Niskayuna, NY -- The Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks (AFPA) today celebrates the life of Peter A.A. Berle. A former member of the NYS Assembly, Commissioner of Environmental Conservation, President of National Audubon Society and Chairman of the Commission on the Adirondacks in the 21st century, Peter Berle died yesterday from injuries he suffered in an accident at his farm in western Massachusetts.

As a Member of the State Assembly, Peter Berle played an instrumental role in the passage of the Adirondack Park Agency Act, APA Private Land Use and Development Plan, Wild, Scenic and Recreational Rivers Act and other environmental legislation of the early 1970s.

As New York State Environmental Conservation Commissioner from 1976-1979, Berle strengthened wilderness stewardship within the New York State Forest Preserve. As President of National Audubon Society from 1985-95, he championed wildlife habitat protection across the nation. In 1989, Governor Cuomo named Peter Chairman of the Commission on the Adirondacks in the 21st Century which made important recommendations for Adirondack Park governance, human and natural communities.

As director and host of WAMC-FM National Productions “The Environment Show” he reported on local, state, national and global environmental issues, including the critical issue of global warming. In a recent commentary on WAMC, Berle called for a national tax on carbon to address the impacts of global climate change from increasing greenhouse gases.

“Tom Cobb, AFPA Trustee and former staff member for Berle’s Commission on the Adirondacks, added: “Peter Berle will long be remembered not only as a visionary in advancing the cause of conservation in New York State and elsewhere in the nation, but also for being such a positive and inspirational role model for those who knew and worked with him over the years. Peter's charismatic leadership style has done much to give the conservation movement its present shape."

No one statement can convey the incredible impact of the man, or the loss that we all feel today." stated Dan Plumley, AFPA’s Director of Park Protection. “We will remember Peter Berle for his fearless protection of the Adirondack Park that spanned over 40 years. His intellect, commitment and leadership will never be forgotten. Our thoughts are with his family today at Sky Farm.”

“What so many admired about Peter Berle was his indefatigable energy and interest in all facets of our environment,” said David Gibson, AFPA Executive Director. “He sought out divergent opinions and creative thinking regardless of political persuasion. He challenged shallow thinking. He urged people to recognize we are all sharing planet earth and all must play a stewardship role.”

In 2003, Berle facilitated the Association’s Lake Placid conference PARTNERS IN STEWARDSHIP featuring panel discussions on Sustaining the Natural and Human Communities of the Adirondack Park and Forest Stewardship in the Park. In 2004, he was honored with the organization’s Howard Zahniser Adirondack Award. The Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks is a non-profit, membership organization founded in 1901 to employ public education, citizen action, public and private partnerships and strong advocacy to protect, enhance, and sustain the wild character, ecological integrity, and mutual well-being of the natural and human communities of the Adirondack region.

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