size, or sawtimber, 25 percent is in poletimber class, 20% 39 and only 9 percent is in a stage where seedling- and sapling-size trees predominate. 10% 15 Stocking is a measure of the area occupied by 5 5 0% 1 trees (usually expressed by basal area square Total Large Medium Small feet/acre) that is generally used as a tool to help diameter diameter diameter manage forests for timber production. Slightly Overstocked Fully stocked more than 43 percent of timberland acres are Moderately stocked Poorly stocked poorly stocked or at the medium stocking level, Percentage of timberland area by live-tree stocking with 57 percent of the total timberland acres class & stand-size class. (New York Forest, 2017) being classified as fully or overstocked. A closer look at the stocking levels as they relate to size Additional analysis of the FIA data of commercially classes reveals that 63 percent of the sawtimber important forest types in New York shows that two area is fully stocked or overstocked. of the predominant types, maple-beech-birch and Over 15.5 million acres of oak-hickory, represent 71 percent of timberland acres. These forests showed a significant decrease forestland in New York are in the percentage of acres in the poorly or medium classified as timberland… stocked category: 57 percent in 2007 dropped to On the surface, this may 41 percent in 2017. This points to the continued growth occurring in these two forest types, with 60 indicate strong productive percent of them now classified as overstocked or capacity to provide timber fully stocked (up from 43 percent in 2007). Stands products. However, other that are overstocked and/or fully stocked are often characteristics—such as timber suited to a commercial harvest under various quality, stocking class, and scientific silvicultural guides and regimes designed species composition—have to to maximize the growth rates of commercially viable species. Overall, nearly 90 percent of be considered to assess future timberland acres are in a condition where trees productive capacity. of potential commercial value dominate.
70 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN 2020 | Goal #3: Increase Forest Benefits for Humans and All Living Creatures
Two important commercial species, sugar While it may appear less than optimal to have maple and northern red oak, show decreases acres in anything other than a fully stocked or little growth in the number of dominant or condition, in fact, levels below fully stocked co-dominant trees since 2007. These are trees may be desirable depending on ownership 5 inches or more in diameter that are now in objectives, such as wildlife habitat, or if the the main part of the forest canopy. Red maple condition is the result of deliberate and continues to be New York’s most abundant tree beneficial timber management practices. On the and has shown marginal change in its numbers other hand, a less-than-fully-stocked condition since 2007. Other important species, such as can be deemed problematic in terms of carbon black cherry, eastern white pine, and spruce, sequestration capacity since these levels indicate little increase in numbers over the same indicate that additional forest biomass, or time periods. carbon, could be stored in the standing forest.
There are a few concerning trends with regards to the composition of seedling-sized trees in terms of commercial compared to non-commercial species. In the period between 2007 and 2017, there was a 37 percent decrease in the number of sugar maple seedlings and a 35 percent decrease in black cherry, while the percentage of non-commercial beech seedlings increased to 37 percent. There are a few bright spots, with increases in three commercial species: yellow birch (22 percent), red spruce (6 percent), and balsam fir (14 percent), but also a decrease in non-commercial striped maple (-25 percent). Decline in hardwood species may also be linked to decreased winter snow cover/warming.
The growth in beech tree numbers is a concern since beech has little prospect for being an important commercial species due to beech bark scale, which often kills beech after it reaches merchantable sizes. Regionally, beech saplings interfere with desired regeneration and continue to be a problem for foresters.
The decrease in sugar maple, the New York State Tree, is very concerning not only for the timber industry, but also for the maple syrup industry and ecotourism. Recent research indicates that lack of snow cover, an increasing threat as our climate changes, is among the factors that significantly diminish the growth rates of sugar maples (https://theconversation.com/climate- change-is-shrinking-winter-snowpack-which- Chart indicating stocking for all forest types harms-northeast-forests-year-round-103410). See also above, Assessment: Soil resources in forests.
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Annual removal of eastern hemlock (4.1), and red maple (3.4). Red merchantable wood volume pine was the only species with at least 1 percent of total net volume that had harvests exceeding compared with net growth net growth as shown by a G:R of 0.5, though Comparisons of harvested volume to net growth several other species (sugar maple, American is a useful way to evaluate the sustainability of beech, American basswood, quaking aspen, and harvesting practices. Simply dividing annual net chestnut oak) had ratios of 2.0 or less. growth volume by annual harvest volume Harvest patterns by major ownership groups produces a ratio showing the rate of growth remained consistent as compared to 2012 compared to the rate of harvest. A net growth to estimations, but strong differences were harvest removal volume (G:R) over 1.0 indicates observed between the groups. Public timberland that net growth is outpacing removals. Thus, a accounted for 13 percent of net volume in 2017 ratio under 1.0 indicates volume is harvested at but was only 7 percent of annual harvest a rate exceeding growth, a situation that would removals volume. This led to disparate G:R be unsustainable long-term. The 2017 statewide ratios in the two major ownership groups. Public G:R was 2.6, meaning that net growth was 2.6 timberland had a statewide G:R of 3.6 and times the harvested volume on an annual basis, privately held timberland was 2.8. While public an increase from the 2012 G:R of 2.3. Among the timberland had the higher G:R, only 7 percent of top 10 species ranked by total net volume, G:R volume harvested from public land was in rough was highest in yellow birch, with a net growth 5.6 cull trees, but 10 percent of private harvested times harvested volume (Fig. G4), followed by volume was rough cull. northern red oak (4.5), eastern white pine (4.1),
Annual change components as a percentage of net volume Ratio of net Annual Annual Annual Net Volume growth to harvest Net Harvest Other Annual Net Unit (million ft³) removals (G:R) Growth Removals Removals Mortality Change
Adirondack 4,113 1.9 2.3 1.2 0.0 1.5 1.1
Lake Plain 5,320 3.6 2.4 0.7 0.0 0.8 1.7 Western 3,340 2.3 1.9 0.8 0.2 1.2 0.9 Adirondack Eastern 2,414 1.2 1.8 1.5 0.6 1.3 -0.3 Adirondack Southwest 4,159 2.9 2.3 0.8 0.0 0.8 1.5 Highlands South-Central 6,330 3.2 2.1 0.6 0.0 0.8 1.4 Highlands
Capitol District 3,600 4.2 2.3 0.6 0.0 0.9 1.8 Catskill-Lower 5,466 5.7 1.4 0.2 0.1 1.2 1.1 Hudson
Statewide 34,743 2.8 2.1 0.7 0.1 1.0 1.2
Timberland net volume, net-growth-to-harvest (Forest Inventory and Analysis Report, New York Forest 2017)
72 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN 2020 | Goal #3: Increase Forest Benefits for Humans and All Living Creatures
Assessment: Costs of forest management
Ownership and management of forested lands that State support of such preferential tax entail significant costs. The initial purchase, treatment is a fair way to support a societal mortgage, and liability or other insurance benefit. Some form of State payment to affected coverage, and the subsequent real property municipalities or individuals (landowners), or an taxes, management practices, and maintenance income tax credit are alternative forms of State activities all have associated costs. To many support. corporate entities, the bottom line may be a fixed dollar figure. To most family forest owners Income from the sale of forest products should however, a dollar figure may not constitute the not be taxed at such a rate that it becomes a bottom line. Instead, the opportunity to see disincentive to sustainable forestry. Enlightened wildlife, to hunt or fish, to get away from it all, or capital gains treatment and recognition of the to appreciate the scenery and open space may costs of long-term management should be have substantial value that cannot be easily reflected in income tax policy that is consistent related to a dollar figure. with the promotion of sustainable land use and management. For forest owners, real property taxation continues to rank high among voiced obstacles Both the individual owner and the general public to continued sustainable use of rural lands. benefit from management actions that are There are state-level programs that offer to conducted to enhance long-term forest health lessen the burden of real property taxes. and productivity. These actions cost money. New York’s current Forest Tax Law offers Publicly supported financial assistance preferential real property tax treatment to certain programs implemented at the federal and state landowners who manage their land for timber levels hold some promise to help keep forest as harvest, and the local government bears the forests, with sustainable management as a basis cost for this treatment through a reduction in tax for use of these lands. However, levels of revenues. A significant question is how to funding need to be reevaluated to address the continue to raise funds for local government potential need and opportunity. Investment from costs normally paid for by real property tax the private sector may hold promise to address, revenue without an undue transfer of tax liability at least in part, forest owners’ need for financial to non-participating ownerships. Some argue support. Assessment: Economic impact of New York’s forests
New York’s forest products industry is as diverse largest contributor, with over 38 percent of as any other state’s, with businesses ranging the total sales in 2011, followed by, in order: from pulp-, paper-, and sawmills to biomass hunting, camping, downhill skiing, hiking, energy plants and secondary manufacturing of cross--country skiing, fall foliage viewing, almost every type, as well as the foresters and and snowmobiling. logging/trucking contractors who produce raw materials and deliver them to a market. The data below, from the forest product and forest-based recreation industry, highlights New York’s forest-based recreation contributes some economic benefits: significantly to the state’s overall economy. These opportunities are categorized as ● In 2017, the direct contribution of the purchases at food and beverage stores, service forest products industry to the New York stations, lodging, eating, and drinking economy was over $13 billion.* establishments, and a host of other retail trade ● In 2017, the forest products industry and service sectors. Wildlife viewing is the directly employed 40,000 people and
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provided $3.2 billion in direct labor ** The Economic Importance of New York’s Forest Based income.* The average salary for workers Economy. 2013. Northeast State Foresters Association; https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/economicim in this industry is over $79,000 dollars. portance2013.pdf. ● In 2011, forest-based recreation and *** National Agricultural Statistics Service report: tourism provided 31,926 jobs and https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/ Pennsylvania/Publications/Survey_Results/2019/Maple%20 generated payrolls of $936 million.** Syrup%202019.pdf ● In 2011, revenues from forest-related Threats and challenges recreation and tourism activities totaled $8.2 billion.** For the forest products industry, challenges are persistent and require innovation by not only ● In 2011, New York rural landowners investing in new equipment, but also investing in received estimated stumpage revenue of the training and development of employees. over $250 million.** Challenges experienced by all sectors result from ● In 2018, New York was the second global competition, high energy costs, and other leading maple syrup producer in the business-related expenses. The current workforce United States, with the value of maple shortage in logging—trucking in particular—is a syrup production totaling over $26 major challenge for the industry. Natural factors million. also provide challenges. For example, quarantines as a result of exotic and invasive * ”New York State Forest Industry-An Economic Overview- forest pests make it more difficult to operate a 2017 Draft,” written by Marial Cavo, John Wagner, and David Newman on behalf of the New York State Wood business as usual. Those in the industry who Products Development Council. continue to do well have the flexibility to try new methods, invest in the latest equipment, and seek out and hire the best employees. Assessment: Forest product manufacturing
Wood products are environmentally friendly and Traditional markets for wood products include renewable, and the proper management of their sawmills, veneer mills, pulp and paper raw source, trees, supports the sequester and manufacturers, pallet mills, and firewood. These storage of carbon. Wood products also provide users are often called “primary markets,” as they economic benefits in the form of jobs and take logs from the woods in round form and manufacturing. Markets for the goods and convert them into products. Over the last two services derived from forests are essential to decades, as many pulp- and paper mills closed generating revenues and returns on or switched to imported/purchased pulp, and investments. Markets need to be diverse, numerous sawmills closed or consolidated, distributed across the state, and accessible by New York, like much of the Northeast, saw a all forest owners. Access to markets should not decline in the number and diversity of traditional be unduly restricted by regulations, policies, or primary wood markets. Loss of these markets has laws. These preferred conditions support and limited management options for forest owners and sustain private forest ownership, retention, and managers, as well as reduced potential returns. management. Losses also occurred among secondary wood products manufacturers that buy local lumber and turn it into furniture, cabinetry, flooring, tool handles, and other finished or semi-finished goods. These manufacturers are essential to providing the next link in the economic chain, keeping local mills and harvesters in business.
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At the same time, some wood products markets Currently, most harvesting of low-grade timber are emerging, such as those for energy biomass products takes place in the 14-county North or chemical production, known as the Country region of New York. These markets bioeconomy, but these markets are not yet well provide direct economic benefits to landowners developed or geographically dispersed in by allowing them to sell low-value trees. These New York. In addition to using logs, many of markets also provide long-term benefits by these markets also rely on byproducts of other 1) improving the overall quality and health of wood processors, including bark, chips, slabs, the residual forest by removing poorly formed, edgings, and even papermill sludge. These diseased, and underperforming trees; and users can provide an important secondary 2) stimulating the regeneration of seedlings revenue stream for sawmills, pulp mills, and and saplings by allowing light to hit the forest timber harvesters, which helps them stay viable. floor. Further diversification of markets could However, the vitality of biomass users may safeguard the ability to continue harvesting depend on the mills staying in business and low--grade timber at high levels. The expansion continuing to generate affordable byproducts. of low-grade markets into other parts of the state Whether those businesses can survive is often will improve the overall health and productivity dictated by other market conditions far beyond of our managed forests. the biomass users’ control.
Map of New York State’s Traditional / Fixed Location Sawmills (2017)
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There is a growing interest and need to explore new economic opportunities for forest landowners, typically called non-traditional markets. These opportunities can range from recreational or hunting leases to harvesting special forest products, such as ginseng, mushrooms, nuts, fruits, and decorative botanicals, to payments for ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat conservation, or water quality protection. Forestland leasing has been a historic practice in many areas of New York, especially on large ownerships formerly held by forest products industries. Payments for ecosystem services are starting to receive a great deal of attention as a Threats and challenges method for landowners to monetize these services, Failure to gain additional markets for low-grade on par with traditional forest product markets. If timber products reduces the ability to renovate issues of quantification, verification, permanence, degraded stands and contributes to forests valuation, and funding sources can be worked out, becoming under- or moderately stocked and this approach could provide significant economic underproductive. motivation and compensation for forest owners to retain and sustainably manage their woodlands. Exploitative harvesting practices of high-grading and diameter limit cutting is driven by the lack of In 1999, DEC’s Forest Utilization Program initiated viable low-grade markets and the lack of scientific an industrial timber harvest production and forest management. These practices sacrifice consumption reporting program to account for long-term tree quality and health for short-term timber product harvest and disposition on an financial gain. Often, this extends the period until annual basis. This report provides an enhanced the next harvest can take place and lowers the understanding of the forest industry’s economic merchantability of the next harvest. In addition, contribution to rural New York, and it augments the lack of forest management on private forest information provided by U.S. Forest Service’s FIA lands also poses some risks for the forest Program. The report is widely distributed to products industry, as well as overall forest health forestry partners and industry in New York. It and productivity. Neglected stands are often not is also made available to the forestry research growing at an optimum rate or have serious forest community and the general public. In recent years, health issues which affect not only the quality, but the report has been utilized effectively by potential also the quantity, of raw material in the near future. developers of biomass energy facilities investigating woody biomass feedstock availability. Most of the forestry and logging jobs in New York are located in the North Country, After high harvest levels in the early 2000s, supported by low-grade markets, TIMOs, forest New York saw a decrease in the level of log management firms, and traditional pulp-, paper-, harvest during the Great Recession years of 2007 and lumbermills. The majority of New York’s through 2012. Steady annual increases occurred valuable hardwood industry is, however, located through 2015, with slight decreases in annual in the Western, Central, and Southern Tier harvest levels in 2016 and 2017. Prices stabilized regions of the state. High-quality hardwood after the recession years, creating a favorable forests and the mills that surround them provide market for landowners to sell their wood products. for a viable rural economy in these traditionally Most of the wood harvested in New York is kept economically depressed areas. Private and in state and consumed by state mills. There is a public landowners benefit from the close steady export market to China for light-colored proximity to markets and a tradition of forest hardwoods such as ash and maple. management.
