Keene Valley, NY, Apr 20, 2010 — This morning we begin a three-part series looking at the major land acquisitions that are reshaping the Adirondack Park. Hundreds of thousands of acres have changed hands in the Adirondacks, bought from private owners by New York State. This week we'll look at how those sometimes controversial deals are made, and who makes them.
Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli announced earlier this month that they will investigate the 2008 purchase of 20,000 acres in Clinton County, and tomorrow we'll look at that current controversy.

Today, we start with the big picture.
Many of these big land deals have resulted from a close partnership between the state Department of Environmental Conservation and one environmental group: the Adirondack Nature Conservancy.
Supporters praise the partnership for facilitating protection of prized lakes, mountains and open space. Critics say the relationship is too close and warrants more scrutiny. Brian Mann has our story.  Go to full article

Saranac Lake, NY, Apr 08, 2010 — The New York Post reported this week that the Adirondack Nature Conservancy reaped millions in profits from a land preservation deal with New York State. The story says the conservancy paid Domtar $6.8 million for the land, and sold it to the state for almost $10 million four years later -- an "absurd" profit as headlined in the Post.

The report is prompting reviews by the state attorney general's office into potential over-payments for the 20,000 acres in Clinton County. Martha Foley talks with Adirondack Bureau Chief Brian Mann.  Go to full article

Keene Valley, NY, Jan 20, 2010 — Governor Paterson's budget plan would slash also tens of millions of dollars from environmental and land conservation programs. In the proposal unveiled yesterday, state officials say new land purchases in the Adirondack Park should be suspended at least through 2012. The news comes at a time when the Adirondack Nature Conservancy is hoping to sell more than 50,000 acres of timberland to the state. Martha Foley has details.  Go to full article

Au Sable Forks, NY, Jan 15, 2010 — Yesterday, North Country Public Radio reported on allegations that a conspiracy existed between state officials and the Nature Conservancy in the town of Black Brook. Critics claim that the plot aimed to force a local man, John Maye, from his property so that the land could be added to the forest preserve. Our investigation could find no evidence to support those suspicions. But Maye's experience with the APA has come to be seen in property-rights circles as a textbook case of bureaucratic bullying and harassment. This morning, Brian Mann has part two of our report.  Go to full article

Au Sable Forks, NY, Jan 14, 2010 — A report published last weekend in the Glens Falls Post-Star raised allegations that the Adirondack Park Agency had conspired illegally with an environmental group. According to the article's sources, state officials schemed with the Adirondack Nature Conservancy, hoping to force a Clinton County man to sell his property. They say the goal was to add John Maye's land to the state Forest Preserve. North Country Public Radio's Brian Mann has been investigating the charges. He found no evidence that any collusion or wrongdoing took place.  Go to full article

Jul 31, 2009 — This week, North Country Public Radio has been looking at the changing economics of big land purchases, in the Adirondacks, Vermont and across the Northeast. Land prices are down, making big parcels more affordable. But state budgets and private donations are down, too, meaning there are fewer dollars to spend on land conservation. State Senator Betty Little, from Queensbury, says it's time to re-evaluate whether more land purchases make sense, given New York state's massive budget shortfalls. Little is lobbying for additional parcels of the Finch, Pruyn land to be sold to logging companies - with conservation easements - rather than added to the Adirondack forest preserve. She spoke with Jonathan Brown.  Go to full article

Jul 29, 2009 — As we heard yesterday, plummeting land values mean there are new opportunities for conserving open space, in New York and across the Northeast. Forests and farms that would have sold at premium prices two years ago are sitting on the market and in many areas prices are dropping. But state officials in the region are struggling to find money for conservation projects as their own budgets implode. As part of a collaboration with Northeastern stations, Brian Mann has our story.  Go to full article

Mar 31, 2009 — The Adirondack Nature Conservancy yesterday unveiled one of the largest timber sales in North Country history. The green group, based in Keene Valley, is selling 92 thousand acres of timber land to ATP, a Danish pension fund. Todd Moe has more.  Go to full article

Feb 27, 2009 — The mysterious ailment called "White-nose Syndrome" continues to decimate bat populations across the Northeast. A new outbreak was confirmed earlier this month in New Hampshire and the disease has spread as far as West Virginia. Scientists have begun collecting tissue from infected caves, here in the North Country and in Vermont, creating a genetic record of bat colonies that could vanish completely. As part of a collaboration with public radio stations across the Northeast, Brian Mann reports.  Go to full article

Jan 29, 2009 — Governor David Paterson wants to cut tens of millions of dollars from the Environmental Protection Fund. That's the pool of money that pays for big environment projects in New York, including land conservation in the Adirondacks. Governor Paterson also wants to change the way the EPF is paid for, using new revenue that he hopes to create by expanding the state's bottle deposit law. Green groups say the new plan isn't reliable and bottling companies are promising to fight what they call a new tax on their businesses. Brian Mann reports.  Go to full article