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Governor Pataki's
Press Release
GOVERNOR PATAKI ANNOUNCES
AGREEMENT TO PROTECT MORE THAN 104,000 ACRES OF ADIRONDACK FORESTLAND
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 4, 2005
State to Acquire Conservation
Easements on Former Domtar Industries Land Third Largest Land
Agreement in State History Partnership with the Nature Conservancy
and Lyme Timber to Preserve Working Forests Will Create New Public
Recreational Opportunities and Support Local Economy
Governor George E. Pataki today
announced that the State has reached agreement with The Nature
Conservancy and Lyme Timber Company to ensure the protection
of 104,000 acres of Adirondack forestland formerly owned by Domtar
Industries, Inc. in the "Sable Highlands" region of
Clinton and Franklin counties. The State will acquire working
forest easements on more than 84,000 acres and will eventually
acquire an additional 20,000 acres purchased from Domtar by The
Nature Conservancy.
"During the past ten years,
New York has led the nation in land conservation efforts, successfully
protecting nearly 800,000 acres of open space for future generations,"
Governor Pataki said. "Today's agreement marks another milestone
in our protection of the Adirondack Park that will preserve more
than one hundred thousand acres of prime forestland and open
up new public recreational access, while continuing to sustain
a critical aspect of the North Country's economy.
"With today's announcement,
we are well on our way to fulfilling the ambitious goal I set
in 2002 to protect more than one million acres within ten years.
Our success has been made possible through innovative partnerships
with the private sector and numerous land conservation organizations.
I'd like to thank our partners at the Nature Conservancy, Domtar
and Lyme Timber for making this landmark agreement a reality,"
the Governor added.
The agreement represents the
third largest land acquisition in State history. With today's
announcement, the Governor has committed to the protection of
more than 900,000 acres of land across New York since 1995. The
State's unprecedented open space conservation program has resulted
in nearly a 20 percent increase in State protected open space
during this time period and an enduring outdoor legacy for all
New Yorkers.
Senator Betty Little said, "I'm
sure many people will be excited by the vast new recreational
opportunities this land deal will create for area residents and
tourists. "It's a balanced plan that also will help sustain
a critical component of our North Country economy, timber harvesting,
while ensuring property taxes critical to local governments continue
to be paid."
Assemblyman Chris Ortloff said,
"This agreement marks major progress on two important recreational-use
issues, namely the future of hunting clubs and the future development
of All-Terrain Vehicle trails. I am pleased that all the hunting
club leases will be retained, which will automatically enlist
hundreds of hunters in the stewardship of the land. I am even
more pleased that the state has secured the rights for all motorized
uses, including possible ATV use, putting the future of an ATV
trail system on these lands entirely within public decision-making
rather than leaving it at the whim of the timber land owners."
The Lyme Timber Company, a private
timber investment company headquartered in Hanover, New Hampshire,
has purchased 84,448 acres of forestland from Domtar Industries
and will continue harvesting timber on the property. Under the
agreement announced today, New York State will acquire a working
forest conservation easement on more than 84,000 acres of these
lands that will require sustainable forest management and timber
harvesting, prohibit residential development and restrict subdivision,
and create a balance of public recreational access and continued
traditional private recreational leasing on the property.
Also as part of the agreement,
The Nature Conservancy has purchased 19,960 acres of the remaining
Domtar property, which it will hold for ultimate transfer to
the State. Of these lands, 16,918 acres will be added to the
State Forest Preserve including Lyon Mountain and its State fire
tower, the highest peak in the northern region of the Park, and
a portion of Ellenberg Mountain. The remaining 3,042 acres, located
in the Town of Dannemora, will become State Forest land. The
State will pay up to fair market value for the property, with
the price to be determined by a State-administered appraisal
process. Local property taxes will continue to be paid on all
of the properties.
Tom Morrow, The Lyme Timber Company's
Director of Forestland Investment, said, "The Lyme Timber
Company is pleased to be the new owner of this substantial timberland
holding. We expect the transition to be seamless to the local
communities. Lyme will continue sustainable forestry operations
and regular timber harvests, which are important to the local
economy. We also have a great deal of experience managing conservation
easement lands and look forward to working with The Nature Conservancy
and New York State to ensure public access to a portion of the
lands, while also keeping intact the long tradition of leasing
to hunt clubs."
Raymond Royer, Domtar President
and Chief Executive Officer said, "Domtar acquired these
lands in 1962 and we have been good stewards of the property.
We are extremely pleased with the partnership between Domtar,
The Nature Conservancy, Lyme Timber and the State of New York
to continue this stewardship. At the same time, this land will
remain productive forestland, supporting local jobs and the important
forest products economy. With this in mind, Domtar and Lyme have
entered into a 20-year fiber supply agreement that guarantees
continued timber harvests and the jobs associated with them.
In addition, new recreational access will make these lands available
for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy. We are especially pleased that
Lyme will continue to maintain certification under the Forest
Stewardship Council (FSC)."