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200
150
100
50
0 Total Harvest Kept in State Imports Consumption Exports Trade Balance
2013 156 122 15 137 34 19
2014 169 134 16 150 34 18
2015 184 147 16 163 37 21
2016 166 133 22 155 33 11
2017 159 131 20 151 28 8
Wood and wood product production, consumption, and trade
The Capital Region, Catskills, and Lower Hudson regimes. This can also contribute to a culture of Valley regions of the state have particular high-grading to keep a harvest economically challenges when it comes to tradional forestry profitable for the landowner. Many times, that activities and viable forest markets. These areas lack of markets fosters inactivity on the part of have lost much of the mill capacity they the landowner as far as traditional forest traditionally had, sometimes making it difficult for management is concerned, which can lead to landowners to sell their forest products and slower growth rates and unhealthy or degrading manage their property sustainably. Traditional forest conditions. A degraded forest provides less sawmill infrastructure is important to maintain, as traditional economic benefit to the landowner it affects the overall wood products supply chain. through the production of wood products, which Sawdust and chips often are used to supply the in some cases affects a landowner’s willingness local pulp mill or biomass facility. When these to hold forestland for the long term. This, in turn, supplies are cut off due to a mill closure, if often creates the possibily of conversion to non-forest result in the loss of low-grade markets as well. or exploiting the resource for short-term economic gain at the expense of long-term benefits. The loss of local low-grade facilities results in less opportunities for landowners to sell their defective or poorly formed trees. Access for owners in these regions to low-grade markets located in the Adirondacks does exist and can provide some opportunites. However, the existence of more local facilities closer to the wood source would provide landowners with more access and opportunites to manage their woodlots. The lack of these opportunites means landowners will have to pay out of pocket to perfom some clearing and thinning activities associated with traditional forest management
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Assessment: Forest-based public outdoor recreation opportunities Many of the state’s most beloved open spaces are State Parks and Historic Sites dealing with a “new normal” from the impacts of increased visitation and a changing climate. In light OPRHP administers more than 350,000 acres of of this new reality, proactive planning with defined land, with 189 state-owned parks and historic action is essential to protect our outdoor recreation sites. The agency allows public access to some areas, and natural and historic resources. of the state’s most scenic natural landscapes, and offers year-round programs to visitors at New York State offers public access to nature centers, visitor centers, education centers, recreation on a variety of public lands, including and the outdoors. OPRHP offers recreation at state forests, state parks, wildlife management campsites, cabins, and cottages; on trails, day- areas, and forest preserve. In addition, there are use areas, beaches, and swimming pools; at a abundant recreational opportunities beyond the multitude of historic sites; and fishing access boundaries of state-managed lands. sites, etc. The agency administers 30 nature centers offering environmental education Recreational planning in state forest and state park programs for children, families, adults, and management accommodates diverse activities, school groups across the state. Stewardship of such as hiking, biking, snowmobiling, horseback these natural resources is managed by riding, hunting, fishing, picnicking, cross-country OPRHP’s Division of Environmental skiing, snowshoeing, nature watching, geocaching, Stewardship and Planning. paragliding, rock climbing, and many others. The New York State Statewide Comprehensive OPRHP’s framework for resource planning is a Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) 2020-2025, progression from statewide policy and goals to prepared by OPRHP every five years, provides an system management directions, to park and site assessment, along with a vision and broad policy plans, and, finally, to implementation of capital for recreation in our state. The SCORP includes projects and resource management actions. plans for statewide trails and open space, as well OPRHP undertakes environmental stewardship as regional initiatives, such as the Great Lakes projects focused on habitat restoration to benefit and Lake Champlain Basin programs, that help rare, threatened, and endangered species, and achieve regional management goals. species of greatest conservation need.
More frequent and intense storms and higher With continued losses of natural areas through water levels at waterfront parks on Lake Ontario development, New York recognizes the critical and Lake Erie are causing shoreline erosion, need for new parkland designations for places infrastructure damage, and chronically wet with wildlife, flora, and scenic, historical, and campsites. Coastal parks on Long Island have archeological sites that are unique and rare in lost boardwalks, and fragile barrier islands and the state. Article 20 of the Parks, Recreation and dune ecosystems have been damaged. High Historic Preservation Law gave OPRHP’s winds, high-intensity rain events, and flooding commissioner the authority to designate Park are also impacting many interior areas, bringing Preserves. The Article also allowed the creation down trees, washing out trails, and damaging of Park Preservation Areas to conserve areas of recreational infrastructure overall. state parks, parkways, and historic sites, as well as recreational facilities that, although the entire Regarding increased visitation, see the strategy facility does not qualify as a Park Preserve, below, ‘Manage forests for sustainable nonetheless possess outstanding ecological recreation opportunities,’ and the strategy in values, including assemblages of flora and Goal #4, ‘Manage recreational user impacts in fauna that are unique or rare in New York. New York's state-owned forests.’
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OPRHP’s Park Preserve system currently State Forests, Wildlife consists of eight Park Preserves and eight Park Management Areas, Preservation Areas, constituting more than a third of total lands under OPRHP's jurisdiction. and the Forest Preserve Nearly 80 percent of the State Park system DEC administers nearly 5 million acres of land, consists of natural areas with varied geologic including approximately 3 million acres of forest features and ecological habitats. These notable preserve, over 800,000 acres of state forests, landscapes include the waterfalls and gorges of nearly 200,000 acres of wildlife management the Finger Lakes region, the Genesee River areas, and over 900,000 acres of conservation Gorge at Letchworth State Park, the old growth easements. These lands are rich in both forests of Allegany, and the islands of the St. recreational opportunity and ecological Lawrence and Hudson Rivers, as well as cliffs at significance, and are home to 52 campgrounds, Minnewaska State Park Preserve (Hudson 12 fish hatcheries, 1,280 miles of easements for Valley region), and the Helderberg Escarpment public fishing rights, over 400 boat launch and of John Boyd Thacher State Park (rising over fishing access sites, 2 Submerged Heritage the Hudson and Mohawk Valleys). preserves, several day-use areas, and about 2,800 miles of trails, as well as several environmental education centers and summer camps. Within the mandate of New York’s Environmental Conservation Law (ECL), which requires the Department to first and foremost protect New York’s environmental resources, there are a variety of opportunities for public enjoyment of the state’s public lands, including hiking, camping, canoeing, hunting, fishing, trapping, snowmobiling, skiing, mountain biking, and rock climbing.
Breakneck Ridge Trail in The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) works with DEC in a concerted effort to undertake Hudson Highlands State Park planning that is critical to improving recreation Preserve (OPRHP) has granite opportunities throughout the Adirondack Park, outcroppings that afford where the majority of State lands exist. Numerous breathtaking views of the unit management plans (UMPs) have been Hudson River Valley. In 2018, approved for specific areas that span the range this trail was a Leave No Trace of diversity from popular public campgrounds to the region’s more remote, less-used wilderness hotspot due to high and growing areas. Through this interagency planning visitation that challenges the process, a primary objective is to facilitate protection of resources in this practices such as a “Limits of Acceptable Park Preserve. Change” management approach to protecting natural resources, and a “Recreational Opportunity Spectrum” method of inventorying the Park’s available recreational resources.
Public use of wildlife management areas is regulated by Title 6, Chapter I, Part 51 of the New York State Codes, Rules, and Regulations. Activities not compatible with the primary management goals are not allowed. Prohibited
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activities include any use of motorized vehicles Mountain biking has become an except on town, county, or state highway roads, increasingly popular activity on use of boats with motors, and overnight mooring or boat storage. Snowmobiles are allowed only public lands. To accommodate on designated routes. Swimming is prohibited, this interest and also protect and fires are only allowed for cooking, warmth, forest resources, state agencies or smudge. These and other regulations and engage in a planning process restrictions protect habitat and wildlife, as well with stakeholders and the public as preclude conflicts with legitimate public use. to ensure that trail systems are sustainably designed and able to withstand compatible uses. Examples of successful mountain biking systems on state lands include Elm Ridge Wild Forest in the Catskills, Wilmington Wild Forest in the
Adirondacks, and Grafton Lakes State Park in the Capital Region. Assessment: Economic benefits of outdoor recreation
When people recreate, they improve their health spending in New York each year, directly and support the state’s economy. International supporting 313,000 jobs, providing $14 billion and out-of-state visitors who come to Niagara in wages and salaries, and producing about Falls, Long Island’s beaches, the Adirondack $3.6 billion in state and local tax revenue. Mountains, or other scenic areas or landmarks in New York State help support nearby restaurants, New York’s State Park system alone received lodging facilities, and car rental companies. Bikers roughly 67 million visits, and visitors spent about along the Empire State Trail support convenience $4 billion, from April 2015 to March 2016, stores, bike shops, eateries, bed and breakfasts, according to a 2016 report. This spending and inns. And visitors to the state’s many supported nearly 54,000 jobs. For every dollar of freshwater and marine beaches support Main direct spending generated by OPRHP facilities, Street businesses, private recreation providers, an additional $9 of spending was induced and other local entities. According to a 2010 statewide. The report also noted benefits that report, outdoor recreation contributes were more difficult to measure, such as approximately $11.3 billion to New York’s increased tax receipts and increased valuation tourism economy—more than 25 percent of the of nearby properties. state’s total tourism industry—and $800 million Note: this information was obtained from the in tax revenue. New York State Statewide Comprehensive Approximately 52 percent of state residents Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) 2020-2025, participate in some form of non-motorized prepared by OPRHP (https://parks.ny.gov/inside- recreation annually. This generates our-agency/documents/ approximately $41.8 billion in consumer SCORP20202025PublicWebinarPresentation.pdf.)
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Priority Landscapes: Recreational hotspots and long- distance trails
Immersion in the beauty and diversity of Appalachian Trail – a total of 88.4 miles of this New York’s forests, as well as opportunities for approximately 2,200-mile-long hiking trail is in a wilderness experience, are among the main New York’s Hudson Highlands area. This draws of long-distance trails in our state. historic and internationally renowned trail New York is fortunate to be home to several, traverses the Appalachian Mountain range and including ones that connect our state to its connects Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Mount neighbors or to multistate landscapes. Katahdin, Maine (www.applachiantrail.org).
Long Path – except for its first 14 miles, the Northville-Placid Trail – the 138-mile trail 375-mile long hiking trail traverses the west side passes through what many consider the wildest of the Hudson River in New York, connecting and most remote parts of the Adirondack Park, Ft. Lee, New Jersey to Altamont, New York connecting Northville and Lake Placid (https://www.nynjtc.org/region/long-path). (http://www.nptrail.org/).
Finger Lakes Trail – the main Finger Lakes North Country National Scenic Trail – the Trail (FLT) from the Pennsylvania-New York New York section of this 4,600-mile, multistate border in Allegany State Park to the Long Path trail traverses 717 miles, primarily as a footpath. in the Catskill Forest Preserve offers 580 miles The eastern terminus of the NCNST is in of hiking. There also are 6 branch trails and New York’s Crown Point State Historic Site and 29 loop trails and spur trails that extend from the Campground, which is on Lake Champlain at the main FLT, which total an additional 412 miles. Vermont border. The trail runs west through the The Finger Lakes Trail System (the Main Trail Adirondack Park and culminates its New York and all branch, loop, and side trails) offers nearly section in Allegany State Park at the 1,000 miles of hiking in New York State Pennsylvania border. Important to note is that (https://fingerlakestrail.org/.) the trail was officially extended into Vermont in 2019, although the route on the ground remains Beyond offering unique in the planning phase. The proposed extension opportunities for extended east will meet with the Long Trail in Vermont forest-based adventure, these (https://northcountrytrail.org/).
trails also provide connections Empire State Trail – the goal of this proposed between larger forest blocks multiuse trail is to link communities across hundreds of miles apart. New York, interpreting the history and beauty of the Hudson River Valley, the Erie Canal, and It is no surprise that long- the Champlain Valley. The trail aims to promote distance trails are a priority connections to regional bicycling and hiking project of their own in trails, such as the Hudson Greenway Trails, New York’s Open Space Plan. Appalachian Trail, the trails of the Adirondack These trails are also great and Catskill Parks, the St. Lawrence Seaway Trail, the Genesee Valley Greenway, and many examples of uniting public and others (https://www.ny.gov/empire-state-trail/ private lands, and the trails about-empire-state-trail). represent opportunities for targeted conservation efforts through broad partnerships.
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Map of New York’s Long-Distance Trails
Priority Landscape: Urban areas and urban forests
The goal of New York’s Urban and Community As of 2018, about 430, or 60 percent, of the Forestry program (UCF) is to support CARS communities were engaged in urban municipalities, volunteer groups, and forestry programs or activities. professional organizations in the planning and management of urban and community forests in Trees have numerous positive effects on human the state; in other words, to help communities health and our quality of life. When people utilize develop their own UCF programs. The U.S. parks and shady, tree-lined streets, they are Forest Service, which provides funding for this more likely to meet and establish bonds with program, directed community support to focus their neighbors, which helps to create a sense of on technical assistance and the development of community. When people enjoy spending time in tree ordinances, tree boards, and management their neighborhoods, they develop pride and a plans for these communities. The Forest Service sense of ownership in their communities. tracks the state’s activities through the Community Accomplishment Reporting System The connection to trees in urban (CARS). Close to 800 communities in New York State are capable of undertaking a UCF settings is the cornerstone of program. In other words, these communities garnering support for rural have public trees along streets and in parks. forests among urban residents.
