Schroon Lake, NY, Oct 01, 2012 — Governor Andrew Cuomo says the big Finch conservation deal in the Adirondacks will open new lands to snowmobilers, hikers, hunters, and anglers. State officials and green groups say that could mean a major boost for the North Country's tourism industry.

But critics say the $50 million deal will hurt the timber industry, making it harder for struggling loggers and mill operators. Some industry leaders say they worry about the loss of productive timberlands that have been harvested for more than a century.  Go to full article

Schroon Lake, NY, Sep 24, 2012 — Governor Andrew Cuomo traveled to the Adirondacks Sunday, bringing with him most of his executive cabinet and dozens of downstate reporters.

He made the trip to promote a big new $50 million land purchase that will add tens of thousands of acres to the Park's forest preserve.  Go to full article

Indian Lake, NY, Sep 18, 2012 — State officials say they plan to buy the first big chunk of the former Finch timberlands by the end of the year.

Roughly 19,000 acres will be added to the "forever wild" forest preserve in the first phase of the project. State officials say they plan to buy the first big chunk of the former Finch timberlands by the end of the year. Roughly 19,000 acres will be added to the "forever wild" forest preserve in the first phase of the project. Supporters say these lands will open popular new areas for hiking, paddling, hunting and fishing.

The process is now underway to determine the kind of rules and guidelines that will shape public access, and state officials say they hope to avoid the kind of clashes that have marked past land classification efforts.  Go to full article

Long Lake, NY, Apr 27, 2012 — This week, the Cuomo administration paid out roughly $1.5 million to land trusts across the state. The money will mostly go to help with administration costs and to fund internships.

In the Adirondacks, much of the land conservation debate over the last few years has focused on historic large-scale deals orchestrated by the Adirondack Nature Conservancy.

The Finch Pruyn and F ollensby projects could lead to the expansion of the Park's forest preserve by tens of thousands of acres.

But while those projects draw the spotlight, and the controversy, green groups say they're worried that smaller but important parcels of land are going unprotected. Brian Mann has our story.  Go to full article

Schroon Lake, NY, Mar 22, 2011 — The Adirondack Nature Conservancy has emerged in recent years as one of the largest owners of timberland in the North Country.

The green group uses certified logging methods designed to protect rivers and other sensitive ecosystems.

But a landowner in Essex County is accusing the Conservancy's tree-cutters of damaging a certified trout stream.

As Brian Mann reports, state officials have opened an investigation.  Go to full article

Keene Valley, NY, Jan 21, 2011 — Last April, New York's Attorney General's office announced that it would begin a probe of the state's method of buying land in the Adirondack Park.

The investigation was requested by then-Governor David Paterson following allegations that the DEC had paid inflated prices to conservation groups.

As Brian Mann reports, state officials say that probe is now underway.  Go to full article

Tupper Lake, NY, Sep 09, 2010 — A strange kind of local trial is underway this week in Tupper Lake. Developer Michael Foxman and his partners are hoping to build the Adirondack Club and Resort on property that includes the old Big Tupper ski area.

But to gain permanent road access to more than 1200 acres of the resort property, the company needs legal rights to cross a small parcel of land owned by a neighbor. It turns out that neighbor is the Adirondack Nature Conservancy, which owns the Follensby Pond tract. The group hopes to sell the land to the state of New York to be added to the state forest preserve.

The Conservancy has said publicly that it doesn't want to sell or give away the access rights. So Foxman and his partners have begun a legal proceeding that could force the Conservancy to allow access to the road. The issue has sparked protests and an angry exchange in the Tupper Lake Free Press.

Brian Mann was in Tupper Lake yesterday and spoke about the case with Martha Foley.  Go to full article

Tupper Lake, NY, Aug 19, 2010 — Six years after developers proposed building a massive new resort in Tupper Lake, the project appears to be back on track.

The Adirondack Park Agency has begun its final review of the environmental impacts of the ski-and-second-home development.

Some green groups say they're more comfortable with the scaled-back design, which still includes more than six hundred new homes, condos and mansions.

The Adirondack Club and Resort would also reopen Big Tupper as a commercial ski area.

Brian Mann attended a community meeting held last night by local boosters of the project. He has this update.  Go to full article

Lake Pleasant, NY, May 13, 2010 — The Adirondack Park Agency was created in 1971. In the decades since, a debate has raged over how the Park should be managed.

Specific issues change from year to year. But the basic battle lines over conservation, property rights, and economic development have long seemed carved in stone.

But now some observers say the budget crisis in Albany is changing all that, throwing into doubt some of the core ideas about the Park and its future. Brian Mann has our special report.  Go to full article

Chestertown, NY, Apr 22, 2010 — This week we've been looking in-depth at the big conservation land deals that have been reshaping the Adirondack Park.

One of the most prominent groups opposing those deals is the Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board. Over the last year, the taxpayer-funded organization has made headlines, accusing environmental groups and state officials of improper and illegal activities. The Review Board has also led the fight for a moratorium on new land purchases.

As Brian Mann reports, critics and supporters alike agree that the group has emerged as one of the most influential voices on issues in the Park.  Go to full article