scholarly journals Sustainable Trail Design, Not Hiker Permits, is Necessary for Environmental Preservation in New York State’s Adirondack Park High Peaks

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khang T. Huynh ◽  
Christopher M. Koudelka
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Sustainable Design ◽  
State Legislature ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Adirondack Park ◽  
Environmental Preservation ◽  
Severe Erosion ◽  
Trail Design ◽  
Department Of Environmental Conservation

The High Peaks of the Adirondack Park in New York is home to many of the state’s precious natural resources and is a favorite destination for hikers. Severe erosion on trails threatens the region’s environmental health. Most conservation groups advocate for reducing the number of hikers as the primary solution to combatting erosion; however, the scientific literature indicates that reduction of foot traffic is ineffective at combatting already deteriorating trails. Instead, we recommend the state legislature and Department of Environmental Conservation pursue a plan to rebuild these trails using sustainable design principles, which more effectively ensures their longevity. We outline the research and expertise required to successfully rebuild these trails as well as a mechanism to fund this expensive endeavor.

scholarly journals Species, causes, and outcomes of wildlife rehabilitation in New York State

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. e0257675
Author(s):  
Melissa Hanson ◽  
Nicholas Hollingshead ◽  
Krysten Schuler ◽  
William F. Siemer ◽  
Patrick Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Ecological Impact ◽  
New York State ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
York State ◽  
State Wildlife Agencies ◽  
Wildlife Rehabilitation ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Annual Reporting ◽  
Department Of Environmental Conservation

Wildlife rehabilitation is a publicly popular practice, though not without controversy. State wildlife agencies frequently debate the ecological impact of rehabilitation. By analyzing case records, we can clarify and quantify the causes for rehabilitation, species involved, and treatment outcomes. This data would aid regulatory agencies and rehabilitators in making informed decisions, as well as gaining insight into causes of species mortality. In New York State, the Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has licensed rehabilitators since 1980 and annual reporting is required. In this study, we analyzed 58,185 individual wildlife cases that were attended by New York rehabilitators between 2012 and 2014. These encompassed 30,182 (51.9%) birds, 25,447 (43.7%) mammals, 2,421 (4.2%) reptiles, and 75 (0.1%) amphibians. We identified patterns among taxonomic representation, reasons for presentation to a rehabilitation center, and animal disposition. Major causes of presentation were trauma (n = 22,156; 38.1%) and orphaning (n = 21,679; 37.3%), with habitat loss (n = 3,937; 6.8%), infectious disease (n = 1,824; 3.1%), and poisoning or toxin exposure (n = 806; 1.4%) playing lesser roles. The overall release rate for animals receiving care was 50.2% while 45.3% died or were euthanized during the rehabilitation process. A relatively small number (0.3%) were permanently non-releasable and placed in captivity; 4.1% had unknown outcomes. A comparable evaluation in 1989 revealed that wildlife submissions have increased (annual mean 12,583 vs 19,395), and are accompanied by a significant improvement in release (50.2% in the study period vs 44.4% in 1989) (χ2(1) = 90.43, p < 0.0001). In this manuscript, we aim to describe the rehabilitator community in New York State, and present the causes and outcomes for rehabilitation over a three-year period.

Urban and Community Fisheries Programs: Development, Management, and Evaluation

2008 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
New York State ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
York State Department ◽  
Full Time ◽  
York State ◽  
Community Fisheries ◽  
Department Of Environmental Conservation ◽  
Sport Fish

<em>Abstract.-</em>In 2002, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) implemented the I FISH NY program in Long Island and New York City using funds from the Sport Fish Restoration Program, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The program was created to ensure that anyone who has a desire to fish would have the resources and knowledge necessary to do so, and to increase stewardship by building public awareness and understanding of aquatic resources in metropolitan areas of New York State. DEC subsequently partnered with New York Sea Grant to perform activities including community fishing clinics, school programs, and day-camp programs. Numbers of people reached and quality of programming have increased since program inception, and this is attributed to creation of full-time, long-term staff positions.

