Printer-friendlyDivision of Lands and Forests
The Division of Lands and Forests manages public lands in New York State and provides leadership in forestry and forest management. The Department of Environmental Conservation cares for about four million acres of state owned land or 13 percent of the land area of New York State. This includes the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserves, State Forests, Unique Areas and the State Nature and Historical Preserve. The Division of Lands and Forests is responsible for the management, protection and recreational use of these lands, the care of the people who use these lands and the acquisition of additional lands to conserve unique and significant resources.
The Division of Lands and Forests is made up of four bureaus: Forest Preserve Management, Private Land Services, Real Property and State Land Management. Through its bureaus, the Division of Lands and Forests provides the following services:
Bureau of Forest Preserve Management.jpg "William C Whitney Wilderness")
- Adirondack Forest Preserve
- Catskill Forest Preserve
- Forest Preserve Stewardship
- Preserve Policy and Regulation
- Preserve Education and Outreach
- Preserve Unit Management Planning
Bureau of Private Land Services
- Cooperating Forester Program
- Cooperating Timber Harvester Program
- Forest Health and Protection
- Forest Land Enhancement Program
- Forest Landowner Assistance
- Forest Industry Technical Assistance
- Forest Products Utilization and Marketing
- Forest Tax Law
- Saratoga Tree Nursery
- Urban and Community Forestry
Bureau of Real Property
- Land Acquisition by Purchase, Gift or Exchange
- Conservation Easement Negotiation, Acquisition and Monitoring
- Forest Legacy Program
- Appraisal and Appraisal Review for all DEC Land Acquisition Efforts
- Boundary Line Surveys for Acquisition, Stewardship and Trespasses
- Maintain State Land Records and Inventory
- Land Transfer Processing from and to Other State Agencies
- Assist with Obtaining Rights for Hazardous Waste Remediation Sites and Flood Protection Program Easements
- Defense of State Land Title
- Process Preferential Railroad Rights and Surplus Building Requests
Bureau of State Land Management
- State Forest Management, including Reforestation Areas & Multiple-Use Areas
- Conservation Easement Management
- Geographic Information System (GIS) Inventory and Mapping
- Historic Preservation and Native American Affairs Coordination
- State Land Planning
- State Unique Areas
- State Nature and Historical Preserve