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More than half of New York’s communities Communities continue to need support in the have an organized tree program. Some are form of educational workshops, forester contact, completely run by volunteers, while others are financial assistance, and access to the latest driven by and funded by municipal programs. research in order to begin or improve a program. Many programs fit somewhere in-between. New York Town Law, Section 271, amended in Most community forestry programs continue to 2007, requires members of town planning seek outside technical assistance from DEC, boards, zoning boards of appeals, and county New York State ReLeaf (a partnership between planning boards to receive a minimum number DEC, tree care professionals, and volunteers), of hours of training each year. These trainings and other tree care experts to improve their introduce the benefits of trees and demonstrate knowledge and programs. how to create and maintain greenspaces when developing zoning laws or approving site plans.
Map of New York State’s Communities in Community Accomplishment Reporting System (CARS)
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Focus Area: Forests Focus Area: Resources and cultural resources and tenure rights of
Protection of cultural resources, in forests as indigenous peoples well as other areas, is of utmost importance to indigenous peoples. “Examples of sites of Treaty rights current or traditional cultural, archeological, One key treaty between the U.S. and a ecological , economic, or religious significance confederacy of indigenous peoples is the 1794 may include ceremonial, burial, or village sites; Treaty of Canandaigua. It established peace areas used for hunting, fishing, or trapping; between the U.S. and Haudenosaunee, guaranteed current areas for gathering culturally important that the U.S. will not claim Haudenosaunee materials (e.g., ingredients for baskets, medicinal lands, reaffirmed the Haudenosaunee and U.S. plants, or plant materials used in dances or as separate sovereign nations, and affirmed the other ceremonies); current areas for gathering right of the Haudenosaunee to “free use and subsistence materials (e.g., mushrooms, berries, enjoyment of their lands,” including hunting, acorns, etc.)” (FSC 2019) (https://us.fsc.org/ fishing, and gathering. Indigenous peoples preview.fsc-std-usa-v1-1-2018.a-719.pdf.) across the continent consistently reserved these “usufruct” rights, not only on reservations, but While it is understood that most of New York throughout their larger aboriginal territories State is potentially significant for indigenous because of the absolute necessity and cultural peoples, it would be informative to identify importance of these practices. priority landscapes from their perspective and to explore how those landscapes overlap with the These rights remain an essential part of life to State’s land conservation efforts. This is an Haudenosaunee, Shinnecock, and other native opportunity for collaboration with native peoples peoples of the lands now called New York State that DEC would like to explore further. (https://us.fsc.org/preview.fsc-std-usa-v1-1- 2018.a-719.pdf.) Doctrine of Reserved Rights, Supreme Court United States v. Winans 1905: A treaty is not a grant of rights to the Indians [sic] but a grant of rights from them. Any right not explicitly extinguished... is considered to be "reserved" to the tribe.
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Forest Stewardship Council – Forest Management Standard Principle 3: Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Criterion 3.2 Forest management shall not threaten or diminish, either directly or indirectly, the resources or tenure rights of indigenous peoples. Guidance: “Tribal resources” may include but are not limited to: subsistence hunting and gathering areas, fisheries, cultural sites, and other resources on or off the forest management unit (FMU) that may be adversely affected by management activities. Indicator 3.2.a During management planning, the forest owner or manager consults with American Indian groups that have legal rights or other binding agreements to the FMU to avoid harming their resources or rights. Consultation entails active, culturally appropriate outreach to tribes or designated tribal representatives. It is recognized that actual consultation is out of the control of the forest owner or manager, but that attempts must be made to invite such consultation. For family forests, small private landowners may rely on government-to- government consultation between the State and Indian Nations, and abide by the outcome. Indicator 3.2.b Demonstrable actions are taken so that forest management does not adversely affect tribal resources. When applicable, evidence of, and measures for, protecting tribal resources are incorporated in the management plan. This includes resources that may not be directly on the FMU but may be affected by its management. Criterion 3.3 Sites of special cultural, ecological, economic or religious significance to indigenous peoples shall be clearly identified in cooperation with such peoples, and recognized and protected by forest managers. Indicator 3.3.a The forest owner or manager invites consultation with tribal representatives in identifying sites of current or traditional cultural, archeological, ecological, economic or religious significance. If consultation was not possible, regional databases or references that contain relevant data may be used to compile this information. Indicator 3.3.b In consultation with tribal representatives, the forest owner or manager develops measures to protect or enhance areas of special significance (see also Criterion 9.1). Confidentiality of sensitive information is to be maintained. Public management plans may omit specific information.
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Focus Area: Managing wildfires and communities at wildfire risk
Wildfire is defined as an uncontrolled fire develop Community Wildfire Protection Plans spreading through natural or unnatural (CWPPs) as a comprehensive means of vegetation that often has the potential to addressing risk issues and mitigation strategies. threaten lives and property. Wildfires that burn The statewide “Firewise NY” program or threaten to burn buildings and other (https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/42524.html) structures are referred to as wildland-urban provides specific recommendations for interface fires. Wildfires do not include naturally communities, homeowners, and individuals to or purposely ignited fires, a.k.a. prescribed protect themselves and their properties from burns, that are controlled for the purpose of destructive wildfires. managing vegetation for one or more benefits. Existing Community Wildfire New York has large tracts of diverse forestlands, Protection Plans many of which are the result of historic destructive wildfires. Although these destructive New York State currently has a few CWPPs: fires do not occur on an annual basis, New York has a cycle of fire occurrence that can result in 1. The 2,816-acre Shawangunk Ridge CWPP, human death, property loss, forest destruction, created in 2012, for the Town of Wawarsing, and air pollution. Ulster County, covering the historic Cragsmoor hamlet. Note: Awosting New York State is 30.9 million acres in size, with Reserve, Minnewaska State Park, Roosa 18.9 million acres of non-federal forested lands Gap State Forest, and Shawangunk Ridge and an undetermined amount of non-forested State Park are located near Plan lands with significant wildfire potential. All of boundaries. New York's 19.8 million residents are affected 2. The 13,680-acre Ridge-Manorville- by the most serious wildfires. Smoke and Calverton CWPP, updated June 2016, for particulate matter from wildfires 500 miles north the hamlets of Ridge, Manorville, and in Quebec often drift to New York City. Wildfires Calverton in the Towns of Brookhaven and in the surrounding wildland-urban interface of Riverhead, Suffolk County. New York City suburbs often do the same. 3. A Draft CWPP for the 3,558-acre Eastern Community and individual Shore of Staten Island (New York City), protection from wildfire Richmond County, completed by New York City Parks in 2012, affects all or portions of Local communities and residents have the the communities of Oakwood Beach, New greatest role at preventing fires, loss of life, or Dorp Beach, Midland Beach, South Beach, property damage. The number of wildfires Old Town, Grasmere, Arrochar, and Shore caused by debris burning, campfires, smoking, Acres, as well as over 1,350 acres of and children continues to decline due to publicly owned open space. prevention strategies and behavioral changes. However, regardless of prevention strategies, For a full listing of CWPP, requirements, etc., destructive wildfires will continue to occur when see: https://usfs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/ weather, fuels, and topography support rapid fire opsdashboard/index.html#/5a31e5f2e3fa4f77ac spread. Communities at risk to wildfire should 71ca366067ded2.
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Map of New York State’s Wildland Fire Protection Areas (2018)
DEC’s forest rangers have a Existing Fire Management Plans statutory requirement to provide (FMP)
a forest fire protection system New York State currently has several FMPs: for 657 of the 932 townships throughout New York. This area 1. The 13,000-acre Albany Pine Bush Fire excludes cities and villages; it Management Plan, renewed May 13, 2019, affects residents in the towns of Colonie and covers 23.5 million acres of Guilderland, the Village of Colonie, and the land, including state-owned City of Albany, all located in Albany County. lands outside the 657 towns. The DEC is in a cooperative agreement with the Lake Ontario Plains and New Albany Pine Bush Preserve (CA00440). York City-Long Island region are 2. The 90,000-acre Northern Shawangunk the general areas not included in Ridge Fire Management Plan, completed in the statutory protection. February 2011, affects residents in the cities of Wawarsing, Shawangunk, Rochester, Gardiner, New Paltz, Marbletown, and Rosendale, and the Village of Ellenville, all located in Ulster County.
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3. The Wildland Fire Management Plan Responsibilities for wildfire control for Brookhaven National Laboratory, a 5,265-acre site located in the heart of The Department of Environmental the Central Pine Barrens on Long Island, Conservation's Division of Forest Protection completed in 2014, affects residents in (“Forest Ranger Division”) is New York's neighboring Suffolk County communities, designated lead agency for wildfire mitigation predominantly residential developments in the State's Comprehensive Emergency scattered among wooded acreage. Management Plan (CEMP, Vol2, ESF #4) (http://www.dhses.ny.gov/planning/cemp/ 4. The Central Pine Barrens Fire Management volume-2.cfm). Plan, April 1999. The largest portion of the approx. 80,000-acre Central Pine Barrens New York's large size, diverse topography, and lies within the Town of Brookhaven, with the variety of climates require the state be divided rest extending to the towns of Riverhead into distinct units for describing wildfire potential and Southampton, and the northern portion and risk. Through research and 35 years of of the villages of Quogue and Westhampton wildfire occurrences linked to fire weather Beach. DEC is a member of the task force indices, New York is divided into 10 fire danger that helped write the plan and is part of the rating areas (FDRAs) (https://www.dec.ny.gov/ Fire Management Plan. lands/68329.html). FDRAs are defined by areas of similar vegetation, climate, and Compact and/or federal agreement topography, in conjunction with agency regional boundaries, National Weather Service fire During the occasional years when wildfire weather zones, political boundaries, fire occurrence is beyond the ability of fire occurrence history, and other influences. See departments and forest rangers to adequately New York’s hazard mitigation plan for wildfire: control, New York has extensive mutual aid http://www.dhses.ny.gov/recovery/mitigation/ support from surrounding states, several federal documents/2014-shmp/Section-3-17- agencies, and four Canadian provinces. Wildfire.pdf. New York has been a member of the Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Compact New York is a home rule state. In the case of since 1949. The mandate of the Northeastern wildfire, the local fire department has the primary Forest Fire Protection Compact is to provide the responsibility (incident command) for the control means for its seven member states, five and containment of wildfires in its jurisdiction. Canadian provinces, and four federal land New York State does not adhere to the “Let It management agencies to cope with fires that are Burn” policy, as the Northeast U.S. has a beyond the capacity of individual jurisdictions longstanding land ethic that is different from through resource sharing (mutual aid) states farther west that have large tracks of (https://www.nffpc.org/en/information/about). In open space. addition, New York has an annual agreement with the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to exchange firefighting personnel and resources, as needed, to combat the most nationally severe wildfires.
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The Catskill Park and Adirondack Park fall Wildfire occurrence under the Environmental Conservation Law, Sec. 91105. 1 (c): Setting of forestland on fire Over the past 25 years (1994-2018), Division of except where necessary to implement any Forest Protection records indicate that rangers provision of this chapter, including, but not suppressed 5,090 wildfires that burned a total of limited to, paragraph v of subdivision two of 49,872 acres. New York, however, does not section 3-0301 of this chapter; provided, have a consistent wildfire season, and its fire however, that nothing contained in this history indicates periods of time when wildfires paragraph shall permit the setting on fire of any are much more numerous and destructive than land constituting forest preserve or of any state the 25-year average would indicate. For land within the Adirondack Park or the Catskill example, in 2012, a 992-acre wildfire burned Park for any purpose other than fire through Long Island's Central Pine Barrens, suppression. The Department shall promulgate destroying three homes and one fire engine. In regulations governing the use of fire which shall 2015, a 2,759-acre wildfire burned from Roosa include provisions for notification of, or waiver of Gap, Sullivan County, to Cragsmoor, Ulster notification by, local fire officials. County, threatening 50 residences before being contained. In 2016, the Sam's Point Fire in Wildfire causes Ulster County burned 2,028 acres, threatening a radio communication tower complex that serves Beginning in 2010, New York enacted revised the Lower Hudson Valley and southern open burning regulations that ban brush burning Catskill Mountains. statewide from March 15 through May 15, a period when 47 percent of all fire department According to DEC’s 1993-2017 responses occur. Forest ranger data indicates wildfire occurrence data, almost that this new statewide ban resulted in 46 percent fewer spring wildfires caused by 95 percent of wildfires in debris burning in upstate New York from 2010- New York are caused by 2017 than the previous 8-year average. Debris humans, while lightning is burning has been prohibited in New York City responsible for 5 percent. and Long Island for more than 40 years. Since compliance with this regulation is a continuing Debris burning accounts for objective, historical fire occurrence data from 33 percent of all wildfires, forest rangers and fire departments will serve as incendiary fires account for a benchmark for analysis of wildfire occurrence. 16 percent, campfires cause As wildfires caused by debris burning decline 16 percent, and children are through regulatory enforcement, incendiary or responsible for 4 percent. arson fires will likely be the primary cause of wildfires in the future. Addressing this issue Smoking, equipment, railroads, will require a greater intensity of enforcement and miscellaneous causes than current enforcement for all other contribute to the remaining causes combined. 25 percent of wildfires.
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Map of New York State’s Wildfire Incidents, 2003 – 2017 Strategy: Manage forest fires for public safety and benefit
To minimize the occurrence of wildfires and the ● Support and implement Firewise and associated property loss, forest damage, and Ready, Set, Go! programs. potential loss of life, New York will need to ● Practice safe debris burning and accomplish the following objectives: recreational fires in all forests and ● Maintain a highly trained, well-equipped wildland-urban interface environments as forest ranger force that uses its expertise allowed by state and local regulations. and resources to contain the most ● Support fuel reduction techniques in serious fires. critical wildland-urban interface ● Support fire departments with their communities. responsibility for the initial attack on ● Support communities with CWPPs, and most wildfires. also identify communities –at risk of ● Enforce fire prevention laws, especially destructive wildfires and support the the apprehension of people who development of CWPPs for these purposely set fires. communities.
● Use wildfire predictive services to notify See also: https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/ the public and fire officials of fire danger 42378.html. potential. Conduct fire prevention programs in areas of greatest need.
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Prescribed burns fire from this landscape has resulted in significant degradation of the pitch pine-oak- Wildfires do not include naturally or purposely heath rocky summit woodlands by allowing ignited fires that are controlled for the purpose the growth of species that are undesirable of managing vegetation for one or more benefits. to this fire-dependent community, such The safe and controlled reintroduction of fire into as white pine and red maple. fire-dependent ecological systems is part of a suite of management actions designed to improve ● Reduce fuels such as brush and other forest health and habitat for native wildlife species. vegetation, which will decrease wildfire It is important to continue managing prescribed threats in the area and surrounding burns to: communities.
