Protect the Adirondacks! and other groups have organized an online petition to Governor Andrew Cuomo and Joe Martens, Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation, calling on them to purchase over 65,000 acres of the former Finch, Pruyn and Company lands in the central Adirondacks now owned by the Nature Conservancy as new additions to the “Forever Wild” Forest Preserve.
The Nature Conservancy purchased these lands in 2007 as part of a 165,000 acre land conservation deal. Nearly 90,000 acres were protected as conservation easements in 2010. At the same time the state purchased the conservation easement lands it committed to protect 65,000 acres as new Forest Preserve lands. This balanced deal was widely supported and agreed to among the Nature Conservancy, state officials, local leaders and conservation groups.
But now there is a proposal to downgrade these lands as easement lands only. PROTECT and other partners are countering this move to show the Governor and state officials that there is a large and active group of people across New York who support the Forest Preserve and support protecting the Adirondack Park.
The lands in question include over 43 miles of shoreline along the Hudson River, the Boreas Ponds, the Essex Chain of Lakes — some of the natural wonders of the Adirondacks. It’s important that these lands are protected in the Forest Preserve.
There is much more information at www.adirondackparkpetition.com
In just a few days we’ve managed to collect over 700 signatures!
Please sign our petition today and encourage your friends and family to sign on too!
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