Henry Tepper, Director of the
Nature Conservancy of New York, said, "In the last five
years alone, Governor Pataki and New York State have secured
a tremendous natural legacy of protected lands for current and
future generations. The Conservancy is honored to work with them
on the Sable Highlands Project, adding to other successful collaborations
in the region that include protecting 26,500 acres in the western/central
Adirondacks, 5,000 acres at Camp Cedarlands, and 45,000 acres
on the Tug Hill Plateau."
Brian Houseal, Executive Director
of the Adirondack Council, said, "We congratulate the Pataki
Administration for completing this complex, but important, conservation
agreement in the northeastern Adirondacks. The Governor has turned
this challenge into an opportunity to keep these forests undeveloped
and unbroken, providing jobs for Park residents and homes for
resident wildlife and some additional snowmobile trails to help
the winter economy. From Champion, to International Paper, to
Whitney Industries, to Domtar, the Governor has created the finest
forestland conservation legacy in the history of New York State."
The agreement provides full public
recreation rights to more than 47,000 acres of lands and waters
that are not under public lease agreement and have not previously
been open to the public. Public recreational opportunities will
include hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, cross-country skiing
and snowmobiling. Partial public recreation rights, including
opening more than 44 miles of recreational corridors for public
motorized access, will be acquired on more than 56,000 acres
of Lyme Timber's lands that are currently leased to private hunting
clubs. The agreement also permanently secures public hiking trails
on Lyon Mountain, Owls Head, and the Norton Range. The State
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will prepare management
plans to administer public uses of the property.
"Once again, Governor Pataki
is tangibly demonstrating that, under his leadership, environmental
protection and economic opportunity are compatible goals,"
DEC Commissioner Erin M. Crotty said. "This is another huge
victory for the residents and visitors to the Adirondack Park
through the preservation of our critically important forest products
industry, creation of exciting new outdoor recreational opportunities,
and the enhancement to the local tax base."
Lyme Timber is retaining the
right to maintain private recreational leases, and no hunting
clubs on Lyme Timber's land will be eliminated. Public access
to leased lands will be allowed on several long-distance roads
and trails designated for public use by snowmobiles and other
motorized vehicles.
Lyme Timber will hire between
30 and 50 foresters, loggers, and truckers to harvest and transport
timber from its 84,040-acre working forest ownership, maintaining
jobs for contractors previously employed by Domtar. The jobs,
in turn, support a variety of forest products businesses in the
Adirondack region, including log buyers, sawmills and equipment
sales. Lyme Timber will continue active sustainable timber harvesting
without any interruption.
Since 2000, Domtar's lands have
been enrolled in the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) forest
certification program, an independent entity that certifies adherence
to a comprehensive set of sustainable forestry requirements.
The easement the State will acquire requires Lyme Timber to maintain
FSC certification or another independently audited certification
system, assuring that timber harvesting on the land is conducted
in a sustainable and environmentally-sound manner.
The agreement protects habitat
for a wide array of mammals, such as moose, black bear, and pine
marten, as well as forest nesting birds such as warblers and
thrushes, and pristine streams that harbor native brook trout
and other fish species. It also ensures the conservation of significant
wetlands, high rocky summits, and extensive northern hardwood
and spruce-fir ecosystems.
The Lyme Timber Company is a
twenty-nine year old limited partnership which invests in timberland,
commercial real estate and other rural real estate for its own
account and in partnership with clients. The firm specializes
in the acquisition of large forest tracts with identified conservation
values and has an extensive track record of investments in New
England, the Midwest and the Southeast. In 2002, the Company
organized the Lyme Northern Forest Fund, LP. This conservation-oriented
timberland investment Fund has purchased the Domtar property
and owns other high conservation value forests in New Hampshire,
Maine and Pennsylvania.
The world's largest private conservation
organization, The Nature Conservancy manages 180 nature preserves
across New York and more than 2,000 nature preserves in the United
States. With the support of over 67,000 members, the Conservancy
has protected more than 428,000 acres of threatened lands and
waters in New York State alone since 1951. The Adirondack Chapter
of The Nature Conservancy was established in 1971 and works in
partnership with the Adirondack Land Trust to conserve lands
important to the ecological diversity and quality of life of
the Adirondack region, including working farms and forests. To
find out more, visit: www.nature.org.
Domtar, based in Montreal, Canada,
is the third largest producer of uncoated freesheet paper in
North America. It is also a leading manufacturer and distributor
of business papers, commercial printing and publication papers,
and technical and specialty papers. Domtar manages according
to internationally recognized standards 22 million acres of forest
land in Canada and the United States, and produces lumber and
other wood products. Domtar has more than 10,000 employees across
North America, including 3,000 working at five pulp and paper
mills in the United States. The company also has a 50% investment
interest in Norampac, Inc., a producer of containerboard.
More information regarding
this announcement and the Sable Highlands region, can be found
on the DEC website at: www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dlf/sable.html.
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