In addition to the areas of focus described below, the Council will continue its long-term efforts to reduce air pollution as the primary cause of global climate change, acid rain and mercury contamination, and to improve water quality across the Adirondack Park.

Large core wilderness areas.
Large intact, functioning natural communities with a full array of native fauna and flora will be more resistant to invasive exotic species and more resilient to climate change than fragmented landscapes. Opportunities for Action

Connected to working farms.
The Champlain Valley was once the breadbasket of the Northeast, but is now mostly fallow or hay fields. As concerns about food security and fuel miles increase, there is a growing demand for locally grown organic foods. The increased cost of imported fossil fuels is also opening a market for biomass energy crops such as willow (successfully demonstrated by SUNY/ESF at the Tully, NY research station). Opportunities for Action

Connected to working forests.
More than 3 million acres of the Adirondack Park are privately owned and the vast majority of that land is forested. Not long ago, Adirondack mills supplied pulp and paper and dimensional lumber to a global market. Today, most of the mills have closed and the last of the forest product industry lands have been sold to timber investment management organizations (TIMOs). Opportunities for Action

Augmented by vibrant local communities.
Adirondack communities are increasingly worried about their economic survival as property taxes climb, energy costs increase, houses become less affordable, local populations age, and young people seek employment opportunities elsewhere. Many communities know they need to plan for their futures and secure the resources to get there but lack the expertise and funds to carry out comprehensive planning. Opportunities for Action

Within a diverse mosaic of biologically intact landscapes.
In a regional context, the Adirondack Park is a biogeographical island of green in an increasingly urbanized and suburbanized landscape. Within the Park, large lot subdivisions are fragmenting previously intact forests and farmlands. This situation is leading to a reduction in the biological diversity and ecological integrity of the Park. Opportunities for Action