GROUPS PARTNER TO PROTECT COLUMBIA COUNTY FARMLAND
Scenic Hudson and the Columbia Land Conservancy (CLC) have partnered to purchase development rights on an 82-acre farm in the Town of Stuyvesant, guaranteeing that it will continue contributing to the community's agriculture-based economy and rural charm. By protecting the farm, which contains 57 acres of USDA Prime Soils and Soils of Statewide Significance, the organizations have made it economically feasible for the land's former leaseholder, Monkshood Nursery, to purchase the property. In a related transaction, the owner of 84 adjacent agricultural acres donated a conservation easement to the CLC and entered into a long-term lease with Monkshood, increasing the permanently preserved land available to the farm operation for its continued growth. A certified organic grower of herbs, greens and mixed vegetables, Monkshood Nursery plans to expand its greenhouses and increase the amount of land in cultivation. The farm currently sells at local and New York City greenmarkets and through a community supported agriculture (CSA) model, in which participants buy a share of the produce grown each year. Protecting farmland is a high priority for both organizations.
U.S. Forest Service reports look at FOREST management, ecosystem services, and sensitivity of forests
The U.S. Forest Service released two reports as part of their Forests on the Edge' Series. The paper "Forest Land Conversion, Ecosystem Services, and Economic Issues for Policy: A Review" focuses on the use of the ecosystem service conceptual framework as a basis for understanding the ecological effects of forest land conversion, and as a basis for understanding the economic issues that arise in designing policies to conserve forest ecosystems. (http://www.fs.fed.us/openspace/fote/literature.html ).
The U.S.F.S. also conducted an analysis of "FORESTS ON THE EDGE: Housing Development on America's Private Forests,- examining the sensitivity of the results of the first Forests on the Edge report to four factors: (1) use of updated private land and forest cover spatial data and a revised model of housing density change, (2) projection of residential development on woodland identified as shrub/scrub land cover, (3) inclusion of very-low-density residential development in the housing density change categories, and (4) inclusion of additional watersheds in the analysis by changing the screening criteria. http://www.fs.fed.us/openspace/fote/sensitivity.html
NYS Comptroller Releases Report: OPEN SPACE PROVIDES ECONOMIC BENEFITS
Open space provides economic benefits that need to be identified and considered in land use decisions, according to a report
(http://www.osc.state.ny.us/reports/environmental/openspacepreserv10.pdf ) recently released by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
Open space can provide a variety of public benefits, including storm water drainage and water management, DiNapoli said. Open spaces also provide a more direct economic benefit through tourism, agriculture and the forestry industry. All these benefits should be a factor in land use decisions from Montauk to Massena. Agriculture is among New York's largest and most vital industries, encompassing 25 percent of the states land and generating more than $4.5 billion for the states economy each year. In 2007, the income generated directly by farms, combined with income generated by agricultural support industries and by industries that process agricultural products, totaled $31.2 billion. The study noted that open space contributes to the states economy by providing opportunities for outdoor recreational activities. DiNapoli also noted that open space often requires fewer municipal services than lands in other use and tend to generate more in municipal tax revenue. Open space helps control storm water runoff, preserves surface water quality and stream flows, and aids in the infiltration of surface water to replenish aquifers. When lands are converted to other uses, the natural benefits provided by open space often must be replaced through the construction of water treatment facilities and infrastructure to control storm water, all paid for through local tax revenue. A series of studies have found the preservation of open space to be a more economical way to address storm water requirements. DiNapoli's report recommends that New York State consider: (1) Allowing municipalities to establish community preservation funds; (2) Evaluating the adequacy of protections for lands providing benefits for Municipalities; (3) Improving state-level planning for open space to address long-term funding needs; (4) Improving the administration of funds for open space programs; and (5) Encouraging private land conservation. For a copy of the Economic Benefits of Open Space report, go to: http://www.osc.state.ny.us/reports/environmental/openspacepreserv10.pdf
Hudson River Almanac - a weekly E-newsletter from the NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary Program
The Hudson River E-Almanac is compiled and edited by Tom Lake and emailed weekly by DEC's Hudson River Estuary Program. Share your observations by e-mailing them to trlake7@aol.com . To sign up to receive the E-Almanac (or to unsubscribe), send an email message to hrep@gw.dec.state.ny.us and write E-Almanac in the subject line. Weekly issues are archived at http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/25611.html . The DEC website's search engine can find species, locations, and other data in the archives. Information on the movements of the salt front in the Hudson estuary is presented by the U.S. Geological Survey: http://ny.water.usgs.gov/projects/dialer_plots/saltfront.html. For real-time information on Hudson River weather and water conditions from eight monitoring stations, visit the Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System website at http://www.hrecos.org. Information about the Hudson River Estuary Program is available on DEC's website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/4920.html .
Free Hudson River CREATURES COLORING-ACTIVITY BOOKS Available
The New York State Department of Health has developed a new coloring and activity book for children that we are happy to share with Hudson Valley teachers and communities. In a fun way, the book communicates the health message that, while eating fish is healthy and fishing is fun, women under 50 (of childbearing age) and children under 15 should not eat fish or crabs from the Hudson River. It has lots of other information about Hudson River creatures. ((We also have updated the brochure "Hudson River Health Advice on Eating Fish You Catch", and developed wallet-size cards with the advice for anglers. Contact 518-402-7530 or hrfa@health.state.ny.us to order these free materials.
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Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 7:30 PM
CHICKEN FLICK Backyard Chickens For All
Greenburgh Nature Center,
99 Dromore Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583. Tel: 914 723 3470.
This is a handicapped-accessible location.
Short film, followed by panel discussion with local backyard
chicken keepers. Imagine your breakfast omelet made from
your own FRESH, ORGANIC, OMEGA-RICH eggs! Come watch
Chicken Flick , a short film made by local environmentalist
filmmakers NIKKI CODDINGTON and SUSAN RUBIN.
You will meet four Westchester County families who are enjoying
the fun and benefits of raising chickens in their own backyards.
After the film, ask questions of the filmmakers and a panel of
local chicken owners. You may walk away ready to take up this
easier-than-you-think, fun and profitable hobby yourself!
Chicken Flick was made by Coddington and Rubin at the
Jacob Burns Film Center and Media Arts Lab on behalf of
Transition Westchester, a grassroots initiative that seek to
build community resilience.
This is a FREE EVENT.
Contact Deepak Panjabi, Volunteer Lower Hudson Group of Sierra Club
Telephone: 914 923 6490 Ext 312 Fax: 914 923 6492
Saturday, February 11; 9:00am-12:30pm
FILM FORUM 2012
Films for Thought and Inspiration for Action
Bedford Playhouse, Bedford, NY
Rusticus Garden Club sponsors an Environmental Film Forum featuring
the film Yert and a discussion with its filmmaker Ben Evans; and the film
Dirt the Movie and a series of short films. There will be offered,
opportunities for student internships and volunteers. Admission is free
Visit www.rusticusgc.org for more information.
