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New York State Forests are administered by the Division of Lands and Forests of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). New York State Forests include reforestation, multiple use, and unique areas; and state nature and historic preserves, with approximately 600,000 acres (2,400 km2) classified as reforestation areas and approximately 100,000 acres (400 km2) classified as multiple use lands. Land within the Adirondack Park or the Catskill Park is not included as part of the State Forest system.
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State forest management
The purpose of state forest management in New York is to promote forest conservation, improve ecosystem health and biodiversity, provide recreational opportunities, and derive economic benefits from forests by employing sustainable management practices. As of 2016, more than 787,000 acres (3,180 km2; 1,230 sq mi) of forests are managed by the NYSDEC; this includes areas designated as state forests, reforestation areas, multiple-use areas, and unique areas, but does not include forest preserve lands within Adirondack Park and Catskill Park.
Permissible activities on New York state forest lands include hunting, trapping, fishing, hiking, snowshoeing, cross-county skiing, horseback riding, snowmobiling, and camping, although some properties prohibit some of these activities. Motorized vehicle use is prohibited except for on specified roads and trails. Camping for longer than three consecutive nights, or in groups of ten or greater people, requires a free permit issued by the NYSDEC; in addition, campsites must be located at least 150 feet (46 m) away from roads, trails, and streams unless previously established by the NYSDEC.
Classifications
There are four categories of state forest lands established under New York State law; their descriptions are reproduced below.
Reforestation areas
Lands obtained for reforestation and maintained for watershed protection, the production of timber and other forest products, and for recreation and related purposes. These areas must have at least 500 acres (200 ha) of contiguous lands that shall be forever devoted to the planting, growth and harvesting of such trees as shall be reforested.
Multiple use areas
Funded by the park and recreation land acquisition bond acts of 1960 and 1962 to provide opportunities for outdoor recreation, including public camping, fishing, hunting, boating, winter sports. Wherever possible, the multiple-use-areas should also serve multiple purposes involving the conservation and development of natural resources, including the preservation of scenic areas, watershed protection, forestry and reforestation.
Unique areas
Lands of special natural beauty, wilderness character, geological, ecological or historical significance; the unique areas may include lands within a forest preserve county outside the Adirondack and Catskill Parks.
State Nature and Historic Preserve
Lands dedicated to the State Nature and Historic Preserve (as referred to in Section 4 of Article XIV of the State Constitution) are declared to be put to their highest, best and most important use for one or more of the following purposes:
- As natural communities for maintaining plants, animals and natural communities;
- As reservoirs of natural materials and ecological processes that contribute to the state's biological diversity;
- As field laboratories for scientific research and education in the natural sciences, including the fields of biology, conservation, ecology, natural history and paleontology; and
- As places of natural and historical interest and beauty which provide the public with passive recreational opportunities including, where appropriate, fishing, hunting and trapping, or commercial fishing opportunities that are compatible with protecting the ecological significance, historic features and natural character of the area.
List of New York state forests
The following sortable table includes several classifications of state forests in New York. Those labelled as "State Forests" are managed for a variety of goals; many are reforestation areas that are intended for timber production and watershed protection, in addition to providing space for outdoor recreation. "Multiple Use Areas" are managed primarily to provide space for outdoor recreation, with the additional purpose of land conservation and protection. "Unique Areas" are intended to protect areas with significant geological, ecological, aesthetic, or historical features.