New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Visitor Use Management Adirondack and Catskill Parks, New York
Intensive visitor use pressure has impacted the quality of visitors’ experiences, generated public safety concerns, and resulted in resource degradation in some of New York State’s most prominent recreation destinations. A previous study conducted in the High Peaks region established baseline information on visitor use conditions in the area. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) aimed to address these issues in key areas of the Adirondack and Catskill Parks with support to develop and implement strategies for sustainable visitor use.
Applying a Formal Approach to Sustainable Visitor Use in New York State
The Adirondack and Catskill Parks are treasured state resources and important, world-class landscapes for visitors from the region, across the country, and internationally. With a mandate to protect and preserve natural resources and provide for human enjoyment, the NYSDEC is required to assess the physical, biological, and social carrying capacity of key park areas impacted by increasing visitor use pressure. Focused on the Central High Peaks region of the Adirondack Park and the Kaaterskill Clove region of the Catskill Park, the planning process leverages the Visitor Use Management Framework to help understand visitor capacities, identify visitor use management strategies, and set long-term monitoring plans to meet desired conditions for visitors’ experiences and public safety. The work represents a significant opportunity to implement the Visitor Use Management Framework as a systematic, transparent, inclusive, and legally defensible planning process that promotes sustainable recreation on these public lands.
