A Strategic Conservation FrameworkA Strategic Conservation FrameworkA Strategic Conservation FrameworkA Strategic Conservation Framework
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Scenic Hudson’s Mission Area
Conserving the Rural Landscape
1. Why Conserve the Rural
Landscape?
2. Making Choices with
Limited Resources --
Techniques for Prioritizing
Conservation
3. Funding Options
Why Conserve the Rural Landscape?
• To safeguard our regional tourism economy
• To protect water quality
• To conserve our region’s biodiversity
• To conserve our “foodshed” – our agricultural land
base, food supply, and farm economy
• To help the region adapt to climate change
Economic Benefits of Open Space –
The Multiplier Effect
• Every $1 New York State invests protecting
land and water through the Environmental
Protection Fund (EPF), $7 is returned to local
communities in economic benefits.
– Source: Trust for Public Land, 2012
Economic Benefits of Open Space -
Nationwide
• Americans spend over $730 billion a year on
outdoor recreation.
• Hunting, fishing and wildlife-watching alone
generated $145 billion in spending in 2011 –
1% of the U.S. gross domestic product.
– Source: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation,
2011
Economic Benefits of Open Space –
in New York
• Outdoor recreation delivers:
– $11.3 billion annually in sales and services
– Nearly $800 million in state tax revenue
– Source: National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, 2011
Walkway Over the Hudson’s
2012 Economic Impact Study
• 500,000 annual visitors, 48% from outside
region
• Annual direct spending by non-locals: $15 mm
• Direct wages generated: $6 million
• Annual county revenue: $780,000
Economic Benefits of Open Space –
More Multiplier Effects
In May 2012, Northwind Farms of Tivoli and Hudson Solar of Rhinebeck
announced the installation of a new photovoltaic array that is projected to
gather 20 percent more electricity than the farm uses each year.
Economic Benefits of Open Space
Conservation – Water Quality
• Conserving wetlands and waterfronts = effective, inexpensive
flood control.
• Each acre of wetlands in New York = $689,000 in annual
storm-protection benefits -- soaking up water and removing
pollutants before they reach drinking-water supplies.
• Forests: every 10% of a watershed's forest cover eliminates
20% of water-treatment costs.
– Source: Trust for Public Land and American Water Works
Association, 2004
The Hudson Valley Ecosystem:
A Crossroads of Biodiversity
• A spectacular ecological mixing
zone - some of the highest levels
of species richness in NY State.
• A trio of geological, biological
and hydrological forces has
created an unusually complex
ecosystem.
• Globally significant hotspots of
turtle, salamander and dragonfly
species.
• Critically important tidal and
upland breeding areas for
oceangoing fish and resident and
migrant bird species.
Climate Change
• Anticipating sea level
rise
• Connectivity – for
species migration
• Protecting the “green
infrastructure” that
fosters resilience
Kingston Waterfront
Flooding
April 16, 2005
Sea Level Riseby 2080
Central Range: 12” - 23”
Rapid Ice Melt: 41” - 55”
Source: NYS Sea Level Rise Task Force
Final Report 2010
What can we do?• Understand risks to public
infrastructure
• Steer development away
from shorelines and
floodplains
• Avoid construction of
bulkheads, levees and dikes
• Employ softer, greener
shoreline treatments where
appropriate
• Adapt to increasing water
levels
• Protect wetlands and allow
them to migrate in/upland
2. Making Choices - Techniques for
Prioritizing Conservation Work
• Scenic Hudson’s Scenic and Ecological
Prioritization
• Scenic Hudson’s Farmland Prioritization
Scenic Views Conservation
Scenic Areas of Statewide Significance (SASS)
Viewshed Analysis from Public Viewpoints
Scenic / Ecological Model
Ecological / Habitat Conservation
Biologically Important Areas (DEC)
Natural Heritage Program Species Data
Scenic / Ecological Model
GIS Modeling
Scenic Areas (1-3)
+Viewshed Analysis (1-3)
+Biologically Important Areas (1-3)
+Species Data (1-3)
=Scenic / Ecological
Conservation Value (1-12)
A Strategic Conservation FrameworkA Strategic Conservation FrameworkA Strategic Conservation FrameworkA Strategic Conservation Framework
3. Funding for Land Conservation –
NY State
• New York State EPF – Municipal Parks Grants,
Farmland Protection Program, Open Space
Acquisition
– EPF is at $134 million
– Was at $250 million in 2008
– Advocates are calling for at least $164 million next year
– Funding sources: State’s Real Estate Transfer Tax; “Bigger,
Better Bottle Bill” revenues
• Bonding assistance to municipalities through
Environmental Facilities Corp.
Funding for Land Conservation –
Federal Programs• Land and Water Conservation Fund (National Park
Service) – part of budget negotiations
• Forest Legacy Program (US Forest Service) - $60
million nationwide
• Highlands Conservation Act (US Fish and Wildlife
Service) - $5 million to four states
• Coastal and Estuarine Land Protection Program
(NOAA) - $3 million nationwide
• Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (USDA’s
NCRS) - $4 mm to New York
Other Sources of Land
Conservation Funding
• Partnering with larger conservation groups
• Seller financing
• Municipal bonding and community
preservation funding
• Watershed Improvement Districts (new state
law in 2012)
Local Open Space Programs
• Red Hook: $3.5 mm open space fund and
Community Preservation Act
• Warwick: $9 mm farmland protection fund
and Community Preservation Act
• Beekman: $3 mm open space fund
• New Paltz: $2mm open space fund
• Many towns in Westchester - $11 mm since
2005
2012 Open Space Funding Referenda
• 57 measures on local and statewide ballots in
21 states
• 46 passed (81% approval rate)
• Will provide more than $2 billion overall,
including $767 million in new money for land
conservation to protect water quality, working
farms, and create new parks and preserves.
• In New York: Bedford and Pound Ridge