Natural Resources Protection in the Hudson Valley: Municipal Conservation Stories

Professor Shorna Allred (UNC Chapel Hill and Cornell University) and Dr. Daria Ponstingal (Cornell University)

Thursday, February 13 | 2:30PM ET | Online and Open to the Public

Municipal governments in New York State play a vital role in creating practices, plans, and policies that protect natural resources at the local level while also contributing to the conservation of regional and landscape-scale priorities.

The conservation of biodiversity is impacted by the multitude of land-use decisions made by municipal governments at village, city, town, and county levels. However, research shows that municipalities often adopt environmental plans only after significant damage has already been done to natural resources. Thus, there is a need for proactive, municipal conservation planning that integrates complementary strategies aimed at protecting wildlife, fish, and plant habitats while harmonizing with human needs. A comprehensive approach to municipal planning minimizes ecosystem degradation while also incorporating adaptation strategies for environmental change and community needs.

Professor Allred and Dr. Ponstingal will present on work that explores current decision-making by local government officials regarding ecosystem conservation and present case studies of municipal conservation planning. The case studies serve as examples and models for practitioners, volunteers, and local governments in the Hudson Valley, and shed light on both successes and challenges of conservation planning in New York State.