● Improve wildlife habitat. For example, ● Enhance opportunities for wildlife-based promote the growth of grasses for the recreation, such as hunting, habitat improvement of the short- birdwatching, and wildlife photography, eared owl. since controlled burns benefit the habitat of native wildlife species. ● Help to restore, improve, and maintain the health of the pitch pine-oak-heath ● Help prevent or manage the southern pine rocky summit by reintroducing fire to this beetle. Prescribed burn plans will need to fire-dependent community. Exclusion of be compliant with 6NYCRR Part 194. Strategy: Conserve and manage working forests for multiple values and uses
● Maintain the ability of public and private ● Purchase working forest conservation forest-owners to practice active, easements. sustainable management on appropriate forestlands not set aside for special ● Encourage landowner participation in purposes (such as forest preserve, forest carbon markets. unique areas, state parks, and special Simply keeping forests as protection areas). This allows working forests to provide the full spectrum forests is not enough, on its of benefits. own, to meet the needs of present and future generations. ● Implement and demonstrate sustainable forest management on public lands. Many of the desirable and essential benefits, goods, and ● Educate the public on forest stewardship services that forests provide can and all the benefits of working forests. come from working forests.
Strategy: Manage forests for sustainable recreation opportunities
Managing for forest health also provides visitation numbers, along with a significant jump opportunities for sustainable recreation. in 2020 due to the pandemic, it is increasingly Access to enjoyable recreation improves the important to identify high value recreation areas public’s appreciation of the outdoors and their and protect them for future generations. To fight support for forestland protection and increasing numbers of forest pests, strategies management. Given the steady increase in should prioritize unique and critical
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environments that provide opportunities for ● Improve public outreach and awareness public use and access. of invasive species at high-use recreation areas. ● Identify high-priority forest ecosystems that are critical to recreation and public ● Ensure that forest health management access. Prioritize resources to protect activities (e.g., cutting, herbicides, these unique and critical environments. trapping, and other treatments) are explained via signs or kiosks to inform ● Manage invasive species in priority areas and educate the public. to minimize impacts to recreation and public access. ● Recognize changing statewide demographics: the number of state ● Survey for forest health threats at residents is growing, more people are recreation and public use facilities. living in urban/suburban areas, and the ● Work with land managers and ethnic/cultural composition of residents is stakeholders to identify new forest pests constantly changing. that may affect sustainable recreation, ● Monitor for changes in habits of public public use, and access. land use and corresponding land ● Educate land managers and support the management. implementation of actions to enhance ● Wherever possible, maintain/enhance/ forest health, biodiversity, and resilient create buffers to mitigate impacts to forest ecosystems. recreational areas. Strategy: Support forest management as a climate change mitigation and adaptation strategy
Since all forests are critical tools for mitigating the ● Promote regenerative forest stewardship effects of climate change and adapting to them, on private lands to bolster growing management strategies and actions designed to forests and increase resilience to keep trees and forests healthy, expand or disturbance. maintain forest cover, and help forests and local communities withstand climate change impacts ● Support forest carbon markets to protect are a priority for New York—both to meet the forestland. Improve management to goals of New York’s Forest Action Plan and to increase the amount of forest carbon achieve the State’s climate change goals. sequestered and the accompanying benefits of forests. (See TNC’s Working ● Explore and identify what forest Woodlands as one example: management practices are beneficial to https://www.nature.org/en-us/about- climate change mitigation. Expand us/where-we-work/united-states/working- forester training to include those forest woodlands/.) management and harvest BMPs that help to adapt to a warmer, wetter climate. ● Encourage long-term carbon storage by promoting forest product uses and ● Enhance forest carbon assessments and markets. monitoring. Research and communicate forestry BMPs for climate mitigation and adaptation, including through the Climate and Applied Forest Research Institute (CAFRI) at SUNY ESF.
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● Develop clear guidance on the carbon Urban forests benefits of forests by type, size, age class, etc., to ensure proper accounting A robust green infrastructure, through active of net carbon benefits of forests. Work to planning and management, strengthens a minimize all impacts on forests. For more community’s resilience and plays an important on municipal planning and zoning for role in mitigating the effects of climate change. forest protection, see Goal #4, Communities that invest in their forests can Assessment: Planning, zoning, and reduce pollution, stormwater runoff, grey policies for resiliency and forest infrastructure costs, and energy costs. DEC’s protection. Urban and Community Forest (UCF) Program will support these efforts through grants, as well ● Promote regenerative forest stewardship as education and outreach. The UCF program on private lands to bolster growing also supports New York’s climate goals to forests and increase resilience to address the effects of climate change. (See disturbance. ‘Enhance forest contributions to ecosystem benefits’ below.) ● Work with NGOs and municipalities to promote private land conservation on ● Engage and educate communities on the parcels not suited for direct protection by importance of urban forestry and green the State. Continue and strengthen forest infrastructure. conservation efforts to avoid forestland conversion. ● Educate planners on the importance of trees in development and green ● Promote various stages of succession for infrastructure projects. multiple benefits: mitigation, adaptability, diversity of age structures. Continue ● Partner with climate change and green planting a diversity of native species in a infrastructure programs to include urban variety of habitats. forestry in more urban planning.
● Increase the magnitude of prescribed ● Increase the capacity of urban NGOs burns in response to temperature rise and land trusts to steward and acquire and amplified frequency of droughts, urban parcels that could become small which will help prevent the buildup of fuel community forests or “pocket forests.” and lower the risk of wildfires. (https://www.americanforests.org/blog/pic king-pocket-forests/).
● Encourage preparations for storms and recovery of damaged landscapes.
● Increase the total tree canopy level across urban areas with tree plantings to increase carbon sequestration, decrease energy use, and reduce greenhouse emissions.
● Promote the conversion of brownfield sites to green areas that could potentially site alternative energy projects (e.g., solar).
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Strategy: Support the natural benefits forests provide to people Drinking water ● Better leverage the WQIP to increase transactions, especially to encourage Forests are critical to the quantity and quality more land trusts to work with private of our drinking water supply. Good forestry landowners on conservation easements, and management methods can safeguard to increase the pace of forest water quality. conservation.
The importance of forests is reinforced by ● Encourage the installation and current research on the public health impacts maintenance of natural buffers along of urban and agricultural runoff in untreated waterways in forested areas. Continue water sources, and by the recognition that DEC’s “Trees for Tribs” program. These technological fixes have high costs and techniques are used in many water- significant limitations (Barnes et al., 2009). focused management programs to According to the EPA, nonpoint source pollution improve or safeguard water quality. from cities, highways, residential lawns, farms, and failed or inadequate septic systems ● Educate municipalities about available contribute to more than 60 percent of U.S. water state and federal technical assistance pollution. In New York State, the Section 303(d) programs to protect sources of drinking list of impaired waters from 2016 includes water in forestlands. approximately 400 waterbodies. The list ● Educate forestry professionals and identifies those waters that do not support stakeholders about the location of appropriate uses and that require development drinking water sources. Knowing where of a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) or other those sources are allows them to use restoration strategy. strategies that protect not only potable ● Educate municipalities about the Water water, but all New York waters. Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) and other funding opportunities through the Erosion and flood control Clean Water Infrastructure Act of 2017 In recent years, watershed associations have for land acquisition in areas where been planting buffer strips of trees along rivers forestlands can be established, with native, flood-tolerant trees and shrubs. maintained, or improved to protect There also have been a few encouraging drinking water sources. initiatives in the Northeast to restore whole ● Engage communities about the floodplain forests. Floodplain forest species, importance of forest management as it such as marsh bedstraw, willows, and relates to the protection of New York’s dogwoods, have sprouted from the natural seed waters and drinking water quality. bank that remained in the soil and from seeds washed in by floods. ● Promote the often low-cost forestry practices and techniques for • Utilize different silvicultural systems to environmentally-sustainable timber enhance habitat for wildlife species. The harvest, outlined in the NYS Forestry types of trees that do well vary with the BMPs for Water Quality (2018), duration of flooding. (https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/37845.html). • Maintain and reestablish riparian buffers to decrease erosion and increase fisheries quality.
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Case Study: Niagara River Restoration Projects In 2018, DEC and OPRHP began to restore wetlands and riparian areas at several sites along the Niagara River, named by the U.S. EPA as an “Area of Concern” in 1987. The project sites, Spicer Creek Wildlife
Management Area and Beaver Island and Buckhorn Island State An eroded shoreline at a former ferry slip in Parks, are important habitats that Beaver Island State Park was regraded and planted with native riparian species. The inlet now support the Niagara River fishery and offers sheltered areas for improved fish habitat. the nationally designated "Important Bird Area.” Buckhorn’s East River Marsh has the largest remaining riverine emergent wetland, hydrologically connected to a unique forested wetland/wet meadow habitat once abundant along the Niagara River corridor. The work will contribute to restoring the beneficial use impairment "Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat" in the “Area of Concern” program. Completed in 2018, the Beaver Island State Park project restored approximately 10 acres of natural habitat along the shores of the upper Niagara River. In the 1950s, the original wetlands were filled during dredging associated with recreational improvements at the Park. The completed restoration included extensive native plantings, such as red maple and black willow, and a new nesting platform for ospreys, a state- listed Species of Special Concern. In addition, native trees were planted at various locations in the Park. The Beaver Island project is one of eight Habitat Improvement Projects that are part of the 2007 relicensing of the New York Power Authority's (NYPA) Niagara Power Project by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. As part of the 50-year term of its license, NYPA has made a commitment to provide additional funds for operation and maintenance of the Habitat Improvement Projects, in cooperation with DEC.
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Urban benefits ● Educate various municipal departments (Planning, DPW, Mayor’s Office, etc.) Urban and community forests provide a wide on the importance of integrating urban variety of benefits, such as stormwater retention, planning and forestry in all levels of flood control, improved air quality, and reduced planning. heat island effects. They can also provide health benefits. It is essential to continue educating ● Partner with climate change and green communities about opportunities to improve and infrastructure programs to include urban increase their urban forest cover and to instill a forestry in more city planning. greater appreciation for forests that surround ● Encourage communities to work with us. Since 2008, New York State has observed a partners to plant more trees through decrease in the forested cover in urban areas. If grants, nonprofits, private funding this trend continues, it could cause a decrease in sources, volunteers, etc. Explore the the benefits communities receive from the trees. idea of county-level partnerships to ● Encourage and support tree planting and develop regional tree nurseries to make revegetation efforts, particularly following our urban and suburban forests easier storms and severe weather events, or to reestablish. after other disturbances, such as EAB- ● Increase pervious surfaces in urban areas. related management. Promote tree plantings as green infrastructure. ● Develop incentives for communities with exceptional canopy cover. ● Highlight “Rock Star” projects (a public outreach term DEC uses to highlight ● Establish and measure baseline urban outstanding activities) that maintain and canopy metrics and continue measuring enhance forest contributions to natural metrics. systems and human benefits. Explore how other communities can benefit from ● Encourage, promote, and support or replicate such projects. For example, opportunities to enhance the tree canopy the City of Buffalo’s project that turns in environmental justice areas vacant lots into planted areas to reduce (https://www.dec.ny.gov/public/915.html). stormwater runoff ● Collaborate and look for partnerships (https://www.epa.gov/green- with healthcare and affordable housing infrastructure/greening-vacant-lots). NGOs. ● Provide technical assistance to ● Work with federal and state agencies communities to ensure that community (FEMA and SEMO) and communities to forests maintain a high diversity of tree encourage enhanced preparation for species. Provide funding for communities severe weather events and the recovery to plant and maintain their trees. of damaged or deteriorated landscapes Encourage native planting when to more healthy and resilient conditions. possible. ● Educate foresters and planners on post- ● Encourage/educate communities on how storm/event trauma and how to talk with to plan, design, and manage urban residents who are rebuilding in tree- forests to improve health and wellness. damaged communities.
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Strategy: Support, maintain, and develop sustainable markets for sustainable forest products
Healthy forest product markets provide an ● Look for ways to leverage private funding efficient pathway to sound forest stewardship. to support forest management practices Landowners and forest managers are able to that enhance carbon sequestration and remove trees as prescribed by scientific forest mitigate the effects of climate change. management at no cost or at a profit. This This can be pursued through public- creates healthier forests and more vigorously private partnerships. offsets the cost of forest management for private landowners. Landowners will be better able to ● Support partners in workforce manage their forests sustainably if there are development efforts to recruit high school stable forest product markets throughout students into the logging and forestry New York State. There is a growing interest in industries. new economic opportunities for what are ● Promote the use of trained and certified typically called nontraditional markets. Equally professional loggers to private forest significant, the more wood products are used to landowners through DEC’s Forest replace materials that heavily rely on fossil fuels Stewardship and Forest Tax Law in their production, the less carbon will be programs. released into the atmosphere. ● Explore incentives for mills, loggers, The following actions will be taken to support foresters, and landowners to follow best sustainable traditional and nontraditional forest management practices (BMPs), remove product markets in New York State: invasives, and improve the forest for the ● Incorporate updated messaging on the future. importance of carbon markets into forest ● Target federal stewardship dollars and stewardship outreach materials. outreach efforts in the Southern Tier and ● Keep current markets and grow new Western regions, where the majority of ones, including low-grade markets by New York’s valuable hardwood working with stakeholders to identify resources and hardwood mills are opportunities. located. Focusing state stewardship efforts on landowners will support the ● Find opportunities and support research local rural economy in traditionally to promote mass timber and cross economically depressed regions where laminated timber in commercial, the forest industry is essential. institutional, and residential building. ● Work with partners to create new ● Encourage traditional uses of forestland financial incentives to offset the cost of to include wood products; agroforestry, ownership and forest management for i.e., the harvest of forest products, such private forest landowners. Specifically, as maple sap; and recreation, including allow management for forest benefits hunting, fishing, trapping, camping, (i.e., clean water, erosion control, etc.), hiking, wildlife viewing, etc. as well as traditional forest management.
● Create a bioeconomy task force to attract new, wood-based product manufacturing to New York, such as biofuels, bioplastics, etc.
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Strategy: Recognize indigenous peoples’ use of and care for forests
Lessons from tribal forest management could help improve sustainable management of non- tribal public forestlands. Case Study: Forest Co-management At Brasher State Forest in the St. Lawrence Flatlands Unit, New York, Haudenosaunee (indigenous peoples) have a cooperative agreement with DEC to manage the forest for black ash, a cultural keystone species used by Haudenosaunee for basket making. This agreement is included in DEC’s forest management plan.
