Thursday, November 16, 2006 
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2006 state open space conservation plan announced
Governor George Pataki Wednesday announced the release of the 2006 New York State Open Space Conservation Plan, which provides an outline for protecting environmentally-sensitive lands and waters throughout the state.
The first State Open Space Conservation Plan was adopted in 1992, and updated versions were released in 1995, 1998, 2002, and 2006. The plan sets the framework to protect some of the most environmentally important lands and waters in the state, and has been instrumental in efforts to expand public parklands, preserve working landscapes for forestry and farming, and create new opportunities for residents and visitors to access the beauty and natural resources of the Empire State.
Under State law, New York’s Open Space Conservation Plan is updated by the State Department of Environmental Conservation and the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, with the assistance of nine regional advisory committees jointly appointed by the State and county governments. The Department of State also contributes to the plan as part of its implementation of the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program.
The 2006 New York State Open Space Conservation Plan outlines a series of priority projects in each region of the State that were identified by the Regional Advisory Committees, the staff of the State agencies and the public during the development process. The plan also documents the many successes that have been achieved in open space protection efforts and makes a series of practical recommendations that build upon the State’s and its partners’ abilities to conserve open space in the future.