Forest Preserve Advocates Applaud Final State Budget

ALBANY —  Over forty organizations and municipalities advocating for New York's Forest Preserves applaud the New York State legislature and Governor Hochul for prioritizing New York's wild lands in the state budget. The final budget includes an historic investment by the governor and legislature to support New York's air, water, forests, and farms with a $425 million Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). Dedicated Stewardship funding for the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve Parks is supported within the EPF with a $10 million investment.

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

The Forest Preserve Parks are an essential component of New York State's economy, generating $5 billion in annual expenditures and supporting thousands of jobs. They also provide critical ecological services, including watershed protection, carbon sequestration, and habitat for endangered and threatened species. The $10 million allocation in dedicated funding will be used to support a wide range of activities that enhance the Forest Preserve's protection and accessibility, including trail maintenance and construction, and educational outreach. 

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

The Adirondack and Catskill groups also applaud $600,000 for science and monitoring facilities including Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute, and the Atmospheric Science Research Center’s Whiteface Mountain Field Station. Continued funding for the Timbuctoo Pipeline Summer Climate and Careers Institute, the consortium-based Survey of Climate Change and Adirondack Lake Ecosystems (SCALE), as well as to manage invasive species including Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, and funding to study the carrying capacity of Adirondack lakes and rivers are also budget highlights that will ensure continued efforts to protect the Forest Preserve now and for the next generation.

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

“This historic investment in the Forest Preserve is a win for both our environment and our community. Here in the town of Hunter, we see firsthand how stewardship helps protect the Catskills’ natural beauty while supporting local jobs and sustainable tourism. We’re grateful to the Governor and Legislature for recognizing the importance of these public lands to our future.” said Sean Mahoney, Hunter Town Supervisor.

“Funding that enhances the Catskill Park and the Adirondack Park serves all New Yorkers while strengthening our environment and our local economies,” said Ramsay Adams, Catskill Mountainkeeper’s Executive Director. “These are forward looking investments that we can all celebrate as we continue protecting and enhancing these regions for generations to come.”

“The Catskill and Adirondack Forest Preserves are foundational to New York’s natural heritage—vital to preserving our unique landscapes and supporting recreation, clean water, biodiversity, and climate resilience,” said Jeff Senterman, Executive Director of the Catskill Center. “We’re grateful that Governor Hochul, the Senate, and the Assembly have demonstrated their commitment by investing at the highest level yet in the Environmental Protection Fund. This increased funding ensures that critical stewardship, visitor services, and scientific research in the Catskills can continue to grow in impact, reaffirming the value of these vital landscapes to both residents and visitors alike.”

“We thank Governor Hochul and the NYS Senate and Assembly for continued support of our communities of the Catskills and Adirondacks,” said David Kukle, President Mountain Cloves Scenic Byway. “The Dedicated Stewardship funding for the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve Parks, and support for Adirondack and Catskill Visitor and Interpretive Centers, including the Catskills Visitor Center, will reap many returns as our Parks are an essential component of New York State's economy, generating $5 billion in annual tourism expenditures and supporting thousands of jobs. Our Parks are a unique and essential component of New York State's natural heritage consisting of over six million acres of public lands and private lands with communities, towns and villages. These lands include pristine forests, lakes, and rivers, as well as high peaks that offer some of the best outdoor recreation opportunities in the Northeast.”    

“In a time of uncertainty it is encouraging to witness environmental leadership take real steps forward. This increase of the Environmental Protection fund enables critical work and critical protections to take place in New York. It also helps to ensure we have an environment and outdoor spaces to enjoy for the next generation of New Yorkers,” said Andy Mossey, Executive Director, Woodstock Land Conservancy.