“Tribal Forest Adaptation Planning Basket making, along with and Practices Workshop.” many other land-based A training for natural resource managers, organized practices, is socially and by NIACS, Northern Forest Climate Hub, and economically integral for Saint Regis Mohawk tribe Environment Division.
indigenous communities. This work has resulted in renewal of traditional knowledge and increased study of black ash ecology, benefitting both indigenous communities and the ecosystem, and, in turn, helping DEC fulfill its environmental responsibilities and take steps toward recognition of the land rights of indigenous peoples.
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GOAL #4: Appreciate, Support, and Protect New York’s Forests On the one hand, this goal builds on New York’s “We must protect the forests previous target to ensure continued benefits from for our children, grandchildren forests. From our recognition of these benefits follows our willingness to support and protect and children yet to be born. forests. On the other hand, this goal also brings We must protect the forests us full circle to the first target to keep our forests for those who can't speak for as forests; without our efforts to support and themselves, such as the birds, protect them, our forests will not remain forests. The pressures on forests from human activities animals, fish and trees.” and associated changes in our environment QWATSINAS (HEREDITARY CHIEF require us to act. In sum, this goal is the EDWARD MOODY), NUXALK NATION keystone that ensures the success of the other This final goal directly targets two National three goals in New York’s circular framework. S&PF Priorities: “protect forests from threats” and “enhance public benefits from trees and forests.” The third national priority, “conserve and manage working forest landscapes for multiple values and uses,” is embedded in the outlined strategies. Assessment: Planning, zoning, and policies for resilience and forest protection
Comprehensive planning and local zoning When it was enacted in 2014, the Community ordinances are tools often used to manage or Risk and Resiliency Act (CRRA) required direct growth, help maintain open space or other applicants in some permit programs—and for environmental benefits, or ensure that funding in the Open Space Program—to infrastructure, such as water supply or sewage demonstrate consideration of sea level rise, storm capacity, is not overburdened. Depending on surge, and flooding. The Climate Leadership how such ordinances are written and enforced, and Community Protection Act of 2019 revised they can be great tools for promoting forest this Act; it expanded the permitting programs sustainability. However, they can also have included and required New York State to consider unintended consequences that put them in direct all future physical risks due to climate change conflict with sustaining forests. (https://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/102559.html).
New York is a home rule state. Authority for The CRRA required DEC to provide guidance on planning and zoning rests with municipal the use of natural resilience measures, including governments. While the State does not require forests and riparian buffers among others, to municipalities to adopt either a comprehensive reduce risks associated with flooding, storm surge, plan or a zoning ordinance, those that adopt and sea level rise. All CRRA guidance documents zoning and other land use regulations must have been released ensure that they are “in accordance” with an (https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/ adopted comprehensive plan. crranaturalmeasuresgndc.pdf).
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Indigenous worldviews More specific municipal planning efforts related recognize the rights of the lands to forestry are outlined in A Municipal Official’s Guide to Forestry in New York State (NYPF, and waters to carry out their own NYSDEC, and ESFPA, 2005). duties and responsibilities. The Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Many municipalities lack either a comprehensive Address, a protocol for plan or zoning ordinance, or both. Even among municipalities with both, one may be out-of-date understanding of and or inconsistent with the other, which can be engagement with the natural confusing. Such documents can discourage world, specifically mentions the multiple forest uses and forest retention. They duties of Mother Earth, the can provide mixed or unreliable messages to Waters, and the Fish, among landowners, forest businesses, and residents other elements of Creation. The about forest-related expectations or community goals and objectives. The State’s “Right to recognition and correlated Practice Forestry Act,” adopted in 2004, calls on responsibility of human beings localities to support and facilitate the practice of to protect these rights of nature forestry in the development of local can be a motivating and guiding comprehensive land use plans, zoning principle in conservation and ordinances, or regulations, and provides for protection efforts. review and comment on proposed ordinances by the Department of Environmental Conservation. DEC will develop program-specific guidance in its permit programs to incorporate flood-risk reduction recommendations developed pursuant to CRRA, as well as consideration of other climate hazards significant to each project type.
Also pursuant to CRRA, in 2019 the New York State Department of State released a toolkit of model local laws to enhance community resilience. In addition to coastal measures, this guidance includes wetland and watercourse protection approaches, stormwater control, and the management of floodplain development. To download the documents, visit: https://www.dos.ny.gov/ opd/programs/resilience/index.html.
In an attempt to regulate land clearing, many communities facing development pressure have adopted local ordinances that end up restricting sustainable forestry practices. Private forest landowners, timber harvesters, foresters, and the wood products industry are concerned about
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overly restrictive local ordinances. For many Zoning is the mechanism by which a private landowners, the opportunity to periodically government regulates certain aspects of land earn income from their forests is an important, if use, such as the siting and density of not essential, factor contributing to their ability to development and allowable uses. It is also a sustainably manage their forests and resist way for a community to identify land uses (i.e., pressure to subdivide or develop them. Most residential, commercial, etc.) that are compatible towns want to find the right balance between with each other and the setting in which they exist. preserving traditional uses, such as agriculture As such, zoning is the best tool for preserving and forestry, with economic development and and enhancing forested landscapes. The resource protection or preservation. identification of land use goals within planning documents can provide the groundwork for Planning should begin with a Natural Resource adopting zoning laws or regulations that enforce Inventory (NRI) that identifies important forest the protection of those areas. Zoning should resources in the community. A comprehensive ideally define forest uses and include forestry plan should ideally articulate goals and as a permitted use within appropriate zoning objectives for forest uses and conservation; for districts. The Municipal Guide offers instruction example, “to protect forestland for multiple-use on crafting a municipal forestry law or ordinance forestry, including timber production, watershed that balances the right to practice forestry with management, fish and wildlife habitat, and the desire for a reasonable local review process. recreation” (from the Municipal Guide). The Timber Harvesting Law by the Town of DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program is an Hyde Park, New York, serves as a good excellent resource that provides guidance to example based on the Municipal Guide; communities with their planning efforts (https://ecode360.com/14987313). (https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/ remediation_hudson_pdf/nrifactsheet.pdf and https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/ Communities need planning remediation_hudson_pdf/nricover.pdf). and zoning that protect forests On September 15, 2020, the Hudson River and their benefits, while allowing Estuary Program and Cornell Department of sustainable forest uses. Natural Resources and the Environment launched a new website called “Conservation Planning in the Hudson River Estuary Watershed” (https://hudson.dnr.cals.cornell.edu). The site compiles information from nearly two decades of biodiversity conservation and land use planning research and extension by the Estuary Program, Cornell, and partners.
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Assessment: Economic framework for sustainable private forestry
Establishing a viable economic framework Lowering real property taxes on forestland, begins with providing forest landowners with offering an income tax benefit, or even providing incentives for practicing sustainable forestry on a direct payment to landowners are all ways to their property. These incentives can either come lower costs for these property owners. Most through the economic markets or through other states have recognized the benefit forest payments or services rendered at a lower cost. landowners provide to the rest of society, and Markets for goods and services that forest those states provide incentives through tax landowners provide can be through traditional abatement, current use programs, and some forest product markets or value-added markets, direct payment programs. such as maple syrup, ginseng, mushrooms, etc., all of which have economic value. However, Among new emerging markets is a carbon offset some timber markets are not available to all market, where net polluters are compelled landowners in the state. The continuing through regulation to offset their carbon contraction of the forest industry means that emissions with purchased credits. For example, landowners will no longer have the main a company that emits carbon would be allowed economic driver to motivate them to perform to purchase a certain amount of credits in order sustainable forest management. As stated to counter the impacts of its carbon releases. earlier, the lack of markets removes an These credits represent a net uptake of carbon economic tool for landowners to keep and through the conservation of forests using sound, manage their property, and may pressure some scientific forest management techniques. Some to liquidate their forestland, considering it a bad of the credits sold in a carbon market are investment. Keeping landownership viable provided by forest landowners who agreed to economically is critical to not only a robust adopt standards designed to manage their forest timber industry, but for all the other benefits our for carbon storage and uptake. society obtains from forestland. Assessment: Unsustainable or exploitative harvesting practices
The average family or farm forest owner has Because trees of good form and desired species many different reasons for owning woodlots, and have market value for a host of products people many different goals and objectives for the depend on for daily living, woodlot owners can property. With appropriate management, property often sell trees to generate revenue and pay off owners can maintain their forests indefinitely, their investments in ownership and while using them today for many different management. These periodic timber harvests purposes. That is the essence of sustainable and sales can help meet short- and long-term forestry. It means keeping forests healthy, needs and objectives if planned and executed productive, and available for future generations, with the future in mind. Unfortunately, many while reaping benefits today. This includes woodlot owners and harvesters do not practice monitoring forest health and other conditions; sustainable forestry. Instead, they employ maintaining appropriate numbers, kinds, and unsustainable cutting practices, such as ages of trees; enhancing the growth and vigor of diameter-limit cutting. This simplistic approach desirable species; and regenerating new trees basically removes the largest, most valuable and forests when the current ones reach maturity trees, and leaves smaller ones. Typically, the or no longer serve landowners’ objectives. smaller trees left behind are also the poorest form or quality, or are suppressed trees that will
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not respond with increased quality growth. dominated by ferns or beech sprouts, or invaded Removing only (and all) the marketable trees or by non-native plants, such as garlic mustard, harvesting only selected species or certain buckthorn, Japanese barberry, or multiflora rose. quality of trees, are also unsustainable practices. The situation usually worsens when a second or These practices are often characterized as high- third diameter-limit cut is conducted in the same grading, which has been as a significant threat area in future years. to U.S. forests. Better stewardship of wooded lands following Neither diameter-limit cutting nor high-grading recognized, sustainable forestry principles and tries to maintain or improve forest health or the advice of a professional forester can help productivity, which are key elements of avoid these forest sustainability threats. sustainable forestry practice. Nor do these With public benefits at stake, such as clean air, practices deliberately regenerate new, desirable clean water, wildlife habitat, and future timber trees to replace the ones removed—ensuring supplies, as well as personal benefits for forest and improving future woodlots. As a result, the owners, some states and localities have next forest may have a patchy and irregular mix implemented regulations designed to ensure of open and crowded areas, short and poorly sound forest stewardship and conservation. formed trees, or trees of limited diversity and low To date, New York State largely relies on economic and ecological value, or lacking other education and technical and financial assistance desired characteristics. This creates undesirable for private woodlot owners to voluntarily promote conditions within the forest, reduces the sustainable forestry. Professional forestry potential for producing consistent amounts of services and assistance are available from DEC wood products (including firewood, pulpwood, foresters, as well as private sector foresters biomass, or timber) and the potential economic (such as those participating in DEC’s returns from those products, and may adversely Cooperating Forester Program) or other impact vegetative wildlife habitats and other forestry professionals working in the public forest values. It also may open forests to being and private sectors. Assessment: Legal and institutional framework for state- owned forest protection
The body of law that established the New York Forest Practice Act (1946): This act authorizes State Department of Environmental forestry assistance for private forest owners to Conservation (DEC) and authorizes its programs encourage the practice of forestry so that is called the Environmental Conservation damage to the environment caused by Law (ECL). DEC is responsible for unplanned overcutting can be avoided. The act administration and enforcement of the ECL also assists in helping to stabilize New York (https://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/391.html). industries that are dependent on forest products.
Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act (1978): Article 14 (1894): New York’s Forest Preserve This federal law provides the foundation for lands are protected as "forever wild” by Article cooperative forestry programs implemented by XIV of the State Constitution. New York’s Forest states with federal support. The Cooperative Preserve is the largest state-designated Forestry Assistance Act authorizes key wilderness in the country. programs, including Rural Forestry Assistance, Forest Stewardship, Forest Legacy, Forest Criterion 7 in New York’s 2010 SFAP offers Health Protection, Urban and Community an extensive overview of “Legal, Institutional Forestry, Rural Fire Prevention & Control, and & Economic Framework for Forest Conservation Community Fire Protection. & Sustainable Management.” See: http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/ fras070110.pdf
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Focus Area: Sustainable forestry and BMPs
Sustainable forest management has been and Secondly, it is critically important to forest continues to be a central goal for New York sustainability and natural resource protection State and DEC. Ultimately, forest sustainability that timber harvesters are well trained—skilled in is determined by the people and practices that harvesting techniques, business practices, and directly act upon the landscape. The decisions and resource protection. They also need appropriate choices landowners make about their forestland, incentives, direction, and financial motivation to and those made by foresters, timber harvesters, apply BMPs in the woods. At the end of the day, recreationists, and other forest users, all influence the logger is where the “boots meet the dirt” for and change the resource. Since the vast majority most of the forests in New York State. of New York’s forestland is in private ownership, this section focuses on the issues affecting that New York has a vast and diverse forestland group and strategies to address those issues. base, held in a combination of public and private ownerships. State forests managed by DEC Regardless of whether a forest landowner has are dual-certified under the Sustainable Forestry ever used the services of a professional forester Initiative and Forest Stewardship Council or not, if that landowner wants to sell timber “green certification,” and can serve as models products, they will typically involve a timber of sustainable forest management for other harvester or logger. Very few landowners have landowners. Urban forests are protected and the equipment or skills needed to conduct a managed by communities, and, as discussed commercial timber harvest on their own. The elsewhere, local, state, and national programs harvester is one of the most vital links in the are in place to promote their sustainable forestry economic chain and, arguably, will have management. the most direct influence on the forests they work on and the future forests that grow. Timber Some significant and emerging areas of forest harvesters also have direct market knowledge and natural resource science and management that landowners do not possess. still have gaps in knowledge, and, as a result, have uncertainties over strategies and impacts. There are two key sustainable forestry issues These questions require further research to be related to timber harvesters. The first is answered, and further technology development demographic. Numerous studies have shown that to identify future actions: the overall population of loggers is aging and fewer new workers are joining this field. Many ● What are the effects of climate change factors contribute to this trend. Logging is a very on our forest ecosystems? hazardous occupation. It’s seen as low-tech and ● How should forests be managed to low-paying, and it is rarely recommended by high mitigate or adapt to climate change? school guidance counselors or career counselors. The work environment can be challenging— ● How do we detect, eradicate, or manage outdoors in all kinds of weather. Costs of entry to invasive pests? this business can be prohibitively high. The large ● How do we prevent or deal with the equipment necessary (skidders, forwarders, impacts of air pollution and acidic processors, chippers, and trucks) can all be very deposition on forests? expensive, and financing can be difficult. As the current generation of timber harvesters ages out ● How do we restore habitats and/or of the workforce, many people question whether maintain certain ecosystems, particularly there will be an adequate supply of woods for rare, threatened, and endangered workers to accomplish vital forest management forest-dependent species? objectives in the future.
