Arthur Crocker: Adirondack environmentalist and peacemaker Arthur Crocker began a lengthy campaign of protection of the Adirondack Forest Preserve at the Tahawus Club By Dave Gibson Tim Rowland’s fine Explorer article Inside the Rich History of the Tahawus Club celebrates the club’s interesting 150-year history in Newcomb, and the strong sense of stewardship felt by…
A Common Adirondack Public and Private Stewardship By Dave Gibson Keith McKeever, retiring Public Information Director at the Adirondack Park Agency (APA), accepted much-deserved recognition at their recent meeting for his many years of admirable public service. In his short acceptance remarks, Keith implored all listening “to hold the line” for the Adirondack Park’s open…
Environmentalists Have Big Stake in Finch Pulp Mill Closure By Dave Gibson The purely economic decision by Finch Paper in Glens Falls, now part of a global company, to stop purchasing Adirondack regional trees for its pulp to paper operation and to instead acquire its pulp from far beyond New York’s borders is serious –…
Re. APA 2026-0108, Lyme Timber Co., Mink Pond Road, Colton, Clearcut Application Aaron ZiemannProject Review OfficerNYS Adirondack Park AgencyP.O. Box 99Ray Brook, NY 12977 Dear Mr. Ziemann, Adirondack Wild is very concerned about the lack of resource surveys, assessments, and analysis of the proposed 680-acre seed tree harvest and forest clearcut south of Sevey Corners…
Re. Project 2026-0041, Timber Harvest, LandVest Aaron ZiemannProject Review OfficerNYS Adirondack Park AgencyP.O. Box 99Ray Brook, NY 12977 Dear Mr. Ziemann, For the following reasons, we believe that Project 2026-0041, LandVest clearcut of more than 400-acres in Mayfield, Fulton County, should be directed to the full Agency for its review. While the current challenges of…
COMMENTARY: Chainsawing in wilderness? National Wilderness Act violated By Dave Gibson As an advocate for the “forever wild” Forest Preserve, Adirondack Wild: Friends of the Forest Preserve periodically reviews NYS DEC work plans to ensure that activities such as trail maintenance on the public’s Forest Preserve are undertaken in compliance with Article XIV of the…
High Peaks Wilderness Visitor Use Management By Dave Gibson In 2019, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) sponsored a well-attended High Peaks Stakeholder Meeting in Keene Valley. All concluded that better data was needed to inform management decisions for this Wilderness. Questions posed to stakeholders that day included: “how many people are using the trails?…
High Peaks VUM Pilot Project Josh Clague, Director, Bureau of Forest PreserveNYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)625 BroadwayAlbany, NY 12233Re. 2025 Visitor Use Management Pilot Project, High Peaks Wilderness Project Area Dear Josh,In 2019, DEC sponsored a well-attended High Peaks Stakeholder Meeting in Keene Valley. All concluded that better data was needed to inform management…
The price we all must pay for the Adirondack Park The price we all must pay for the Adirondack Park In the aftermath of the 30th Annual Conference on the Adirondacks, David Gibson reflects on what more the state could do for the region Having returned from the 30th Annual Conference on the Adirondacks, hosted…
Memo of Opposition, UTV legislation Senate 7298/A. 7439 This legislation to expand the all-terrain vehicle legal registration limit from 1000 pounds to 2000 pounds and up to 80 inches in width is intended to authorize, for the first time, widespread use of utility task vehicles (UTV) and Side by Sides. The stated purpose is to…