Conservatively
Speaking
by
Bill & Donna Lenhart
May
2002
Gov. Pataki
finds temptation too strong: The Adirondack
Council gave thumbs down to Governor Pataki's
plan to raid the unspent funds from the states
only dedicated funding source for large environmental
projects such as open space protection and landfill
closure. " Last year the Legislature and
the Governor could not come to an agreement on
how to spend a single dime from the Environmental
Protection Fund," said Adirondack Council
Acting Executive Director Bernard C. Melewskski. " That
means our open spaces, recycling and solid waste
projects went unfunded for the past 13 months.
The EPF's priority list is the only section of
the entire state budget not to receive a penny
last year." The EPF was created in I 993
as a permanent, dedicated source of money for
major environmental investments that might be
left begging, particularly if the state's fiscal
condition is poor. As a result of the tragic
events of 9-11 it appears that all bets are off
as the state tries to grapple with serious budget
problems.
Map maker,
map maker, make me a map: The New
York Natural Heritage Program, an initiative
to create a database of New York's rare flora,
fauna, and significant ecosystems, has announced
the creation of GIS maps of unparallel utility
and accuracy. One area of particular interest
is the Hudson River Estuary Biodiversity Inventory
consisting of 27 maps covering 19 Significant
Biodiversity Areas (These are large landscapes
that include the bulk of the lower Hudson Valley's
known rare species and significant natural communities).
A noteworthy delineation is that of a 38,000
acre portion of the extensive beech-maple mesic
forest natural community in the Catskill Mts.
Although common in the state, the Catskill example
is particularly impressive due to its relative
wildness.
The Great
North Woods gets a bit greater: The
Nature Conservancy announced that it had
purchased 25,000 acres of the 171,500 acre Connecticut
Lakes Headwaters property to establish the largest
natural area in New Hampshire's Connecticut Lakes
region. The natural area features two great ponds,
more than 1,800 acres of diverse wetlands, and
two high elevation areas that rise over 3000
feet. Through this effort, habitat will be provided
for a wide variety of neo-tropical songbirds
as well as species of special-concern such as
Spruce Grouse, Black-backed Woodpecker and Bicknell's
Thrush.
Condor finally
out of the "breeding big house": The
last of the original wild California Condors,
captured for a captive breeding program 15 years
ago, was finally given clemency via its being
returned to the wilds of the Los Padres National
Forest. At the time of its capture, in 1987,
the species was down to only 27 individuals.
Due to the great success of the breeding program,
however, that number stands at 197 birds with
68 returned to the wilds. Obviously, the newly
freed Condor uttered no words to note the epic
moment but suffice it to say, it has probably
already learned that "prison" food
wasn't all that bad. (From Greenlines, 5/3/02)
Red-cockaded
Woodpecker gets some well deserved good news: Attempts
to secure habitat for this unique Woodpecker
took a big step in the right direction via a
joint project between the military and the North
Carolina Nature Conservancy. Through their cooperation
they have established a buffer zone around the
Army's Ft. Bragg, says the L.A. Times, AP 4/7.
The "collaboration is serving as a pilot
program for the Army and a model for bases around
the country." Both the Army and Conservancy
will contribute money to "buy land and secure
conservation easements that will prevent" sprawl
from encroaching on the post, "increase
the amount of land available for training and
help Bragg better manage the Red-cockaded Woodpecker
populations." (From Greenlines, 5/6/02)
Conservatively
yours, Bill & Donna Lenhart
Wings
Over Dutchess, May 2002
