Courtney Bradt of Amsterdam, NY captured the winning photograph for the DEC’s 2024 NYS Arbor Day poster! DEC Urban and Community Forestry received more than one hundred submissions for this year’s contest, making the selection process pleasantly challenging for the Arbor Day Poster Committee. Posters, as [...]
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has launched a new podcast, “DEC Does What?!” to spotlight the important work of DEC experts working to protect New Yorkers and the state’s environment. Hosted by Executive Deputy Commissioner Sean Mahar and Chief of Staff Erica Ringewald, [...]
Sixty people from twenty-nine Tree City communities, one Tree Line and six Tree Campuses gathered at the SKY Armory in Syracuse on March 21, 2024 for the annual NYSDEC Recognition Event to honor Arbor Day Foundation awardees. The weather was [...]
DEC has opened a third round of competitive grants for the Forest Conservation Easements for Land Trusts (FCELT) Grant Program. In partnership with the Land Trust Alliance, a total of $1.35 million in grant funding is available for eligible, accredited land trusts to purchase conservation easements on [...]
The 2024 I BIRD NY Challenge is back! Use your observation skills and join the annual Challenge by identifying any ten bird species of your choosing in New York State. Participants who successfully complete this fun challenge will be awarded a commemorative patch, can download a [...]
A rare celestial event on April 8 is expected to attract thousands of visitors to New York State. NYSDEC Commissioner Basil Seggos has provided valuable tips to help the public prepare to recreate safely and responsibly as New Yorkers count down the days to the highly [...]
Do you own or manage natural areas that are or could be forested? The NYSDEC Division of Lands and Forests is conducting a survey to learn more about how public and private forestland is being managed, as well as the tree planting potential for lands that are [...]
The newest Big Tree Register — a list of the largest known trees in New York State — is now available! Each year, Big Tree enthusiasts summit nomination forms for trees that they think have champion potential. This year, more than 50 new champions and co-champions were crowned, [...]
Join DEC's Hudson River Estuary Program for a virtual Women in Science Winter Speaker Series, four free webinars which take place January 10th, 17th, February 7th and 21st, 2024. Meet and learn from scientists, researchers and environmental educators who work at the intersection of conservation and environmental [...]
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has announced the 2024 Catskills Fire Tower Challenge to highlight the world-class tourism destinations and recreational opportunities in the Catskill Park. Launched in 2019, the Challenge draws participants from every region of New York, as well as 11 other [...]