Forest Preserve Advocates Applaud Final Budget
May 13, 2025 – Albany, NY: Over forty organizations and municipalities advocating for New York's Forest Preserves applaud the New York State legislature and Governor Hochul for prioritizing New York's wild lands in the state budget. The final budget includes an historic investment by the governor and legislature to support New York's air, water, forests, and farms with a $425 million Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). Dedicated Stewardship funding for the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve Parks is supported within the EPF with a $10 million investment.
The Forest Preserve Parks—the Catskills and Adirondacks—are a unique and essential component of New York State's natural heritage. They consist of over three million acres of public lands that are protected and managed by the state's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). These lands include pristine forests, lakes, and rivers, as well as high peaks that offer some of the best outdoor recreation opportunities in the Northeast. The Forest Preserve Parks also include over three million acres of private land with communities, towns and villages, and private conservation easement lands, many open for public recreation.
The Forest Preserve Parks are an essential component of New York State's economy, generating $5 billion in annual expenditures and supporting thousands of jobs. They also provide critical ecological services, including watershed protection, carbon sequestration, and habitat for endangered and threatened species. The $10 million allocation in dedicated funding will be used to support a wide range of activities that enhance the Forest Preserve's protection and accessibility, including trail maintenance and construction, and educational outreach.
Also included in the state budget was a $1 million investment in Adirondack and Catskill Visitor and Interpretive Centers, including the Catskills Visitor Center, Paul Smith's College Visitor Interpretive Center, the SUNY ESF Adirondack Interpretive Center, and Adirondack Mountain Club’s Visitor Centers—the High Peaks Information Center and the Cascade Welcome Center. Continued funding was also provided for Camp Santanoni, and for the Parks and Trails New York EPF Stewardship program which funds parks and trails projects across the state.
The Adirondack and Catskill groups also applaud $600,000 for science and monitoring facilities including Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute, and the Atmospheric Science Research Center’s Whiteface Mountain Field Station. Continued funding for the Timbuctoo Pipeline Summer Climate and Careers Institute, the consortium-based Survey of Climate Change and Adirondack Lake Ecosystems (SCALE), as well as to manage invasive species including Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, and funding to study the carrying capacity of Adirondack lakes and rivers are also budget highlights that will ensure continued efforts to protect the Forest Preserve now and for the next generation.
Support for communities of the Catskills and Adirondacks was also included in the final budget through state-wide funding for Clean Water Infrastructure, Climate Smart Communities, Smart Growth, and Connect Kids grants. The advocates are also very pleased to see continued investment in diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility programs in the Forest Preserve to ensure we work together so that outdoor spaces are places where all feel welcome, safe, and that they belong.
“Adirondack Architectural Heritage is tremendously grateful for Governor Hochul and the NYS Legislature’s support for our work at Great Camp Santanoni and historic funding allocation to protect our state’s cultural and natural resources. We appreciate our 35-year partnership working with the state on stewarding Great Camp Santanoni and look forward to continuing that good work in the years ahead, “ said Erin Tobin, Executive Director, Adirondack Architectural Heritage.
"SCALE is a game changer, an opportunity to protect New York State's freshwater lakes for decades to come," said Kelley Tucker, Executive Director of the Ausable Freshwater Center. "On behalf of our co-lead partners at Cornell College of Agricultural Sciences and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the Ausable Freshwater Center deeply appreciates the continuing faith and financial investment of Governor Hochul and the NYS Legislature in our efforts. Declines in our lakes in the Adirondacks and beyond are apparent to residents, recreationists, and lake managers. A detailed scientific understanding of the causes will help us secure their future,” said Kelly Tucker, Executive Director, Ausable Freshwater Center.
“The unparalleled support of the State of New York for environmental conservation has never been more critical. We applaud the legislature and the Governor for their continued, and expanded, support of the Catskill and Adirondack Preserves, and for the expansion of the Environmental Protection Fund,” said Joshua R. Ginsberg, President, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies.
“The Adirondack Lakes Alliance is excited to see the funding allocated for the Forest Preserve in the 2025 New York budget. Specifically, funds allocated for science and monitoring that include the Adirondack Watershed Institute, the SCALE project, support for hemlock wooly adelgid monitoring and treatment, and the long overdue carrying capacity study are essential to our continued mission and conservation efforts and are greatly appreciated,” said Scott Ireland, Executive Director, Adirondack Lakes Alliance. “We thank Governor Hochul and the Senate and Assembly for coming together for the good of the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserves, and look forward to continuing our work in lake and waterway conservation in cooperation with the state and local communities.”
“Budgets reflect your values. So, I am glad to see New York State make it known that DEI is a value we will continue to support,” said Tiffany Rea-Fisher, Director of the Adirondack Diversity Initiative.
“Thanks to environmental leadership from the state legislature and Governor Hochul, at $425 million the EPF has reached a new and needed high point,” said Adirondack Wild’s managing partner David Gibson. “This year’s EPF appropriation reflects much of what Adirondack Park Lobby Day sought and is a significant achievement in uncertain budgetary times. We are grateful for the EPF’s aquatic, preserve stewardship, environmental monitoring, educational, inclusion and diversity, and open space conservation allocations. The $1 million dedicated to a carrying capacity study of the Saranac Lake chain of lakes will become an especially important pilot study to achieve better stewardship of Adirondack lakes.”