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Strategy: Increase incentives to use the latest science in forest management
Incorporating the latest scientific data and ● Update forest tax law regulations to allow knowledge into practical forest management for new silvicultural methods. activities creates better outcomes for landowners and society in general. Management ● Establish an online silvicultural library solutions also need to be scale appropriate for that consulting foresters and staff small versus large landowners. maintain and contribute to.
Forestry incentive programs such as the Forest ● Offer financial means for private Land Enhancement Program (FLEP), Wildlife landowners to improve forest health Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP), and through a partnership with DEC’s Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) Division of Lands and Forests: have been used in New York to promote and – Continue to incorporate forest health, facilitate preparation of Forest Stewardship forest pests, and invasive species Plans for private forest owners, and to considerations into updating the 480a implement various forest and environmental Forest Tax Law, the EQIP, and improvement practices, including timber stand working forest conservation thinning, invasive species removal, reforestation easements. There are various cost- and tree planting, riparian buffer establishment, share programs available to private wildlife habitat improvement, forest road landowners to address invasive stabilization, and water quality protection. species on their property.
● Expand funding for forestry incentive – Create a cost-share or tax rebate programs to directly enhance and program for targeted invasive species complement other efforts for retaining removals, thinning, restoration, and forests and implementing sustainable forest management to improve forest forestry on the ground. Demand for these health and lower the risk of attacks by practices from New York forest owners invasive species and/or pests. and managers has always well exceeded available funding, indicating a far greater – Create invasive species and forest pest potential for applying conservation tree removal programs that provide practices. some financial assistance (e.g., cost share, tax rebates, etc.) to remove ● Develop and grow the newly created previously infested hazard trees in “Regenerate NY” cost-share program to areas that have been most impacted. improve forest regeneration on private forestland throughout the state.
● Develop forest management workshops and training for forestry professionals on the latest scientific forestry topics.
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Strategy: Increase technical expertise among forest owners and managers
Empower private landowners and property ● Continue to connect the public and managers through forest health education private land managers to the technical and technical advice. advice they need:
● Following surveys, inform private – Provide identification services for landowners of the presence of invasive invasive species and forest pests species and forest pests on their through the Forest Health Diagnostic properties, and offer technical advice. Lab ([email protected] and Provide management plans and BMPs [email protected]) and the Forest on invasive species (i.e., dealing with Health Information Line (1-866-640- dead ash after EAB infestation, invasives 0652). management post-harvesting). – Connect private landowners with ● Continue to provide workshops and DEC’s Division of Lands and Forest other learning opportunities to private foresters, biologists, and forest owners: Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISMs) for – Encourage them to attend Invasive technical advice. Species Awareness Week (ISAW) events. ISAW is an annual educational – Connect private landowners with campaign that offers many Consulting Foresters for additional opportunities to learn more about technical advice. invasive species impacting their community and what they can do to – Provide sufficient basic and technical manage them. Activities include information on the DEC website and guided hikes, plant and animal New York State’s Invasive Species identification workshops, Information Clearinghouse iMapInvasives training, and much more. (http://nyis.info/).
– Collaborate with organizations, such – Develop and provide innovative forest as the New York State Forest Owners assessment tools that forest owners Association, My Woodlot, Cornell and/or managers can easily use and Cooperative Extension, Soil & Water understand. An example is the Forest Conservation Districts, and others to Health Outreach Tool and Scorecard, provide education and outreach. jointly developed by Cornell Cooperative Extension, the U.S. – Conduct regional workshops and Forest Service, and The Nature provide consultations, management Conservancy recommendations, and more across (https://forestadaptation.org/ the state. learn/resource-finder/ny-checklist).
● Create and promote native plant lists – Continue to raise awareness of forest for nurseries, landscape centers, garden health-related issues through print centers, and private landowners. media, broadcast media, social Educate about the benefits of native media, etc. plants and how to choose native alternatives and avoid invasives.
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● Continue to increase the use of better techniques to conserve forest iMapInvasives for tracking and sharing resources to achieve the sustainable invasive species data. forestry objectives of landowners.
● To keep private landowners and the ● Increase scientific knowledge and/or public informed, continue to increase the application expertise among forest availability and accessibility of location owners to improve their ability to practice and management data for forest pests sustainable forest management. and invasive species through iMapInvasives. ● Promote silvicultural practices and guidelines, and timber harvesting BMPs ● Increase the number of demonstration to protect water quality and natural forests statewide, which highlight forest resources. In addition, work to improve management practices promoting forest and ensure sustainability by employing health, and showcase these forests for forest biomass harvesting guidelines, technical examples and education. wildlife habitat management standards, invasive species control and ● Encourage foresters and timber management, carbon management harvesters to learn and adopt new, better practices, and recreational development. ways to engage forest landowners, and Strategy: Provide access to forest data for cooperative stewardship
For cooperative stewardship of all forested ● Provide access to forest data to planning lands, it is important to provide access to forest and zoning boards, Conservation Advisory data for all involved in local or regional land use Councils (https://www.dec.ny.gov/ and management decisions. New York State’s docs/remediation_hudson_pdf/ DEC, NHP, OPRHP, additional state and federal cacfsheet.pdf), and land trusts. agencies, and others have information, including GIS maps, that can be useful and relevant for a Providing access to data helps variety of land use planners, organizations, and forest managers fulfill FSC entities. For example, the Hudson Valley Natural Criterion 3.1: “Indigenous Resource Mapper is a tool developed by DEC peoples shall control forest for viewing natural features in the Hudson River Estuary Watershed (https://www.dec.ny.gov/ management on their lands and lands/112137.html). Sharing could be deployed territories” (FSC 2019). via the new Department-wide mapping tool, with Good stewardship of forestlands reference to the GIS clearinghouse for underlying layers. will help provide our country’s needs for clean water and air, ● Enable Indigenous peoples and other thriving populations of fish and stewardship partners to access the same research, data, and technology that DEC wildlife, quality outdoor uses, which will provide consistent tools to recreation experiences, and a care for New York’s forests and improve continual supply of wood results of forest stewardship efforts. products, and will help to meet
our state’s climate goals.
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State, federal, and other agencies also have ● Provide access for representatives of information and data about Indian reservation indigenous communities to ensure their lands, as well as indigenous peoples’ aboriginal sovereignty by giving them data needed territories spanning New York State. The data to care for lands and resources. Share pertains to lands, waters, sites, species, and data to ensure equity in indigenous materials of cultural importance to Native people. peoples’ participation in management and use decisions about forests and forest resources in aboriginal territories. Strategy: Support local planning and zoning efforts to advance forest conservation
● Develop clear guidance on the carbon A site-specific calculation of each and benefits of forests by type, size, age, every benefit (or ecosystem service) class, etc., to properly evaluate the net provided by a forest would need to be carbon effects of conversion to any other tallied, and then weighed against the land cover, including renewable energy potential value/cost of harvesting the facilities and transmission infrastructure, timber and developing the land. These and to ensure proper accounting of the forest benefits include the value of net carbon benefits of forests. A carbon hunting/fishing areas, wildlife habitat, program can give landowners another food sources, erosion control, water way to contribute to a solution for climate filtration, carbon sequestration/global change and help New York State warming mitigation benefits, aesthetics, achieve our CLCPA goals. recreational value, various livelihoods, etc. This will provide the private Comprehensive planning landowner with important information to and local zoning ordinances decide what is in their long-term are tools often used to manage best interests. or direct growth, help maintain However, based on their regulations and open space or other policies, local (and state) governments environmental benefits, or can influence landowner decisions to ensure that infrastructure, such support various initiatives, such as as water supply or sewage carbon sequestration, renewable energy generation, or simply keeping forests as capacity, are not overburdened. forests. Projects are often subject to the These tools can be used to limitations of the site, the long-term goals prioritize conservation and of the landowner, and the financial sustainable management of resources available to achieve those important forest areas and to priorities. An example is the financial avoid forest fragmentation. ability of large landowners like TIMOs (Timber Investment Management See also Assessment: Organization) versus a local landowner’s Planning, zoning, and policies resources. By helping aggregate small- for resiliency and forest scale carbon sequestration projects in a protection, under Goal #4. geographical area, municipal agencies can alleviate transaction costs for
individual landowners. Doing this can help mitigate the current trend of
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parcelization and habitat fragmentation. ● Engage local governments regarding the This aggregation would also provide availability of DEC staff to review and small landowners a means to earn comment on proposed timber harvesting income through carbon sequestration. ordinances. The science is knowing all the tools available; the art is putting them together ● In conjunction with the New York State to support natural processes in producing Department of State’s Local Government the best result. Professional foresters Training Program, develop a municipal have the tools to meet both the training presentation focused on planning capabilities of the site and the needs of and zoning for forests, with guidance the local and broader communities. tailored to different regions of the state. Develop a schedule for offering the ● Develop outreach on BMPs for the presentation at planning and zoning conservation of trees and forest stands conferences on a regular basis. during different phases of site planning and construction. ● Provide grant funding to support municipal forest planning and zoning. ● Begin planning with a Natural Resource Inventory (NRI) that identifies important ● Engage local conservation advisory forest resources in the community, councils and boards, or encourage their including large forest blocks, forest establishment. Conservation advisory linkage zones, riparian forest buffers, and councils counsel municipal boards on exemplary forest communities. Forest matters related to the environment and and other natural resource data should assist with the review of proposed be analyzed to identify priority areas for development projects. maintaining forest cover and uses. Inventories can be developed in the
context of a comprehensive plan, Open Space Plan, or as a stand-alone reference document. The results of an NRI should be available for use by municipal officials, county planning agencies, interested community and watershed groups, developers, and residents. Some applications of an NRI include: environmental review of development proposals; identification of conservation priorities; comprehensive plan updates; zoning and subdivision regulation updates; open space planning and acquisition; and Critical Environmental Area (CEA) designation. See our Case Study for CEAs: Conserving critical environmental areas in Wawarsing, under Goal #1.
● Develop model local laws for timber harvesting and forest and tree conservation.
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Strategy: Enhance legal protections and policy frameworks in support of forestry
Municipalities often install tree ordinances or long-term goals and values; utilize the road bond requirements that target forest guidance and expertise of a management activities in their village or town. professionally educated forester; This deters landowners from conducting consider many variables, such as wildlife activities that would improve the health of their habitat, water quality, and recreation, as forest and provide an economic benefit to the well as timber and economic returns. landowner and community. ● Incorporate BMPs (See Focus Area: As forest health issues multiply in New York’s Sustainable forestry and BMPs) and forests, it may become important to track where other investments that protect natural forest products are harvested from, in order to resources and increase long-term values certify compliance with local, state, and federal derived from forests. quarantines. Regulation and policy need to reflect these challenges moving forward. ● Use trained loggers who have the skills to perform low-impact harvesting. ● Ensure that forests play a critical role in climate action plans. Policy and regulation ● In addition to incentives, education, and frameworks designed to outreach, also consider targeted policies and regulations that motivate retention, protect communities from the expansion, and beneficial management negative effects of poor forestry of forests, while discouraging practices, but not to restrict deforestation. forestry activities, are important ● Explore strengthening land use and in maintaining community zoning regulations to protect forestland support of forestry. and forestry activities.
● Investigate avenues for raising the profile of professional forestry, the professional forester, and the professional logger in New York State.
● Explore developing a notification system for timber harvesting on private lands. The purpose of this system could be the monitoring of forest health agents and water quality.
● Expand policies (e.g., the state building code) that protect current markets, and encourage diversification of markets (including low-grade markets).
● Build on management strategies that promote healthy, productive, and sustainable forests based on articulated,
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Strategy: Engage communities about the importance of urban forestry
Most New Yorkers live and/or work near ● Create educational webpages and print community forests, yet they often don’t realize products aimed at different audiences, how important the trees in front of their home, e.g., classroom posters, pamphlets for along their route to work, and outside their city planners about the benefits of workplace are to their health and well-being. trees, etc. With more and more people living in urban areas, it’s increasingly important to improve the ● Create an urban forestry newsletter, health of urban forests to ensure they thrive. sharing UCF news and success stories from around the state. To appreciate trees, municipal workers and residents first need to be aware of their ● Identify community organizations for importance. That will motivate people to act to partnerships. For example, explore protect and increase this vital resource. The implementing a Stewardship Mapping integration of urban forestry into all levels of city, and Assessment Project for all of regional, and state master planning will promote New York. a greater awareness, elevate the value of urban ● Participate in outreach events to reach trees and urban forest ecosystems, and educate more communities and residents. people about their importance for community sustainability and resilience. ● Update forest tax law regulations to allow for new silvicultural methods to be explored. ● Develop an Urban Forest Planning guide Create invasive species and forest pest for municipalities/community groups. tree removal programs that provide some ● Educate various municipal departments financial assistance (e.g., cost share, tax (Planning, DPW, Mayor’s Office, etc.) on rebates, etc.) to remove previously the importance of integrating urban infested hazard trees areas that have forestry in all levels of planning. been the most impacted.
● Provide presentations and training to communities interested in learning about Municipalities need to integrate urban forestry. Include schools and urban and community forestry municipal employees (beyond DPW into all levels of planning, workers) in these efforts. including community ● Increase statewide connectivity and comprehensive and master communications among urban forestry planning efforts. organizations and municipalities. ● Hold statewide educational seminars, workshops, and webinars on urban forestry topics.
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Strategy: Foster public literacy about forest health and sustainable forestry
The majority of New York’s population resides in ● Create a “Your Neighborhood Forest urban areas, and traditional forestry is not part of Program” that would hold forestry forums their culture. This can lead to the public being and outreach events across the state for misinformed about forestry and timber targeted neighbors of state lands in order harvesting, and it helps to foster a negative view to model forestry practices. of one of New York’s most environmentally sustainable industries. Improving the productivity ● With partners, develop a New York State and health of New York’s forests requires Private Forest Landowners Conference to motivated landowners to conduct sound forestry be held every two years to focus on issues practices on the ground. related to private forests in our state.