THE UNDERGROUND OIL SPILL AT KOTZEBUE, ALASKA: UNKNOWN CAUSE, ELUSIVE CURE

1987 ◽  
Vol 1987 (1) ◽  
pp. 593-597
Author(s):  
John H. Janssen ◽  
Douglas L. Kane
Keyword(s):  
State Legislature ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Cold Climate ◽  
Fuel Oil ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Groundwater Aquifer ◽  
Pressure Tests ◽  
Fuel Storage ◽  
Local Residents ◽  
Department Of Environmental Conservation

ABSTRACT In 1980, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) became aware of a problem with oil seeping into the elementary school basement of the northwest Alaska coastal community of Kotzebue. After initial investigation, it was determined that 100,000 to 200,000 gal (378,000 to 756,000 L) of #1 fuel oil (diesel) was contaminating an underground area estimated at up to 10 acres (4 ha). The fuel had been in the ground for 25 to 30 years, and may have been associated with fuel storage or handling in the 1950s. ADEC learned that many local residents had been collecting fuel from backyard sumps for years. Many gathered enough to heat their homes, and others sold their excesses of recovered oil. More recently, oil has been observed leaching into Kotzebue Sound from time to time, posing a potential threat to local fisheries. ADEC has since been involved in recovering the oil, using the limited funds available to mitigate the potential environmental and safety problems. Problems experienced in collection of the fuel included a seasonally frozen groundwater aquifer above the permafrost and inconsistent monitoring of the primary collection sump in the school basement. By the fall of 1984, about 40,000 gal (151,000 L) of fuel had been recovered by a variety of methods. A large quantity of oil remains underground, but recovery has been severely reduced, mainly by recent funding constraints and sporadic collection conditions associated with the cold climate and permafrost. The 1986 Alaska state legislature appropriated $50,000 so that ADEC could install monitoring and collection wells and conduct pressure tests of all fuel lines that might be still contributing to the problem. Continuing this cleanup depends on future funding.

scholarly journals Species, causes, and outcomes of wildlife rehabilitation in New York State

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Hanson ◽  
Nicholas Hollingshead ◽  
Krysten Schuler ◽  
William F. Siemer ◽  
Patrick Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Release Rate ◽  
Ecological Impact ◽  
New York State ◽  
Large Data ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Wildlife Rehabilitation ◽  
Department Of Environmental Conservation

AbstractWildlife rehabilitation is a publicly popular though highly controversial practice. State wildlife agencies frequently debate the ecological impact of rehabilitation. Analysis of case records could inform that debate by clarifying and quantifying the causes for rehabilitation, species involved, and treatment outcomes. This information could aid in the ability of regulatory agencies and rehabilitators to make informed decisions and gain insight into causes of species decline. In New York, rehabilitators are licensed by the Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and thus, are required to submit annual reports. Between 2012-2014, 59,370 individual wildlife cases were seen by licensed rehabilitators comprising 31,229 (52.6%) birds, 25,490 (42.9%) mammals, 2,423 (4.1%) reptiles, and 73 (0.1%) amphibians. We identified patterns among taxonomic representation, reasons for presentation, and disposition. Major causes of presentation were trauma (n = 22,672, 38.2%) and orphaning (n = 21,876, 36.8%), with habitat loss (n =3,746, 6.3%), infectious disease (n = 1,992, 3.4%), and poisoning or toxin exposure (n = 864, 1.5%) playing lesser roles. The overall release rate for animals receiving care was 50.2%; 45.4% were either euthanized or died during the rehabilitation process. A relatively small number (0.3%) were permanently non-releasable and placed in captivity, and 4.1% had unknown outcomes. In comparison to data from 1989, wildlife submissions have increased (annual mean 12,583 vs 19,790), as has the release rate, from 44.4% to 50.2%. Utilizing a large data set allowed us to fill knowledge gaps, which can help inform management by both the rehabilitators and the state agencies that regulate them, deepening understanding of the scope and impacts of wildlife rehabilitation.

