Adirondacks a model for the NoFo?

As the class moved into the study of the Adirondack park, the shift went from individualizes or companies telling the story of the Northern Forest to organizations that have no real economic goal in mind but to preserve or conserve the land. The Adirondack Parks Agency (APA) is an organization that has and is in the midst of constant battles with locals, conservationists and political views. They are an organization that is unique in the fact that they are managing a 6 million acreage piece of land with many different points of view to the use of the land. A majority of it is owned by everyone of New York state, actually written in the states constitution as a continually protected land, “forever wild”. But there are sections of property that have been passed down through time to the next generation and they have no need for a park or someone else to manage there land. The APA is a state run agency that has the backing from the government, a good working relationship with many state and privately run conservation groups and holds members on its board of local people to represent the local population. So why is it that the Adirondacks are not a peaceful place where nature and humans mix amongst each other like blue and yellow to make green? Actually the reality is that a vast majority of  groups come out of this region asking for different things and have different ideas on how the land should be used. Over the years the APA has worked to guide the Adirondacks in a direction of prosperity while trying to please these different groups. The Northern Forest Council has taken this approach to the region as a whole coming up with ways to manage an even bigger tract of land with many different mind sets and ideas. The information has been collected from many sources to come together as recommendations for the Northern Forest. There have been sacrifices on all sides but discussions have been made to change federal and state inheritance taxes, protection of natural and recreational areas, increased funding for Forest Legacy program, lowering capital gains taxes on timber, encouraging green certification of paper and wood products, reforming workers compensation rates and rules, increased federal incentives for small land owners, expanding research into forest health, and promoting better forestry and education. these are some of the major changes that can occur through dedication to the process and the outcome. With out sacrifice nothing will be accomplished, through struggle and strife the Northern Forest will be born.

The talk with Kieth was professional but down to earth, finally felt like we were talking to someone who was thinking regionally and locally. The hike after was amazing getting to talk to Keith one on one about different topics that I wouldn’t think to ask about in a conference room setting. Oh yeah the view and exercise was something to register in my brain as my first great Adirondack experience.