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The following lists include resources that were linked or referenced in the previous pages, along with other websites, publications, and tools about conservation and land-use planning. They are organized by topic and when available, links to on-line resources are included in the first column. Note that information on biological data and online mappers can be found in the Maps & Data tab of the website, and is not included here.

Natural Areas, Biodiversity, and Conservation Priorities in the Estuary Watershed

Title Format Citation or Source
Wildlife and Habitat Conservation Framework: An Approach for Conserving Biodiversity in the Hudson River Estuary Corridor publication Penhollow, M. E., P. G. Jensen, and L.A. Zucker. 2006. Wildlife and Habitat Conservation Framework: An Approach for Conserving Biodiversity in the Hudson River Estuary Corridor. New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Cornell University and NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program, Ithaca, NY.
Biodiversity Assessment Manual for the Hudson River Estuary Corridor publication Kiviat, E. and G. Stevens. 2001. Biodiversity Assessment Manual for the Hudson River Estuary Corridor. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY.
Biodiversity Assessment Handbook for New York City publication Kiviat, E., and E. A. Johnson. 2013. Biodiversity Assessment Handbook for New York City. American Museum of Natural History, Center for Biodiversity and Conservation New York, NY, and Hudsonia Ltd. Annandale, NY.
Ecological Communities of New York State publication

Edinger, G. J., D. J. Evans, S. Gebauer, T. G. Howard, D. M. Hunt, and A. M. Olivero (editors). 2014. Ecological Communities of New York State. Second Edition. A revised and expanded edition of Carol Reschke’s Ecological Communities of New York State. New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY.

New York State Wildlife Action Plan publication NYS Department of Environmental Conservation 2015
New York State Open Space Conservation Plan publication NYS Department of Environmental Conservation 2016
Habitat Summaries (for different communities in the estuary watershed) report Hudson River Estuary Program
Habitat Maps and Reports (for different communities and study areas in the watershed) reports/maps Hudsonia Ltd.
Biodiversity Corridor Studies and Plans (for different communities and study areas in the watershed) reports Metropolitan Conservation Alliance
Wetland Conservation: What does the Hudson Valley have to lose? fact sheet Hudson River Estuary Program
An Analysis of the Size and Distribution of Geographically Isolated, Small Wetlands in the Hudson River Estuary Watershed report Zucker, L. and L Lau. 2009. An Analysis of the Size and Distribution of Geographically Isolated, Small Wetlands in the Hudson River Estuary WatershedCornell University, Ithaca, NY.
Woodland Pool Conservation website NYS Department of Environmental Conservation/Hudson River Estuary Program
Habitat Fact Sheet Series fact sheet Hudsonia Ltd.
Conservation Guides for Animals, Plants, and Natural Communities website NY Natural Heritage Program
Amphibian and Reptile Atlas of NY website NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Breeding Bird Atlas of NY website NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Fish and Wildlife Species of NY website NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Endangered and Threatened Species Regulations of NY website NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
New York State Listed Plants website NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
New York Flora Atlas website New York Flora Association

Ecosystem Services and Economic Benefits

Title Format Citation or Source
Economic Benefits of Open Space Preservation publication DiNapoli, Thomas P. 2010. Economic benefits of open space preservation. New York State Office of the State Comptroller, Albany, NY.
2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation: New York publication

U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau. 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation.

The Economic Impact of Tourism in New York report Tourism Economics
Cost of Community Services Studies: Making the Case for Conservation publication Freedgood, J. 2002. Cost of Community Services Studies: Making the Case for Conservation. American Farmland Trust, Washington, DC.
Study of the Economic Impact on the Local Economy of Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Mohonk Preserve, and Sam's Point Preserve report Zweig, B. 2010. Study of the Economic Impact on the Local Economy of Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Mohonk Preserve, and Sam's Point Preserve. Business Opportunities Management Consulting, Rensselaer, NY.
Economic Impact Study of Business Activities and Economic Value of Ecosystem Services on the Rensselaer Plateau report Zweig, B. 2012. Economic Impact Study of Business Activities and Economic Value of Ecosystem Services on the Rensselaer Plateau. Business Opportunities Management Consulting, Rensselaer, NY.
Economic Benefits of New York's Environmental Protection Fund report The Trust for Public Land. 2012. Economic Benefits of New York's Environmental Protection Fund. New York, NY.