Managing Recreation in New York's Adirondack Park: A Case Study of Public Perceptions and Preferences for Reducing User Impacts to the High Peaks Wilderness Complex

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Jon Schneller ◽  
Greta Lee Binzen ◽  
Colin Cameron ◽  
Samuel Taggart Vogel ◽  
Isaac Bardin
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Adirondack Park ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Management Options ◽  
The Public

This qualitative case study research investigated public perceptions and preferences regarding management options for addressing recreational impacts to the High Peaks Wilderness Complex (HPWC) in New York State’s six-million-acre Adirondack Park. The Park is the largest in the contiguous United States, attracting local and international visitors from Philadelphia, Montreal, Boston, and New York City, major cities within 350 miles of the HPWC. The Park saw 12.4 million visitors in 2018, resulting in crowding, trail erosion, clandestine trails/campsites, water pollution, and plant/wildlife impacts. Data was gathered from 1,200 individuals via an online questionnaire, semi-structured interviews with NGOs, community influentials, and agency representatives, and participant observation. Findings showed the public strongly supported passive management options such as increased funding for education, trail reconstruction, enhanced management of the HPWC, and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) promotion of alternatives to the most popular wilderness trails during busy months. The public was split in their support of direct management techniques such as temporary trail closures, limiting the number of hikers, and mandatory permits for hikers/parking. NGOs expressed a diversity of preferences for direct wilderness management, but widely supported enhanced education, trail improvements, and funding increases for management and the hiring of more rangers. The results of this research provide insights for improving management practices that facilitate sustainable recreation while also protecting and restoring federal and state designated wilderness. This manuscript culminates in a suite of management implications based on our research findings, including filling all vacancies within the Adirondack Park Agency Board with professionally and culturally diverse individuals, including women, Tribal representatives, minority communities, environmental attorneys, natural scientists, and regional planners. Funding should be allocated for the hiring of additional rangers, Summit Stewards, and trail crews, for enhanced trail maintenance and hiker education efforts. We also recommend implementing the Wildland Monitoring Program in order to better understand trail carrying capacity and ecological limits. Limiting the number of hikers/vehicles through a permit system is but one solution if efforts to heighten ranger presence, education, and improve trails all fail to address resource degradation.

The Effect of Islamic Fundamental Regulations on Environ-mental Conservation Kesan Peraturan Asasi Islam pada Pemuliharaan Alam Sekitar

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 180-199
Author(s):  
Najmaldeen K. Kareem Al-Zanki ◽  
Kotb Rissouni
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Public Interest ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Inductive Method ◽  
Legal Regulations ◽  
Environmental Preservation ◽  
Legal Questions ◽  
Universal Law ◽  
The Universe

AbstractThis study focuses on the legal regulations and jurisprudential dictates that are applicable to environmental conservation. The study employs an analytical and inductive method. It shows the set of regulations that apply to the concept of environmental preservation and then explains analytically how these regulations can legally accommodate questions pertaining to how humans address natural beings, natural resources and each component of the universe. The regulations such as the consideration of public interest, deeds' outcomes, customs, the elimination and compensation of damage and a means taking the value of its final objective will help in the adjustment of legal questions relevant to environmental conservation. The authors ensure that the universal laws and Sharī‘ah objectives must complement one another.                           . Keywords: Environmental Conservation, Sharī‘ah Regulations, Universal Law, Integrity of Universal and Divine Laws, Realization of Public Interest.AbstrakKajian ini memberi tumpuan kepada peraturan undang-undang dan jurisprudens yang berkaitan dengan pemuliharaan alam sekitar. Kaedah yang digunapakai dalam kajian ini adalah kaedah analisis dan induktif. Kajian ini menerangkan tentang peraturan yang dikenakan kepada konsep penjagaan alam sekitar dan kemudian menerangkan secara analisis bagaimana peraturan-peraturan ini secara sah boleh menjawab soalan mengenai bagaimana manusia menangani alam semula jadi, sumber asli dan setiap komponen alam semesta. Peraturan-peraturan yang berhubung dengan pertimbangan dan kepentingan awam, hasil perbuatan manusia, adat, penghapusan dan pampasan kerosakan dan cara mengambil nilai objektif akhirnya akan membantu dalam penyesuaian soal undang-undang yang berkaitan dengan pemuliharaan alam sekitar. Pengarang telah memastikan bahawa undang-undang universal dan objektif Sharī‘ah  Islam adalah saling melengkapi satu sama lain.Kata Kunci: Pemuliharaan Alam Sekitar, Peraturan Sharī‘ah, Undang-undang Universal, Integriti Undang-Undang Universal dan Agama, Merealisasikan Kepentingan Awam.

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