Coming Together for the Catskill and Adirondack Forest Preserve Summit

Next week, advocates and stewards from across the Catskill and Adirondack Parks will gather at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center in Delmar, NY for the annual Catskill and Adirondack Forest Preserve Summit.

The Catskill Center, along with the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK), co-chairs a coalition of organizations from both Parks that works together to advocate for New York State’s Forest Preserve. Each year, the Summit brings these stakeholders together to share what we are seeing and experiencing across our regions, learn from one another, and identify priorities for the year ahead. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will also join the gathering to provide updates on Forest Preserve stewardship and participate in the conversation.

Together, the Catskill and Adirondack Parks represent roughly one quarter of New York State’s land area. Their forests protect habitat, sequester carbon, help mitigate flooding, cool streams, and safeguard drinking water for millions of New Yorkers. More than 2,000 miles of recreational trails also connect people with these public lands while supporting health, well-being, tourism, and local economies.

The organizations working across this vast landscape bring different perspectives and expertise to the table. By comparing needs and experiences from both Parks, we can identify where our concerns intersect and develop a clearer picture of the resources necessary to care for the Forest Preserve.

Following the Summit, these discussions help shape a collective letter to Governor Kathy Hochul outlining priorities for consideration in the upcoming Executive Budget proposal, including Forest Preserve stewardship, Catskill and Adirondack visitor centers, science facilities and research, and initiatives that improve accessibility across the Forest Preserve.

Last year’s advocacy season demonstrated the impact of this sustained, collective effort. New York State’s FY 2026–27 budget maintained the Environmental Protection Fund at a historic $425 million and included $10 million for Catskill and Adirondack Forest Preserve stewardship. For the Catskills, it also provided $250,000 for the Catskill Center to support the Catskills Visitor Center, $200,000 for the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies for Catskill research, and $50,000 for the Catskill Center’s Catskill Stewards program.

These investments are built through relationships, shared knowledge, and consistent engagement with decision-makers over time. No single organization can represent the full range of needs across the Catskills and Adirondacks. Coming together allows each of us to bring what we know from the landscapes and communities where we work into a broader effort to secure the resources the Forest Preserve needs.

As another advocacy season begins, the Forest Preserve Summit gives us the opportunity to start that work in the same room, learning from one another and building the priorities we will carry forward to Albany.

Your support helps the Catskill Center continue this work throughout the year, bringing a strong voice for the Catskills to the table and to Albany. Donate today to help us keep advocating for the people, communities, and landscapes that make the Catskills worth protecting.