Threats to Biodiversity

Title Format Citation or Source
Sprawl Without Growth: The Upstate Paradox report Pendall, R. 2003. Sprawl Without Growth: The Upstate Paradox. 2003. The Brookings Institution Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy, Washington, DC.
Nature in Fragments: The Legacy of Sprawl book Johnson, E.A. and M.W. Klemens (Eds.). 2005. Nature in Fragments: The Legacy of Sprawl. Columbia University Press, NY. 
Aquatic Connectivity and Barrier Removal website NYS Department of Environmental Conservation/Hudson River Estuary Program
Clean Energy, Green Communities: A Guide to Siting Renewable Energy in the Hudson Valley publication Friedrichsen, A. Clean Energy, Green Communities: A Guide to Siting Renewable Energy in the Hudson Valley. Scenic Hudson, Inc., Poughkeepsie, NY.
Climate Change in the Hudson Valley  fact sheet Hudson River Estuary Program
Responding to Climate Change in New York State publication Rosenzweig, C., W. Solecki, A. DeGaetano, M. O'Grady, S. Hassol, P. Grabhorn (Eds.). 2011. Responding to Climate Change in New York State: The ClimAID Integrated Assessment for Effective Climate Change Adaptation. Technical Report. New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Albany, New York.
Vulnerability of At-risk Species to Climate Change in New York publication Schlesinger, M.D., J.D. Corser, K.A. Perkins, and E.L. White. 2011. Vulnerability of at-risk species to climate change in New York. New York Natural Heritage Program, Albany, NY.
How Climate Change will Affect New York’s Birds website Audubon
Protecting the Pathways: A Climate Change Adaptation Framework for Hudson River Estuary Tidal Wetlands publication Tabak, N. and S. Spector. 2016. Protecting the Pathways: A Climate Change Adaptation Framework for Hudson River Estuary Tidal Wetlands. Scenic Hudson, Inc., Poughkeepsie, NY.
Forest Regeneration in New York State publication Shirer, S. and C. Zimmerman. 2010. Forest Regeneration in New York State. The Nature Conservancy, Albany, NY.
Deer Overabundance website NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Nuisance and Invasive Species website NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) website NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

NRIs, Open Space Planning, and Conservation Finance

Title Format Citation or Source
Wildlife and Habitat Conservation Framework: An Approach for Conserving Biodiversity in the Hudson River Estuary Corridor publication Penhollow, M. E., P. G. Jensen, and L.A. Zucker. 2006. Wildlife and Habitat Conservation Framework: An Approach for Conserving Biodiversity in the Hudson River Estuary Corridor. New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Cornell University and NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program, Ithaca, NY.
Creating a Natural Resources Inventory publication Haeckel, I. and L. Heady. 2014. Creating a Natural Resources Inventory: A Guide for Communities in the Hudson River Estuary Watershed. Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, and NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program. Ithaca, NY.
Creating a Natural Resources Inventory Fact Sheet fact sheet Hudson River Estuary Program
Webinar on Natural Resources Inventories webinar recording NYSDEC 2016

Web Map Options for Local Government Use of Natural Resources Inventory Data  

report Meltz, D. 2017. Web Map Options for Local Government Use of Natural Resources Inventory Data.  Don Meltz Planning and GIS, Columbiaville, NY.
Conserving Natural Areas and Wildlife in Your Community: Smart Growth Strategies for Protecting the Biological Diversity of New York's Hudson River Valley publication Strong, K. 2008. Conserving Natural Areas and Wildlife in Your Community: Smart Growth Strategies for Protecting the Biological Diversity of New York’s Hudson River Valley. New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Cornell University, and NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program. Ithaca, NY.
Webinar on Open Space Inventories and Plans webinar recording NYSDEC 2021

Local Open Space Planning Guide

publication New York State Department of State. 2004. Local Open Space Planning Guide. New York State Department of State and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Albany, NY.
Open Lands Acquisition: Local Financing Techniques Under New York State Law publication LeJava, J., M. Rielly and J. R. Nolon, 2000. Open Lands Acquisition: Local Financing Techniques Under New York State Law. MCA Technical Paper No. 2, Metropolitan Conservation Alliance, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY.
LandVote Database website Trust for Public Land

Connectivity Planning and Conservation

Title Format Citation or Source
Guidelines for Conserving Connectivity through Ecological Networks and Corridors publication

Hilty, J., Worboys, G.L., Keeley, A., Woodley, S., Lausche, B., Locke, H., Carr, M., Pulsford I., Pittock, J., White, J.W., Theobald, D.M., Levine, J., Reuling, M., Watson, J.E.M., Ament, R., and Tabor, G.M. 2020. Guidelines for conserving connectivity through ecological networks and corridors. Best Practice Protected Area Guidelines Series No. 30. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN.

