The North Country is dominated by the Adirondack Park, which encompasses one of the largest protected natural landscapes in the United States. From its start, the creation and expansion of the Park has been a delicate balance between the rights of private property owners, the need to prevent overdevelopment, and the pressure of local leaders to provide jobs and a strong economy for its year-round residents.
Governor Andrew Cuomo has made significant headway in protecting this vital piece of the state’s environment, but many challenges still remain. The Park’s natural systems are under threat from the acidification of lakes and streams, invasive species on land and water, and a changing climate bringing warmer temperatures and more severe weather. Our local efforts will focus on addressing these issues.
Anything we missed that we should be working on? E-mail Patrick McClellan, New York State Policy Director at pmcclellan@nylcv.org and let us know!
