I was researching the APA and found this article from February 2014 about the new "Finch Land Classification" that added 42,000 acres of Adirondack land to the forest preserve. I was struck by the amount of land that the state was able to acquire at once. The deal was made on the basis of the state's ability to preserve resources and allow for tourism. Since we were talking about the likely annoyance of upstate citizens with New York City in class today, this seems like a topic that will spark just that. The press release comments focuses on the human benefits that the state land will promote and provide. Governor Cuomo states, “I am thrilled to approve this land classification plan that will allow the State to both preserve the Adirondacks’ magnificent natural resources and provide public recreational and tourism opportunities that will help grow the region’s economy.” Furthermore, the article mentions "mixed use of Wilderness, Primitive and Wild Forest classifications," not the preservation of species and wilderness in the Adirondack region.
link to article: http://www.governor.ny.gov/press/02072014-finch-land-classification
link to article: http://www.governor.ny.gov/press/02072014-finch-land-classification
Corinne, this is an interesting article, and one that will definitely create much controversy. I took a look at the article, and one thing that I found fascinating was the scope of the different landscapes this land encompasses. The article mentions that the newly acquired land contains "180 miles of rivers and streams, 175 lakes and ponds, 465 miles of undeveloped shoreline (rivers, streams, lakes, ponds), six mountains taller than 2,000 feet and countless smaller hills." Another thing that stood out to me was the array of activities this new land will will be open to the public to do. The article announces that this plan "will allow recreation access to the newly acquired lands for people of all abilities for a wide variety of uses including hiking, cross country skiing, hunting, fishing, mountain biking, horse riding and snowmobiling."
ReplyDeleteAlthough this land deal is controversial, I personally believe that it is in the best interest of the state regarding both economic and conservation motives. Since the land encompasses such a a great variety of terrain, this deal will enable the state to preserve several different ecosystems. Further, it will also granting tourists of all ages and abilities the accessibility to a wide array of activities, allowing more people to appreciate the park.