PATHWAYS: Wildlife Habitat Connectivity in the Changing Climate of the Hudson Valley publication Howard, T.G. and M.D. Schlesinger. 2012. PATHWAYS: Wildlife habitat connectivity in the changing climate of the Hudson Valley. New York Natural Heritage Program, Albany, New York.

Conservation Buffers: Design Guidelines for Buffers, Corridors, and Greenways

publication Bentrup, G. 2008. Conservation buffers: design guidelines for buffers, corridors, and greenways. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-109. Asheville, NC: Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station.
Evaluating and Conserving Green Infrastructure Across the Landscape: A Practitioner's Guide - Ulster County Case Study publication Firehock, K. 2013. Evaluating and Conserving Green Infrastructure Across the Landscape: A Practitioner’s Guide for New York [Chapter 5]. Green Infrastructure Center, Charlottesville, VA.
The Role of Landscape Connectivity in Planning and Implementing Conservation and Restoration Priorities publication

Rudnick, Deborah A.; Ryan, Sadie J.; Beier, Paul; Cushman, Samuel A.; Dieffenbach, Fred; Epps, Clinton W.; Gerber, Leah R.; Hartter, Joel; Jenness, Jeff S.; Kintsch, Julia; Merenlender, Adina M.; Perkl, Ryan M.; Preziosi, Damian V.; Trombulak, Stephen C. 2012. The Role of Landscape Connectivity in Planning and Implementing Conservation and Restoration Priorities. Issues in Ecology. 16(Fall): 1-20. 

The Regional Conservation Partnership Handbook: 10 Steps to Effective and Enduring Collaborative Conservation at Scale publication Labich, W. 2015. The Regional Conservation Partnership Handbook. Highstead Foundation. Redding, CT.
Nature Across Boundaries: Keeping Lands and Waters Connected - Conference Presentations presentations Mohonk Consultations and the Hudson River Estuary Program 2017
The Nature Conservancy’s Resilient and Connected Landscapes reports/data The Nature Conservancy 2016
Aquatic Connectivity and Barrier Removal website NYS Department of Environmental Conservation/Hudson River Estuary Program
Dam Removal website NYS Water Resources Institute, Cornell University
Connectivity of Streams and Wetlands to Downstream Waters: A Review and Synthesis of the Scientific Evidence publication USEPA. 2015. Connectivity of Streams and Wetlands To Downstream Waters: A Review and Synthesis of the Scientific Evidence (Final Report). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-14/475F.

Scenery Mapping and Planning

Title

Format Citation or Source
Creating and Maintaining Hudson River Views: A Handbook for Landowners publication Saratoga Associates. 2020. Creating and Maintaining Hudson River Views: A Handbook for Landowners. Prepared for NEIWPCC and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Hudson River Estuary Program. Saratoga Springs, NY.
Creating and Maintaining Hudson River Views: A Companion Training Series video Saratoga Associates and Hudson River Estuary Program 2020
Scenic Areas of Statewide Significance publication NYS Department of State. 1993. Scenic Areas of Statewide Significance. Albany, NY.
Scenic Resources Protection Guide for the Hudson River Valley publication Frantz, George. 2021. Scenic Resource Protection Guide for the Hudson River Valley. Department of City & Regional Planning, Cornell University, and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Hudson River Estuary Program. Ithaca, NY.