● Improve and update private lands ● Create forestry education materials outreach materials to provide more for the New York State Legislature to consistent messaging. Develop materials promote forestry and private land that emphasize the connection between stewardship. forest landowners and the general public, ● Maintain “green certification.” as well as all the benefits of conserving and sustainably managing forests. ● Incorporate science-based forestry material into primary/secondary ● Create an outreach strategy that clearly school curricula. explains the relationship between healthy, thriving forest product markets ● Conduct regional workshops and provide and healthy, thriving forests. Creating consultations, management products out of wood from New York’s recommendations, and more to forests emits much less carbon than landowners and the general public. products made from other materials. Encourage private forest owners to attend Invasive Species Awareness ● Develop a social media strategy to Week (ISAW) events. ISAW is an annual connect users of private lands programs educational campaign each July that to each other. These programs include offers many opportunities for New the Forest Tax Law Program and the Yorkers to learn more about the invasive Forest Stewardship Program. This would species impacting their community and also provide an opportunity for the public what they can do to manage them. to participate in citizen science. Activities include guided hikes, plant and ● Educate urban New Yorkers about the animal identification workshops, benefits of traditional forest management. iMapInvasives training, and other events.
● Establish “Your Local Forest Day” events ● Create and promote native plant lists for modeled after “Local Farm Day” events nurseries, landscape centers, garden to promote the connection between centers, and private landowners on the forest products, forest landowners, and benefits of native plants and how to the general public. Forest landowners choose native alternatives in place of would hold events and invite the public to invasive species. their property to talk about forestry issues.
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● Inform private landowners of the ● Continue to raise awareness of forest presence of invasive species and health-related issues through agency forest pests on their properties following communications vehicles. surveys, as well as offer technical advice. Provide identification services ● Provide access to forest data to planning for invasive species and forest pests and zoning boards, Conservation Advisory through the Forest Health Diagnostic Councils (https://www.dec.ny.gov/ Lab ([email protected]) and the docs/remediation_hudson_pdf/ Forest Health Information Line cacfsheet.pdf), and land trusts. State, (1-866-640-0652). Connect private federal, and other agencies also have landowners with DEC Division of Lands information and data about Indian and Forest foresters, biologists, and the reservation lands, as well as indigenous Partnerships for Regional Invasive peoples’ aboriginal territories spanning Species Management (PRISMs) for New York State. The data pertains to technical advice. Provide management lands, waters, sites, species, and plans and BMPs on invasive species (i.e., materials of cultural importance to Native dealing with dead ash after EAB people. Enable indigenous peoples and infestation, invasives management post- other stewardship partners to access the harvesting). same research, data, and technology that DEC uses, which will provide consistent tools to care for New York’s forests and improve results of forest stewardship efforts Strategy: Provide forest stewardship support to landowners The right to own land is among the most Forestry is uniquely positioned treasured and valued rights of American to provide economic and citizens. The ownership of land not only gives landowners the right to pursue personal goals, ecological benefits to all but also carries the responsibility of good New Yorkers. Education of the stewardship. Life and the natural systems that public is paramount in developing support it depend on strong stewardship or support for forests, forestry, ethics we apply to caring for earth’s resources. and private forest landowners.
Landowners who follow a forest stewardship ethic aim to guard against soil erosion and the Efforts to strengthen this stewardship ethic can depletion of soil productivity; protect wetlands, be focused on multi-generational landowners, riparian areas, and stream and river corridors; as well as new landowners who don’t have a mitigate climate change and the build-up of history of ownership or management: carbon dioxide; protect forests from insects, ● Engage landowners in citizen science or diseases, wildfire, overgrazing, and poor efforts that have a community/ harvesting practices; conserve New York’s regional connection. biological diversity by protecting endangered species and rare forest communities; ensure future generations have forests to enjoy and that meet their needs; and contribute to the natural beauty of the earth.
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● Develop outreach materials that ● Work with the Colonel William F. Fox recognize the various types of Memorial Saratoga Tree Nursery to landowners, size of ownerships, and the create a restoration program for areas reasons why landowners own forests. impacted by invasive species or forest pests to help landowners obtain access ● Continue to offer planning assistance to native trees, shrubs, and plants for through the Forest Stewardship Program. replanting. ● Continue to encourage private ● Strive to identify private land near areas landowners to develop a stewardship of ecological concern and provide plan and work with private foresters outreach to those landowners to help through the Forest Stewardship Program. prevent new invasions. ● Continue to promote the existence of ● Identify and address underlying problems healthy young forests through the Young attributable to invasive species and forest Forest Initiative. pest damages, such as overcrowding, ● Continue to support the Deer eutrophication, and the creation of Management Assistance Program to help clearings or other disturbances. address large deer populations, which ● Educate urban New Yorkers about the severely impact forest regeneration. benefits of traditional forest management. ● Offer planning assistance to private Establish a “Your Local Forest Day” landowners for developing an invasive modeled after “Local Farm Day” events species and/or forest pest management to promote the connection between plan if the development of this plan does not forest products, forest landowners, and fit into one of the above-listed programs. the general public. Forest landowners would hold events and invite the public to ● Pursue allowances for treatment of their property to talk about forestry issues. aquatic and land-based invasive species on private lands through the ● With partners, develop a New York State Environmental Conservation Law. Private Forest Landowners Conference to be held every two years to focus on issues ● Continue to work with private landowners related to private forests in our state. to conduct invasive species and forest Incorporate science-based forestry material pest eradication and management efforts into primary/secondary school curricula. on their lands, when feasible.
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Strategy: Develop cultural sensitivity training from indigenous peoples
Work cooperatively with Indian Nations to further practices, are not well understood by many DEC develop educational materials and educational personnel or by surrounding non-Native opportunities, determined by Indian Nations, to communities. Both public and private help both New York State government landowners would benefit from better employees and private citizens learn about understanding of these topics. Cultural these Nations. sensitivity training materials are currently available through the Office of Environmental The need for education in cross-cultural Justice. Forest owners are encouraged to learn understanding responds to concerns expressed about the history and present concerns of by Indian Nations that treaties and rights, as well indigenous peoples. as hunting, fishing, and gathering protocols and Strategy: Manage recreational user impacts in New York's state-owned forests
Throughout the country, recreational use of ● In trail and recreation planning, be public lands has risen exponentially in the last wildlife and plant sensitive, and decade, and New York is no exception. habitat oriented.
● Steps should be taken to ensure that ● Explicitly limit, discourage, or prevent public use of these areas occurs in a human access to sensitive areas. manner that maintains public safety within communities, along roadways, at ● Construct trails and other facilities in trailheads, and in interior areas; protects a manner that accommodates the natural resources and recreation expected level of use with minimal infrastructure; provides a quality maintenance, while factoring in climate recreation experience; supports local change (i.e., extreme weather events) economic vitality; and is based on science as an added impact on facilities. and/or the best available data. ● Using Volunteer Stewardship ● Use various steward programs Agreements, encourage individuals and (backcountry stewards, front country groups to help with maintenance of stewards, and others) to help educate various facilities on state lands the public about the basic principles of the (e.g., trails, infrastructure, etc.). Leave No Trace program, protecting sensitive vegetation, wildfire prevention, wilderness preparedness, etc.
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Strategy: Increase institutional capacity, knowledge, and information exchange
In addition to the myriad of resources listed ● Support and grow the NY Protected throughout this plan that are necessary to Areas Database as a critical tool for implement our strategies (partnerships, financial identifying gaps, links, and opportunities and staffing needs, new programs, improved for future forest protection efforts, while outreach and education, expanded research allowing NGOs, municipalities, and the tools, sharing of knowledge, etc.), DEC identified State to coordinate more closely. the following needs: ● Develop a customer- and public service- ● Improve the delivery of programs to based message and approach private landowners and implement throughout all state private land strategies in the State Forest Action Plan programs. through targeted investments and resources. The relationships that DEC ● Explore certifications for DEC’s Urban staff and forest landowners develop is and Community Forestry Program staff important in fostering good forest that are relevant to the program’s goals stewardship practices over the long term. and objectives. Having staff available for field visits, quick assessments, advice, and follow- up is key to increasing the amount of private land engaged under professional forest management.
● Grow New York’s private lands engagement program to serve the 700,000 forest landowners who own 75 percent of the forest resource.
● Work with the New York State Department of Civil Service to develop separate “Outreach Forester” positions placed in each region to coordinate public outreach on forestry issues.
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Multistate Priority Areas and Issues Northern Forest States: Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont
More specifically, this effort is intended to demonstrate, through pilot projects, how the partners can pool resources and coordinate efforts so that working private forestlands areas are conserved and protected from conversion to other uses.
2. Engaging stakeholders in developing an implementation strategy for how to keep the Northern Forest region’s “forests as forests.”
3. Engaged in the New England Governor’s Conference Commission on Land
Conservation Forest Conservation Initiative. The Northern Forest region includes over 26 million acres stretching from New York’s Tug Hill and Opportunities for partnership, Adirondack Park areas through northeast cooperation, and projects Vermont, Coos County in New Hampshire, ● Offer outreach to public officials, the and into the Great North Woods of Maine. forest industry, environmental groups, private forest landowners, and other Issues associated with the area interested members of the public in ● Decreasing forest acreage caused by support of forest conservation. rapid and unrelenting conversion of ● Address the loss of productive forestland forests to developed uses, to other uses, and potential impacts in ● Change in ownership patterns due to the the Northern Forest. transfer of lands into smaller parcels, ● Explore/expand economic and ecological ● Loss of forestland and fragmented partnerships with Canada forests, which undermines the integrity of ● Engage forest landowners in stewardship forest ecosystems and fragile wildlife and efforts by providing technical and fisheries habitats, and financial assistance for improved forest ● Uncertain markets present challenges management. to forest products-based economic ● Work to maintain and diversify the development, infrastructure, and markets for wood products that allow communities. sustainable forest management. Existing efforts ● Promote third-party certification to 1. The four states have entered into an recognize sustainable forest management. MOU with the U.S. Forest Service and ● Recommend policies that encourage the Natural Resource Conservation sustainable practices. Service to actively cooperate in the conservation and management of ● Work to acquire forest conservation working forest landscapes in the area. easements to maintain working forests.
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Highlands Region States: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut
● Retaining working forests and farms to ensure economic viability.
● Providing appropriate recreational opportunities near and along the urban corridor.
Existing efforts
1. In 2010, the U.S. Forest Service completed its update about the natural resources in Connecticut and Pennsylvania, including identification of high conservation value
lands, the effects of land use change on the The Highlands are a region of national resources, and strategies for conserving significance bordering an expanding them. Respective studies for New York and metropolitan area. The 3.4 million-acre region, New Jersey were completed in 1992 and with 319 municipalities and 25 counties, has 2002, respectively. abundant forests, fields, and natural resources 2. Highland Regional Study that provide quality drinking water, recreation, (https://www.fs.usda.gov/naspf/sites/default/ and economic opportunities to its residents, but files/publications/highlands_regional_study_ pressures to alter land use are great. ct_pa_10_screen.pdf)
Issues associated with the area 3. Hudson to Housatonic RCP for regional ● This area is identified by TNC and others land conservation and stewardship as a critical forest corridor connecting (https://h2hrcp.org/) Appalachian forests of the Mid-Atlantic to 4. Staying Connected Initiative, connecting the Northern Forests of New England. the southern Green Mountains in Vermont This corridor also provides a significant to the Hudson Highlands in New York migration pathway for plants and animals (http://stayingconnectedinitiative.org/our- adapting to a changing climate. places/greens-to-hudson-linkage/).
● Urbanization and sprawl are big issues in 5. Forest Legacy projects. The New York-New this corridor and a driver of forest Jersey Highlands are part of this regional fragmentation. landscape and are Forest Legacy Areas, as designated by the U.S. Forest Service. ● Protecting surface- and groundwater See sections in this Forest Action Plan quality. Millions of residents in and about the Forest Legacy program. outside the Highlands depend on drinking water from this region. 6. NPS: Appalachian Trail corridor protection. The Appalachian Trail ● Conserving the landscape for wildlife, traverses the Highlands Region in rare and native plants, and New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut environmental quality. Deer browse and (https://www.nps.gov/). the resulting lack of forest regeneration is appa/learn/management/upload/AT- also an acute issue in this area. report-web.pdf.
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7. New York state forests, DEC: Sterling ● Continued support for forest health and Forest has tremendous value as the single monitoring programs is important. largest block of intact forest in the New York Invasive species prevention and removal Highlands and serves as a source of strategies minimize new invasive species drinking water for more than 2 million New and treat existing invasives to promote Jersey residents. Sterling Forest also links native forest regeneration. existing parks in New York and New Jersey, and it is part of a vision to create a regional ● Outreach to local communities, including greenbelt. counties, to gather support for ecosystem protection. 8. Hudson River Estuary Program, DEC: The Highlands Region includes several ● Acquiring fee interest or conservation Significant Biodiversity Areas. restrictions over the largest remaining parcels of unprotected, high conservation 9. Audubon New York: Large areas are value forestland, as identified in the U.S. recognized as Important Bird Areas for Forest Service Highlands studies, within forest habitat. the forest core and working forest Opportunities for partnership, easements in buffer areas reduces the cooperation, and projects threat of development in these forests. ● Partner with land trusts, conservation ● Funding for trails and recreation would organizations, local communities, and maintain and expand recreation state agencies to maintain connectivity opportunities. For example, the between forests across the region. Appalachian National Scenic Trail Resources are needed to continue land (AT) is managed by a public-private acquisition and easement purchases to partnership of numerous entities of protect habitats. all four states in the Highlands region. Berkshire-Taconic Landscape States: New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut
Composed of several sub-ranges of the Appalachian Mountains, the Taconic Mountain range runs from northwest Connecticut to northeast New York and extends through western Massachusetts and western Vermont. The Landscape is unique in New England as the only intact forest block to have 16,000 acres of forest protected primarily for biodiversity. With a high degree of ecological integrity and little fragmentation, these forests provide a critical, intact link between the extensive forests of the Northern and Central Appalachians. It is heavily forested and provides recreation, such as the Appalachian Trail, numerous state parks, and waterways.
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Issues associated with the area 4. Forest Legacy projects. The Rensselaer Plateau in New York and the tri-state ● This area is identified by TNC and others Taconic Ridge are Forest Legacy Areas, as a critical forest corridor connecting designated by the U.S. Forest Service. See Appalachian forests of the Mid-Atlantic to sections in this Forest Action Plan about the New England. This corridor also provides Forest Legacy program. a significant migration pathway for plants and animals adapting to a changing climate. 5. Conservation Fund acquisitions, including lands on the Taconic ● The area is vulnerable to development Ridge/Rensselaer Plateau for second homes. (https://www.conservationfund.org/news/ ● This heavily forested area provides press-releases/1682-the-fund-buys-23- habitat to rare plants and animals. 000-acres-of-forestland-in-ny-vt-ma)
● This area offers many opportunities for 6. NPS: Appalachian Trail corridor protection. conservation practices, including The Appalachian Trail traverses the conservation easements and land trust Berkshire-Taconic Landscape projects. Forestland here is a priority for (https://www.nps.gov/appa/learn/ acquisition. This area contains significant management/upload/AT-report-web.pdf). sites and landscapes related to New York’s (and the nation’s) history. 7. The Berkshire-Taconic Landscape Complex is a Northeast regional priority recognized ● Ecological protection and restoration are by DEC, TNC, USFWS, Hudson River of utmost importance, making it critical to Estuary Program, and others. The 40,000- remove invasive species that affect trees acre contiguous Complex is one of the most and the forest environment. In addition, intact forested landscapes within the Lower invasive forest pests are either in this New England/Northern Piedmont region (hemlock woolly adelgid and Ecoregion, spanning from Maine to emerald ash borer), or nearby, with a New Jersey. This complex is recognized as high potential to occur in the Landscape a Northeast regional priority for its (Asian longhorned beetle). significant habitats and biodiversity areas.
