Southern Adirondack Audubon

A chapter of the National Audubon Society

 

Want to help?  There are many ways you can be a part of our important conservation work.\
Please contact Jason Goldsmith, Conservation Chair.

Proposed Killian's View sub-division in the Fort Edward Grasslands IBA

A large subdivision has been proposed in the Fort Edward Grasslands Important Bird Area.
Your involvement is needed.  More information is found here.

    On Tuesday, April 21, I attended Earth Day Lobby Day in Albany.  Although this was the 20^th anniversary of this important day for conservation organizations, it was my first experience, and I found it an informative and educational one, as well as an enjoyable day with other environmental advocates who share my passion for protecting the environment. 
    The morning session was held in a hall located near the Capital.  Opening remarks were presented by Rob Moore and Laura Haight, representatives of Environmental Advocates and New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), respectively.  We then heard from representatives of other groups who summarized the five hot topics we would discuss with our Senators and Assembly representatives later in the day.
    Those presenting and their issues were:

•   Ross Gould of Environmental Advocates - Global Warming Pollution Cap; bills pending to reduce greenhouse gases as recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
•   Bobbi Chase Wilding of Clean New York - E-waste recycling; bills pending to require manufacturers of electronics to take their products back, recycle as much as possible, and dispose of the rest in a responsible manner.
•   Wes Gillingham of Catskill Mountainkeeper - Natural Gas drilling; New York needs better protection and more stringent regulations as the controversial horizontal hydraulic fracturing – or “hydrofracking” comes to our state.  In other areas this process has caused contaminated water, polluted air, and other negative health effects.
•   Dick Amper of the Long Island Pine Barrens Society - SEQRA Standing; bills are pending that would enforce the public’s right to enforce the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) as was the original legislative intent.
•   Sean Mahar of Audubon New York - Environmental Funding; a $69 million dollar cut to NY’s Environmental Protection Fund, reduction of resources for the Department of Environmental Conservation of 34%, and a 20% reduction in funding for the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, and the proposed closure of 41 state parks.

    Speakers of note during the morning session included Assemblyman Robert Sweeney, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation; Senator Antoine Thompson, Chair of the Senate's Environmental Conservation Committee; NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli; and Governor David A. Paterson. 
    Paterson was applauded as the only Governor ever to attend Earth Day Lobby Day; however, his defense of the deep cuts to state environmental funding fell far short.  Audubon New York’s Sean Mahar, Director of Government Relations & Communications, refuted Paterson’s remarks, and was cheered as he pointed out the disparities in the budget. 
    After a short lunch break we formed smaller groups, each led by a seasoned lobbyist, and we marched to the Legislative Office Building.  The balance of the afternoon was spent visiting Senators and Assemblypersons and discussing the topics mentioned above.  Presenting my views in person to a member of the state legislature was a new experience for me, and my group leader, Scott Lorey, Legislative Director for the Adirondack Council, put me at ease and proved to be informative in all things relating to state government.  When our scheduled meetings were concluded, he was gracious enough to treat me to a tour of the Capital building.
    I learned a great deal by participating in this event, and look forward to the 21^st annual Earth Day Lobby Day in 2011.
-Mona Bearor

 Please Don't Move Firewood!
A new regulation is now in effect that prohibits the import of firewood into New York unless it has been kiln-dried. The new regulation also limits the transportation of untreated firewood to less than 50 miles from it's source.                                                              
                                                             
Bringing your firewood with you to hunting camp or a campground?  Most people don't realize they move bugs along with their firewood. You could be spreading diseases from insect invaders that can quickly kill large numbers of trees. Our forests are at risk from the transport of firewood infested with tree killers. Help protect our forests and STOP THE SPREAD of these pests. Use only firewood from local sources.
If you bring firewood, burn ALL of it before leaving your campsite.                                      
Further information about firewood and insect pests can be found at:  www.dec.ny.gov/lands/28722.html