The Catskills can’t advocate for themselves in Albany. They rely on people to be their voice, speaking up for the lands, waters, and communities that make this region extraordinary. And right now, the Catskill Center is one of the leading voices fighting, every budget cycle, to keep the Catskill Park and Forest Preserve funded, protected, and open to everyone.
Your Support is Delivering Results
Because supporters have helped keep the Catskill Center at the table, this year’s New York State budget reflects significant progress and delivers meaningful investments in the Catskills:
$10 million for Forest Preserve stewardship, improving trails, restoring damaged lands, and protecting water and wildlife;
$250,000 for the Catskills Visitor Center, our front door to the Catskill Park where visitors learn how to explore safely and responsibly;
$200,000 for the Catskill Science Collaborative, supporting the science that guides smart decisions on climate, forests, and water;
Continued Hemlock Woolly Adelgid biocontrol work at Cornell, critical to saving the hemlock forests that shelter streams and wildlife; and
Ongoing investments in Forest Preserve–related recreation and support for science and diversity initiatives that strengthen conservation and access.
These lines do not appear on their own. They exist because advocates from the Catskill Center sit down with legislators and agency staff, explain what’s at stake, and stay in the process until the budget is done.
The Work Is Far From Finished
Even in a strong year, the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), the backbone of New York’s investment in clean water, protected lands, and public access, is under increasing pressure. This year State land acquisition and stewardship funding has been partially shifted to a new “Sustainable Future” program, and the EPF itself is seeing more carve‑outs and one‑off projects than ever before.
That fragmentation makes it easier for long‑term Forest Preserve and Catskills Visitor Center lines to erode or disappear, even as new, narrow items crowd the fund. If we are not in the room every time these decisions are made, the Catskills can be overshadowed or simply left out.
To protect what we’ve won and secure what still needs to be done, the Catskill Center must grow its advocacy capacity and maintain a stronger, more consistent presence in Albany. That means dedicated staff time focused on the policies and funding decisions that shape the future of the Catskills. It means building relationships,meeting with decision‑makers, identifying emerging challenges and opportunities, and pushing for investments that ensure our communities and landscapes remain resilient.
How Your Gift Makes A Difference
When you donate to the Catskill Center, you help make this advocacy work possible. Your gift helps us::
Expand our presence in Albany so we are at the table for every major funding and policy decision affecting the Catskill Park.
Help safeguard existing budget lines for stewardship, science, and visitor access; and open the door to new, urgently needed investments.
Support part‑time dedicated advocacy staffing for the Catskills, so this work is not squeezed into whatever time is left over.
The future of the Catskill Park will be decided in budget hearings, late‑night negotiations, and quiet conversations in Albany offices. Those rooms are where trails are funded or neglected, where science is supported or sidelined, and where access for all is either expanded or quietly eroded.
Your sustained support ensures that the Catskill Center can keep someone in those rooms with a simple, powerful message:
The Catskills matter. The Forest Preserve matters. Our communities and visitors deserve long‑term, stable investment.
Stand With the Catskills
Will you make a gift today—and, if you’re able, a recurring monthly gift—to power this advocacy and help the Catskill Center grow its Albany presence?
Every contribution, at any level, directly supports the work of protecting the Catskill Park for generations to come.