Existing efforts 8. Hudson River Estuary Program, DEC: Two 1. The last few decades of successful Significant Biodiversity Areas of the estuary conservation efforts in the Landscape have watershed are recognized in this area: the set the stage for implementing broad and Taconic Mountains and the Harlem Valley ambitious new conservation strategies. Calcareous Wetlands Complex, which These strategies will leverage private includes significant sections of the southern money with public funds, improve the Berkshire-Taconic Landscape. resiliency of the Landscape, and pioneer 9. U.S. Forest Service: The Berkshire-Taconic adaptation to climate change. region, spanning New York, Massachusetts, 2. The Berkshire-Taconic Regional Connecticut, and Vermont, is identified as a Conservation Partnership multistate priority area (USFS, 2010), and is (http://taconics.org/) adopted in the Forest Action Plans of these respective states. 3. The Staying Connected Initiative, connecting the southern Green Mountains in Vermont to the Hudson Highlands in New York (http://stayingconnectedinitiative.org/our- places/greens-to-hudson-linkage/)
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Opportunities for partnership, ● Funding for trails and recreation would cooperation, and projects maintain and expand recreation opportunities while protecting ecological ● Protecting regional forest connectivity and historic resources as well. For through partnerships with land trusts, example, the Appalachian National conservation organizations, local Scenic Trail (AT) is managed by a public- communities, and state agencies. private partnership of numerous entities The Berkshire-Taconic Regional in all four states of this Landscape. Conservation Partnership is a working Connecting trails in New York that run example (http://taconics.org/partners). only a few miles from the AT would expand The Rensselaer Plateau Alliance, a local recreational opportunities in the land trust, is ready to be a partner. Berkshire-Taconic Landscape. Similarly, Outreach to local communities will garner strengthen partnerships with other support for ecosystem protection. organizations (ADK and NYNJTC) that ● Acquiring fee interest or conservation maintain long-distance trails, such as the restrictions over the largest remaining Taconic Crest Trail or the South Taconic parcels of unprotected forestland within the Trail, to further the Landscape-scale forest core and working forest easements goals. in buffer areas would reduce the threat of ● A cross-border rail trail partnership development in these forests. between New York and Vermont on the ● Invasive species prevention and removal site of the historic D&H rail bed that strategies minimize the introduction of Vermont manages as a multiuse trail invasive species and treat existing along the New York border. invasives to promote native forest ● There are opportunities for partnership regeneration. with the Green Mountain National Forest, ● Resources are needed to continue land which has significant holdings in Vermont. acquisition and easement purchases to protect habitats. Continued support for forest health and monitoring programs is also important. Lake Champlain Basin States and countries: New York and Vermont, and Quebec, Canada
The Lake Champlain basin is a multinational resource of more 5.2 million acres that is affected by urban development and agricultural runoff.
Challenges include maintaining tree canopy and watershed health to reduce pollution and protect water quality. The effort is being coordinated by the Lake Champlain Basin Program. The basin was also a pilot Signature Landscape of the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative. Forestry efforts include the Skidder Bridge Loan Program, which provides free use of skidder bridges for logging operations to implement
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BMPs in an affordable way. The area continues 2. Partnership between federal and state to be the top priority, and efforts also include an agencies in the region, including DEC. the urban green infrastructure initiative in U.S. Forest Service, and NPS, to advance Plattsburgh, which is the most densely key initiatives. populated portion of the basin in New York. Opportunities for partnership, Issues associated with the area cooperation, and projects
● Forest fragmentation reduces quality ● Urban forestry projects that provide wildlife habitat and increases watershed increased urban forest canopy and vulnerability. stormwater mitigation through plantings. Work with local developers and ● Lack of coordinated development and communities to include forested areas, planning to safeguard sustainable forest vegetation plantings, and stormwater use results in decreased water quality runoff mitigations. and increased runoff or pollutants entering the watershed. ● Control the introduction, spread, and impact of nonnative plant species in ● Nitrogen and other runoff into the lake, surrounding forests to preserve the primarily from agricultural land use, integrity of the Lake Champlain ecosystem. undermine its water quality and can affect recreation (such as swimming) ● Establish and expand forested riparian and/or drinking water from the lake. buffers, which help stabilize streambanks, reduce erosion and nutrient loadings, ● Urban stormwater runoff increases the provide habitat corridors, and also volume of polluted water running into provide shade to help cool stream Lake Champlain. temperatures for fish survival.
● Invasive species in forested areas, such ● Expand the “Trees for Tribs” initiative. as hemlock woolly adelgid in Lake Following Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, George forests or the emerald ash borer, local groups continue to make use of weaken forest health and undermine this program. water quality in the watershed. ● TNC is working on a planning effort to ● In certain areas, such as Clinton County, identify and conserve priority habitat forests are lost due to conversion back connections for species requiring large to cropland. habitat tracts, connecting the Green Mountains with the Adirondacks. Existing efforts ● Explore coordinating efforts with 1. A basin-wide management plan from 2017, volunteer organizations such as the coordinated by the Lake Champlain Basin Greater Adirondack Resource Program, that includes activities for many Conservation and Development Council. different agencies and organizations. The plan’s four goals—clean water, healthy ecosystems, thriving communities, and an informed and involved public—serve as the framework for LCBP’s work (https://3paj56ulke64foefopsmdbue- wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp- content/uploads/2016/11/Opportunities-for- Action_2017.pdf).
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Chesapeake Bay Area States: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Existing efforts 1. Coordination between the Chesapeake Bay Program, the U.S. Forest Service, state agencies, and nonprofits through the Bay Program’s Forestry Workgroup ensures that forestry issues are addressed in partnership (https://www.chesapeakebay.net/).
2. State and federal government agencies provide the leadership to restore the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, in part, through forestry partnerships and practices.
More than 150 major rivers and streams of the 3. In 2010, the EPA established the landmark six states flow into the Bay's approx. 64,000- Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily square-mile drainage basin, including the Load, setting limits on the amount of northern headwaters of the Susquehanna River nutrients and sediment that can enter the in New York. Although forests once covered Bay and its tidal rivers as a means to meet 95 percent of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, water quality goals. The seven Bay state due to intense development, only 57 percent is jurisdictions, in coordination with federal and forested today. The Chesapeake Bay itself, local partners, created Watershed located in Maryland and Virginia, is the Implementation Plans (WIPs) that spell out country’s largest estuary. specific steps each jurisdiction will take to meet these pollution reductions by 2025. In 2014, the six watershed states and Federal, state, and local governments Washington, D.C., along with the federal coordinate through the Chesapeake Bay government, signed the Chesapeake Bay Program to develop the WIPs. Watershed Agreement, which set goals for the 4. The seven Bay state jurisdictions released protection of habitat, water quality, and aquatic their final Phase III of the WIPs in 2019. organisms, as well as for stewardship Recognizing the important role of restoring (https://www.chesapeakebay.net/documents/ forest cover, Bay states and partners have FINAL_Ches_Bay_Watershed_Agreement. set lofty forestry targets in three primary withsignatures-HIres.pdf). areas: 1) restoring riparian forest buffers, 2) Issues associated with the area increasing urban tree cover, and 3) permanently protecting forests. These ● Watershed restoration, urbanization, practices provide cost-effective ways to water quality, and invasive species improve water quality in the Chesapeake watershed while providing important co- benefits for wildlife and local communities. To support the implementation of these practices, the Forestry Workgroup at the Chesapeake Bay Program developed a Guide for Forestry Practices in Phase III WIPs.
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Opportunities for partnership, Strategy_GPO_130225.pdf). It will be the basis cooperation, and projects for a watershed-wide Shared Stewardship agreement. Working in partnership across the Shared Stewardship: In 2020, the watershed to coordinate forest restoration and partnership will publish an updated management activities will help maximize Chesapeake Forest Restoration Strategy the benefits these forestry practices provide to the (https://federalleadership.chesapeakebay.net/ Chesapeake Bay and residents of the watershed. FINAL%20ChesapeakeForestRestoration Great Lakes Restoration Initiative States and countries: New York, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, and the Canadian Province of Ontario Lakes: Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, and Superior
● Accountability, education, monitoring, evaluation, communication, and partnerships
This initiative relies on U.S. states and Canada working together through lakewide management partnerships (LMPs). Water in New York's Great Lakes Basin flows to Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, as well as the Niagara and St. Lawrence Rivers. Accordingly, New York participates in the Lake Erie and Lake Ontario LMPs.
Issues associated with the area
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) ● Control aquatic invasive species is a resource of federal, state, and local governments, tribal/first nations, and other ● Prevent habitat and species loss entities to fund and promote the protection and ● Increase coastal health restoration of the Great Lakes by concentrating efforts on five Priority Focus Areas ● Restore beneficial uses of water (https://www.epa.gov/great-lakes-funding/great- resources in 31 Areas of Concern lakes-restoration-initiative-glri): ● Reduce nonpoint source pollution ● Toxic substances and areas of concern (AOCs) ● Remediate contaminated sediments and toxic pollutants ● Invasive species ● Coordinate scientific data collection ● Nearshore health and nonpoint and communication source pollution ● Develop indicators for measuring the ● Habitat and wildlife protection and health of the Great Lakes restoration
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Existing efforts Opportunities for partnership, cooperation, and projects 1. The GLRI began in 2010 with funding to implement work that protects, cleans up, ● Partner with land trusts, conservation and restores the Great Lakes ecosystem organizations, local communities, and in accordance with the 2010-2014 Great state agencies to protect or restore Lakes Action Plan (https://www.dec.ny.gov/ riparian forests and upland habitats. docs/regions_pdf/glriplan.pdf). ● Partner with state water quality a. The latest GLRI Action Plan for 2020- regulatory agencies to promote the use 2024 is currently under development of urban forests for stormwater reduction (https://www.glri.us/node/122). and on-site infiltration.
2. The two lakewide action and management plans (LAMPs) New York State participates in are for Lake Ontario and Lake Erie:
a. Lake Erie (https://www.epa.gov/greatlakes/lake- erie-lamps-and-associated-reports)
b. Lake Ontario (https://www.epa.gov/greatlakes/lake- ontario-lamps-and-associated-reports)
c. Lake Erie State Park: Installed an innovative mushroom-based mycofiltration system to reduce high levels of e.coli bacteria. Funding support came from the Great Lake Restoration Initiative (https://nystateparks.blog/ 2019/12/10/mushroom-tech-cleans- up-at-lake-erie-state-park/ and https://parks.ny.gov/environment/ documents/posters/RemovingEColi MushroomsMicrofiltrationLakeErieState Park.pdf).
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126 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN 2020 | Multistate Priority Areas and Issues
References
Barnes et al., 2009. Barnes, Martina C.; Todd, Nyland et al., 2006. Nyland, Ralph D, Bashant, albert H.; Lilja, Rebecca Whitney; Barten, Amy L, Bohn, Kimberly K, and Verostek, Jane Paul K. Forests, Water and People: Drinking M. Interference to Hardwood Regeneration in water supply and forest lands in the Northeast Northeastern North America: Controlling Effects and Midwest United States. USDA Forest of American Beech, Striped Maple, and Service; Northeastern Area State and Private Hobblebush. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry, 11 Campus Boulevard, Suite 200 Forestry 23(2), 2006, pp. 122-132. Newtown Square, PA 19073; NA-FR-01-08; June 2009. PDF accessed online Pierotti, R., & Wildcat, D. 2000. Traditional https://www.fs.usda.gov/naspf/sites/default/files/ ecological knowledge: the third alternative forests_water_people_watersupply.pdf. (commentary). Ecological applications, 10(5), 1333-1340. Berkes, F. 1993. Traditional ecological knowledge in perspective. Traditional ecological Shirer and Zimmerman, 2010. Rebecca Shirer knowledge: Concepts and cases (Vol. 1). and Chris Zimmerman. Forest regeneration in Canadian Museum of Nature/International New York State. The Nature Conservancy. Development Research Centre, Ottawa. September 2010. PDF accessed online: https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/ Ernst, Caryn, 2004. Protecting the source: blogs.cornell.edu/dist/d/5957/files/2015/03/ land conservation and the future of America’s Forest-Regeneration-in-NYS-shirer-and- drinking water. San Francisco, CA: Trust for zimmerman-29iemne.pdf Public Land, Water Protection Service, p. 56. Vickers et al., 2019. Vickers, L.A., W.H. Kimmerer, R. 1998. Intellectual diversity: McWilliams, B.O. Knapp, D’Amato, D.C. Dey, Bringing the native perspective into natural Y.L. Dickinson, J.M. Kabrick, L.S. Kenefic, C.C. resources education. Winds of Change, 13(3), Kern, D.R. Larsen, A.A. Royo, M.R. Saunders, 14-18. S.R. Shifley, and J.A. Westfall. 2019. Are current seedling demographics poised to regenerate New York Forest, 2017. Forest Inventory and northern US forests? Journal of Forestry Analysis Data Program. U.S. Forest Service. 117:592-612. Draft being prepared for publication. Waller, D. M., & Reo, N. J. 2018. First stewards: Nowack, David J., & Greenfield, Eric J., 2018. ecological outcomes of forest and wildlife US Urban Forest Statistics, Values, and stewardship by indigenous peoples of Projections. Journal of Forestry, 116(2), 164- Wisconsin, USA. Ecology and Society. 177. Zimmerman et al., 2020. Zimmerman, C., J. Nowack, David J., & Greenfield, Eric J., 2018. Corbin, R. Shirer, and S. Thol. 2020. Are Declining urban and community tree cover in the New York’s Forest at Risk of Regeneration United States. Urban Forestry & Urban Failure? Forest Regeneration Status Report. Greening, 32, 32-55. The Nature Conservancy, New York.
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128 NEW YORK STATE FOREST ACTION PLAN 2020 | Appendix A