US Forest Service Approves
Rensselaer Plateau
Forest Legacy Area

The Rensselaer Plateau Forest Legacy Area has been approved by the US Forest Service.

The RPA is extremely pleased with the decision to designate the Rensselaer Plateau a forest legacy site, for it recognizes the unique and special character of this region. The Forest Legacy Program will add an important tool and resources for conservation in the region. The program provides opportunity to permanently conserve forest lands with conservation easements that maintain the traditional uses of the land while conserving it forever. The programs reliance upon private landowner rights and willing sellers, and respect for home rule make this a great addition to conservation tools available to landowners and towns in the region. We applaud the approval and appreciate the support of local people, towns and state government to support the designation, for it is the grassroots support for such programs that achieved this result.

View the DEC Press Release..

This will allow municipalities and the County to leverage significant federal funds for private landowners to conserve these important environmental and economic resources. This completely voluntary program only works with willing landowners to conserve and protect working forests, and provides important assistance to local governments to protect their drinking water and rural character and enhance their forest based economies for wood products and recreation.

The Forest Legacy Program protects important forests from conversion to nonforest uses. This designation will simply make the Plateau region eligible for future federal funding to purchase land or development rights from willling sellers. RPA supports this proposal because it protects forest land and does not prohibit recreation. Lands protected under this program will protect traditional forest uses, including outdoor recreation, working forests, and drinking water protection. The Forest Legacy Program has been an important funding source for protecting the Taconic Ridge Crest Trail in eastern Rensselaer County. A Forest Legacy Area already exists in the towns of Berlin, Petersburg and Stephentown east of Route 22.

Key points about Forest Legacy:

• 100% Voluntary, Only willing landowners participate. Willing Seller - Willing Buyer
• No restrictions on what non-participants can do with their land.
• Private landowners retain ownership of their forests.
• An emphasis on working forests with forest management or stewardship plans.
• Supports a local forest economy that is sustainable into the future.
• An emphasis on public access. (for hiking, hunting, snowmobiling, etc)