Zoning and Policy 

Title Format Citation or Source
Zoning and the Comprehensive Plan publication NYS Department of State. 2015. Zoning and the Comprehensive Plan. James A. Coon Local Government Technical Series. New York State Department of State. Albany, NY.
Model Local Laws to Increase Resilience publication NYS Department of State. 2019. Model Local Laws to Increase Resilience. New York State Department of State, Albany, NY.
Planner's Guide to Wetland Buffers for Local Governments publication Environmental Law Institute. 2008. Planner's Guide to Wetland Buffers for Local Governments. Environmental Law Institute, Washington, DC.
Conservation Thresholds for Land Use Planners publication Environmental Law Institute. 2003. Conservation Thresholds for Land Use Planners. Environmental Law Institute, Washington, DC.
Critical Environmental Areas fact sheet Hudson River Estuary Program
Conserving Nature in Your Community: Critical Environmental Areas video Hudson River Estuary Program 2020
Creating Conservation Overlay Zones: A Guide for Communities in the Hudson River Estuary Watershed publication Fink, T. and E. Svenson. Creating Conservation Overlay Zones: A Guide for Communities in the Hudson River Estuary Watershed. 2022.
Conservation Area Overlay District: A Model Local Law publication Metropolitan Conservation Alliance. 2002. Conservation Area Overlay District: A Model Local Law. Technical Paper Series, No. 3. Bronx, NY.
Nature-Friendly Ordinances book McElfish, J. 2004. Nature-friendly Ordinances. Environmental Law Institute, Washington, DC.
Gaining Ground: Land Use Database database Pace University Land Use Law Center

Site Planning and Environmental Review

Title Format Citation or Source
State Environmental Quality Review website NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
SEQR Handbook publication NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. 2020. The SEQR Handbook, Fourth Edition. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Albany, NY.
Webinar on Best Practices for Environmental Review webinar recording Hudson River Estuary Program 2020
Pre-Application Meeting Fact Sheet fact sheet Hudsonia Ltd.
Biodiversity Conservation & Review of Development Proposals Fact Sheet fact sheet Hudsonia Ltd.
Habitat Assessment Guidelines Template template Hudsonia Ltd. 2013
New York Natural Heritage Program - Data Request website NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Conservation Advisory Councils and Boards

Title

Format Citation or Source
Conservation Advisory Councils and Conservation Boards (enabling legislation) legislation General Municipal Law Article 12-F, Sections 239-X and 239-Y
Conservation Advisory Councils and Boards fact sheet Hudson River Estuary Program
New York State Association of Conservation Commissions website NYSACC
Webinar on Conservation Advisory Councils and Boards webinar recording Hudson River Estuary Program 2019
Conservation Advisory Councils and Boards: A Guide to the Organization and Operation of Local Environmental Advisory Councils publication Westchester County Environmental Management Council 1991 (revised 1997)

About the Conservation and Land Use Team and the Estuary Program 

Title

Format Citation or Source
Incorporating Biodiversity in Municipal Land-Use Planning: An Assessment of Technical Assistance, Policy Capacity, and Conservation Outcomes in New York's Hudson Valley publication Allred, S., R. Stedman, L. Heady, K. Strong. 2021. Incorporating biodiversity in municipal land-use planning: An assessment of technical assistance, policy capacity, and conservation outcomes in New York’s Hudson Valley. Land Use Policy, 104.
Building Local Capacity for Conservation and Land-Use Planning in the Hudson Valley: Evaluation of the Hudson River Estuary Program’s Biodiversity Outreach Program report Allred, S., Stedman, R., Tse, C. and M. Mullen. 2015. Building Local Capacity for Conservation and Land-Use Planning in the Hudson Valley: Evaluation of the Hudson River Estuary Program’s Biodiversity Outreach Program. Human Dimensions Research Unit Publ. Series 15-8. Dept. of Nat. Resources, Coll. Agric. and Life Sci., Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY.
Conservation and Land Use: Engaging Municipal Officials in Improving Natural Resource-Based Planning publication Strong, K., L. Heady, S. Allred, R. Stedman, and C. Tse. 2015. Conservation and land use: engaging municipal officials in improving natural resource-based planning. CaRDI Research and Policy Brief. Issue 69.

Conservation and Land Use: Linking Municipal Capacity and Biodiversity Outcomes

publication Allred., S., R. Stedman, L. Heady, K. Strong, and C. Tse. 2015. Conservation and Land Use: Linking Municipal Capacity and Biodiversity Outcomes. CaRDI Research & Policy Brief. Issue 70.
Building Local Capacity for Natural Resource-Based Planning article Heady, L., S. Allred, K. Strong, and R. Stedman. 2016. Building Local Capacity for Natural Resource-Based Planning. NYS Association of Counties News. 
2021-2025 Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda publication NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program
2022 Hudson River Estuary Program Coordinator's Report report NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program
Connected: The Hudson River Estuary Program video NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program