New York State Association of Conservation Commissions President Simon Skolnik shared his perspective on the goals of the organization. This is a fortuitous time for the group, according to Skolnik. NYSACC was founded by NY Department of Environmental Conservation in 1972 as an independent organization representing conservation councils throughout the state of New York. Its stated mission: to “speak with a united voice on matters of environmental planning and protection and encourage and support sound environmental policies and actions locally and across New York State.” Skolnik became president in 2018 – after chairing the Town of Bedford’s Conservation Board for twenty-five years. At that time, NYSACC expanded its membership beyond land use advisory commissions to include groups focused on energy conservation, sustainability and climate change. “The commonality is organizations that are municipally appointed to provide advice,” he explains. Two hundred fifty are now counted on the organization’s roster.
“It’s a good time to be a tree and a good time to maintain trees and plant new trees.”
A current priority is the Coastal Resiliency Network, a forum for people from Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties “to discuss their concerns about sea level rise,” he says. “There’s no one else doing that in the State.” In addition, the group sponsors a virtual youth summit, and provides resources that members might not ordinarily be able to access, such as ordinances. “We have a library with hundreds of tree ordinances and also ones pertaining to energy, land use and coastal management,” says Skolnik. Coming up with a tree ordinance is challenging he said: “I wrote our first ordinances for the Town of Bedford. It’s one of the hardest things to get passed because homeowners say, ‘You have no right to do anything concerning my property.’”
Is now a good time for trees? “Absolutely!” says Skolnik. “Trees are a something that everyone now sees as an asset. The Bedford Oak is a symbol. It’s a good time to be a tree and a good time to maintain trees and plant new trees.”
“Trees are an essential part of land use,” he stresses. CACC’s mandate is to provide information, education and networking for member groups, and that includes those with an interest in preserving trees. “We provide the resources for arguments to maintain tree cover. We work with municipalities on issues of carbon sequestration and biodiversity. Trees generate other values as well. They serve as wildlife corridors, connecting habitats. They form the backbone of our environment.”
Skolnik thinks about national issues writ local. “We’re losing our canopy in Westchester County. One study by viewed aerial photos that showed development over the past twenty years. Bedford has lost ten percent of canopy cover. That loss was due to people cutting down trees in their yards, and invasives killing trees.”
“We have to create a desire for officials to value trees over development. We have to convince local authorities to value their trees.” One strategy he said he favors is “‘conservation developments’ – when you build on one part of a property you leave the other part untouched.” He added, “There is a good feng shui between the NYSACC and NYSUFC to do some outreach together.”