January 29, 2019

LIVINGSTON MANOR – Catskill Mountainkeeper and its allies at the Catskill Park Coalition are urging state leaders to place $15 million in the budget which is under review. The state fiscal year begins on April 1.

While there is money in the proposed spending plan for some components of preservation, more is needed, said Katherine Nadeau, Mountainkeeper deputy director.

“We are calling for things like a $10 million investment for Catskill Park stewardship, education and improvements to infrastructure,” Nadeau said. “We’re calling for additional staff at the Department of Environmental Conservation and additional forest rangers to keep our forests and our lands both safe, accessible, and places where people want to be and visit.”

The coalition will be in Albany on February 5 to lobby state legislators and key regulatory staff to make their case for funding.