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News and Announcements

northern long-eared bat hanging upside down from a rocky overhang

In observance of Bat Week and to raise awareness about the critical role of bats in the environment, the DEC encourages outdoor enthusiasts to refrain from visiting caves and mines during the fall and winter…

Japanese knotweed plants in flower - by L Heady

$4 million is available to advance projects across the state that help prevent, detect, respond to, and restore sites impacted by invasive species. An information webinar on the Invasive Species Grant…

Town Hall meeting with board members and audience looking at man reading a resolution.

The Stanford Town board adopted a new, comprehensive assessment of the town’s natural resources at its Sept. 11 meeting. The NRI replaces the town’s previous NRI, created in 1982. It will be used as a reference…

View of meadow under cloudy sky - Photo by L Heady

Orange County has developed a program to fund open space protection, with matching funds available to municipalities, nonprofits, and property owners. Applications are considered in two cycles, spring and fall…

View through a deciduous forest with dappled light.

The NYSDEC and the Nature Conservancy created a new guide to help landowners, municipalities, organizations and others who are planning a reforestation or afforestation project. The guide covers site planning,…

View of open wetland with emergent vegetation and forest in the distance.

Based on public comments in response to the original draft of the freshwater wetlands general permits (GP), DEC has proposed substantive revisions to the housing development GP regarding impact limits. Public comment…

A four-toe

The DEC is seeking public input on the draft revised State Wildlife Action Plan for 2025-35. In 2024, DEC sought review and input on draft species status assessments and the list of Species of…

view of Hudson River from forested ledge in winter

Kingston, Newburgh, and Poughkeepsie are the focus of efforts to measure how changing green spaces impact plants, animals, and people.

Blanding's turtle on the forest floor with trout lily - Photo by L. Masi

The DEC adopted a regulation to implement the Endangered and Threatened Species Mitigation Bank Fund to help offset negative impacts to endangered and threatened species populations during the construction of…

An array of tree tubes protecting saplings in a restoration area, backlit by the setting sun.

Applications for fall plantings to restore streamside habitat in the Hudson estuary watershed are due August 1, 2025. Hudson River Estuary Program staff can help with plant selection, planting plans, site preparation…

View of upland forest, looking through the trees

Municipalities can use this funding to purchase land or conservation easements to create or expand community-owned forests to sustain and protect wildlife habitat, promote clean air and water, preserve…

Kayakers paddle on the Hudson River through the Hudson Highlands, under a blue sky.

The Draft 2026–2030 Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda represents the commitment of the NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Management Program to protect, preserve, restore,…