Environment DEC
From the January 2007 issue
DEC Releases Hudson River Estuary Wildlife and Habitat Conservation Framework
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has released The Hudson River Estuary Wildlife and Habitat Conservation Framework. This framework describes key plants, animals and habitats in counties bordering the Hudson River Estuary and identifies strategies for the protection of these critical habitats. The report is intended to assist individuals, non-profit groups and government officials in developing partnerships to conserve the region's natural heritage and to protect this natural legacy.
The Conservation Framework is designed to support local and regional efforts to conserve the diversity and beauty of the Hudson Valley and demonstrates the state's commitment to developing a conservation strategy for this area. The report was developed with input from Cornell University, The Nature Conservancy, the Wildlife Conservation Society, Hudsonia Ltd., National Audubon Society and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, among others.
World-renown Diversity
Many species of birds, such as the
red-shouldered hawk, spend part
of their life cycle in the region
The Hudson Valley possesses remarkable diversity of habitats and species, from the low-lying salt marshes of Jamaica Bay and rare freshwater tidal wetlands on the Hudson shores to the lofty spruce-fir forest in the Catskills. The report notes that the historically significant Hudson Valley, which is only 13.5 percent of the entire state, contains nearly 85 percent of the bird, mammal, reptile and amphibian species found in New York State.
The region is known worldwide for its rich diversity of turtles, dragonflies and damselflies. A number of species use the Hudson Valley as a migration route or as breeding or nursery habitat. This includes migratory fishes such as shad, sturgeon, striped bass and eel, as well as insects such as the monarch butterfly. Birds as varied as the cerulean warbler, marsh wren, bald eagle, red-shouldered hawk and black-crowned night-heron all spend part of their life cycle in the region.
Development versus Conservation
Many species found in the Hudson River Valley are sensitive to urbanization and fragmentation of habitat. The rate of land consumption for development in the 50-mile radius of New York City is six times greater than the rate of population growth, and around the Capital Region, it is three times greater. This rapid land use presents a challenge to local governments and organizations looking to incorporate conservation methods into the region's growth strategy. The framework can be used as a tool by municipalities and businesses to develop viable solutions to these issues.
It outlines strategies that will help communities consider the needs of their residents, wildlife species and natural resources. Descriptions are provided of key wildlife habitats such as wetlands, riparian corridors, unfragmented forests, open uplands and coastal zones. In addition, the report highlights particular regions in the Hudson Valley which encompass these significant habitats. For more information or to obtain a copy of the Hudson River Estuary Wildlife and Habitat Conservation Framework, please call DEC's Hudson River Estuary Office at 845-256-3016.