“We are grateful to Governor Kathy Hochul and to the Senate and Assembly, especially leadership in the Legislature, including Senate Majority Leader Andrew Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie, Senate Finance Chair Liz Krueger, Assembly Ways and Means Committee Chair Pretlow, and the Senate and Assembly Environmental Conservation Chairs Senator Harckham and Assembly Member Deborah Glick, for the historic level of funding for the EPF. The boost in EPF funding allows for the inclusion of $1 million for DEC to commission a carrying capacity study of the Saranac Chain of Lakes, an increasingly popular recreation destination in the Adirondacks. The study will assess sustainable use levels to protect water quality, wildlife habitat, and visitor experiences,” said Claudia Braymer, Executive Director of Protect the Adirondacks.
“This historic investment in the Forest Preserve is a win for both our environment and our community. Here in the town of Hunter, we see firsthand how stewardship helps protect the Catskills’ natural beauty while supporting local jobs and sustainable tourism. We’re grateful to the Governor and Legislature for recognizing the importance of these public lands to our future.” said Sean Mahoney, Hunter Town Supervisor.
“We are thrilled to see this level of support for the Adirondacks and Catskills,” said Cortney Worrall, Executive Director of ADK. “This budget allows for world-class education and stewardship through ADK’s visitor centers, on the trails, and across the High Peaks Wilderness. The critical work we do to foster meaningful connections with the land, protect rare alpine species, and preserve trail systems will benefit New Yorkers for generations to come. We thank the NYS Senate, Assembly, and Governor Hochul for investing in this legacy.”
“At a time when federal protections are unraveling, New York is showing what leadership looks like. With a $425 million Environmental Protection Fund and dedicated investments in the Adirondacks and Catskills, this budget doesn’t just protect our wild places—it invests in their future. These forests, lakes, and communities are the heart of our identity, and this funding gives us a real chance to steward them with the care and urgency they deserve,” said Katie McNamara, Environmental Advocates NY Deputy Executive Director, Strategy and Partnerships Implementation.
“The growing popularity of our Forest Preserves for visitation and recreation show how important they are to the people of New York and at the same time demonstrate that protection of wilderness is paramount,” said Adirondack Wilderness Advocates Chair Pete Nelson. “Surveys consistently show that that the highest value visitors place on hiking in the Forest Preserve is the opportunity to experience pristine and wild nature. Protecting that opportunity takes resources and hard work, which is why AWA is grateful the Legislature and Governor Hochul continue to provide vital stewardship funding.”
“Funding that enhances the Catskill Park and the Adirondack Park serves all New Yorkers while strengthening our environment and our local economies,” said Ramsay Adams, Catskill Mountainkeeper’s Executive Director. “These are forward looking investments that we can all celebrate as we continue protecting and enhancing these regions for generations to come.”
“The Catskill and Adirondack Forest Preserves are foundational to New York’s natural heritage—vital to preserving our unique landscapes and supporting recreation, clean water, biodiversity, and climate resilience,” said Jeff Senterman, Executive Director of the Catskill Center. “We’re grateful that Governor Hochul, the Senate, and the Assembly have demonstrated their commitment by investing at the highest level yet in the Environmental Protection Fund. This increased funding ensures that critical stewardship, visitor services, and scientific research in the Catskills can continue to grow in impact, reaffirming the value of these vital landscapes to both residents and visitors alike.”
"This budget allocates crucial funding for Adirondack and Catskill Park priorities, as well as vital environmental initiatives in two of New York’s most iconic landscapes,” said Raul J. Aguirre, Executive Director of the Adirondack Council. “It strengthens wilderness protection, public education, and critical forest preserve stewardship. Without this support, we risk losing essential services, including our front-country visitor centers, which serve as the public’s primary resource for trail conditions, backcountry safety, and Leave No Trace education. We are grateful to Governor Hochul and the Legislature for acknowledging these needs and ensuring this important funding continues."
"Clean Air regulations have had resounding success, and U.S. air quality has dramatically improved over the past few decades. However, changing policies and changing emissions due to climate change could reverse this progress. We are so grateful for the leadership demonstrated by New York State through its support of the Environmental Protection Fund, which includes funding for cloud water and air quality monitoring programs at Whiteface Mountain, allowing us to continue these long-term baseline measurements that provide data needed for understanding air pollution impacts to ecosystems, human health and prosperity in the Adirondacks and across the northeastern U.S." said Dr. Sara Lance, Director of the ASRC Whiteface Mountain Field Station.
Dr. Daniel Kelting, President of Paul Smith's College, said, "We deeply appreciate Governor Hochul's investment in the Adirondacks. Her support protects our state's freshwater resources and deepens connections between people and one of New York's most remarkable landscapes. Importantly, this funding provides our students with invaluable hands-on learning and research opportunities, enriching their education and preparing them for future stewardship of these resources."
“We thank Governor Hochul and the NYS Senate and Assembly for continued support of our communities of the Catskills and Adirondacks,” said David Kukle, President Mountain Cloves Scenic Byway. “The Dedicated Stewardship funding for the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve Parks, and support for Adirondack and Catskill Visitor and Interpretive Centers, including the Catskills Visitor Center, will reap many returns as our Parks are an essential component of New York State's economy, generating $5 billion in annual tourism expenditures and supporting thousands of jobs. Our Parks are a unique and essential component of New York State's natural heritage consisting of over six million acres of public lands and private lands with communities, towns and villages. These lands include pristine forests, lakes, and rivers, as well as high peaks that offer some of the best outdoor recreation opportunities in the Northeast.”
“In a time of uncertainty it is encouraging to witness environmental leadership take real steps forward. This increase of the Environmental Protection fund enables critical work and critical protections to take place in New York. It also helps to ensure we have an environment and outdoor spaces to enjoy for the next generation of New Yorkers,” said Andy Mossey, Executive Director, Woodstock Land Conservancy.