I can remember Natalie Merchant of the 10,000 Maniacs from Jamestown, NY (and lots of others) campaigning against proposed logging of Allegany State Park 15 years ago! Looks like the issue finally been put to bed(?)
http://www.oleantimesherald.com/articles/2009/04/05/news/doc49d6cbff1258b673 383378.txt Olean Times Herald Saturday, April 4, 2009 Commercial timber cutting won't be allowed By Rick Miller Olean Times Herald RED HOUSE - When a formal review of a management plan for Allegany State Park begins later this year, the most potentially controversial issue will be off the table. The state parks commissioner has reaffirmed that commercial timber cutting will not be allowed on state park lands. A proposed Allegany State Park Master Plan languished for years before it was put on the shelf by the Pataki Administration in 1996 after being stung by environmentalists¹ criticism of its commercial logging component. In mid-March, Carol Ash, state parks commissioner, issued a ³Policy on the Management of Trees and Other Vegetation in State Parks and Historic Sites.² Ms. Ash¹s policy statement reads: ³Commercial logging activities are prohibited on lands under the jurisdiction of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The agency will not manage its lands for the economic production and cutting of trees, nor will it enter into agreements with public or private entities to conduct commercial logging within the parks or historic sites.² Angela Berti, a spokesman for the Western District of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), said the commissioner¹s policy statement is nothing new, but formalizes parks policy that has been in place since 1996. It pertains to Allegany State Park as well as other OPRHP parks and sites, she added. She said plans call for work to begin on the Allegany State Park Management Plan later this year. Allegany State Park Director Michael Miecznikowski confirmed that OPRHP officials expect to go forward with the Allegany State Park Management Plan later this year after completing the plan for Midway Park on Chautauqua Lake. Mr. Miecznikowski said under Msw. Ash¹s policy, the ban on commercial logging in Allegany State Park and other state parks will continue. ³It is the policy of New York State Parks that they will not be involved in any commercial logging policies,² he explained. ³This confirms that commercial logging is not agency policy.² That would seem to remove a big part of the controversy over the park management plan that relied on some commercial logging to meet habitat goals by selective- and clear-cutting methods on hundreds of acres in the park each year. ³In the past, it was a significant issue,² Mr. Miecznikowski agreed. Mr. Miecznikowski said the policy will have no impact on the park¹s ability to maintain vistas and safe conditions in high-traffic areas where trees pose a threat of falling. Last fall, for example, a state park crew reopened a vista at Fancher Point on ASP Route 1, which overlooks the city of Salamanca. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org Send email to [email protected] Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
