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#Post#: 2565--------------------------------------------------
NYS DEC gets serious about Invasive Species Control, so where
are the Save the Trees Protestors?
DIR By: Doug K
Date: May 5, 2024, 8:49 am
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So it appears that there's a "double standard" going on in
Western New York, regarding the control of invasive species.
As much as some in the public may disagree, the issue is once
again 'problem trees', that are ruining forest stands in a
western NY Town. In this case 77 acres will be "treated" to
remove trees that have become an issue to the healthy forest
around them.
Chautauqua County - The New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), as lead agency, has
determined that the proposed Herbicide Treatment of Undesirable
Understory Vegetation will not have a significant adverse
environmental impact. The action involves the herbicide
treatment of American beech and Bush honeysuckle on
approximately 77 acres. This vegetation is considered
interfering and could inhibit the development of desirable
seedling regeneration such as Sugar maple and Black cherry
HTML https://dec.ny.gov/news/environmental-notice-bulletin/2024-05-01/seqr/town-of-chautauqua-herbicide-treatment-of-undesirable-understory-vegetation
Some of these trees will be killed with herbicides, others will
be eliminated the old fashioned way, with chainsaws, saws and
axes... all have been identified as "unwanted".
So, the BIG question is...where are all the Save the Trees
protestors? Where are the Facebook users from Buffalo crying
about these lost trees, where are the social media protests
groups threatening to chain themselves to an American Beech or
Bush Honeysuckle?
Funny, those people don't exist when the NYS Department of
Environmental Conservation says "trees must go", at least in the
Buffalo area. I wonder if the trees were closer to the Erie
Canal, and the NYS Canal Corporation had published this
Environmental Notice Bulletin, would people there lose their
senses, and start protesting the removal of these trees, saying
something about shade & natural beauty?
My guess is NO, and the reason is simple... People in Buffalo
MUST be smarter than the folks around Rochester, like those on
social media who are fighting tree removal from unsafe,
high-hazard earthen embankments along the Erie Canal.
Does anyone have a better explanation?
#Post#: 2580--------------------------------------------------
Re: NYS DEC gets serious about Invasive Species Control, so
where are the Save the Trees Protestors?
DIR By: Doug K
Date: May 31, 2024, 7:50 am
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After a month we are still unable to find ANY news reference
regarding any "environmentalist" protesting the removal of
Invasive TREES in western NY State. There have been NO PROTESTS
in Buffalo about tree removal, no one is talking about chaining
themselves to trees there.
There are no treehuggers saying that Shade is Cool.
There are no Social Media groups forming to give their "valued
opinions" on controlling invasive species along the NYS Canal
System.
So what is different about Invasive Vegetation control in other
parts of New York State, that seems to have been missed in and
around the Erie Canal in the Rochester area? Why is there no
outcry from disgruntled New Yorkers about TREE CUTTING anywhere
else but in Fairport & Pittsford NY?
There is PLENTY of work going on to control Invasive Species
downstate, in the Hudson Valley. Trees are being removed there
as part of the ongoing effort to control invasive species there.
Here are TWO more notices about trees & other invasive plants
that will be removed in the Hudson Valley. These two will clear
about 8 acres of land, of ALL trees, and other invasives.
[attachimg=1]
HTML https://dec.ny.gov/news/environmental-notice-bulletin/2024-05-29/seqr/town-of-chester-goosepond-mountain-state-park-new-york-new-jersey-trail-conference-nynjtc-invasive-species-control
Here's the key text from these two DEC notices:
Negative Declaration
Orange County - The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation
and Historic Preservation (NYS OPRHP), as lead agency, has
determined that the proposed Goosepond Mountain State Park - New
York New Jersey Trail Conference (NYNJTC) Invasive Species
Control will not have a significant adverse environmental
impact. This application proposes the removal of any invasive on
the LHPRISM Tier list within a 50 foot buffer of a known rare
plant species. The estimated impacted area is 190,000 square
foot (4.36 acres). Care will be taken to ensure the rare plant
population is not negatively impacted by invasive species
management. The management team will review the identification
of rare plants before arrival to the site. Management will take
place when rare plants are phenologically easiest to identify.
Manual management will be prioritized and would include pull up
and dig up methods using hand tools such as pick mattocks and
shovels. When chemical management needs to take place, the cut
stump method will be prioritized.
Negative Declaration
Orange County - The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation
and Historic Preservation (NYS OPRHP), as lead agency, has
determined that the proposed Highland Lakes State Park - NYNJTC
Invasive Species Control will not have a significant adverse
environmental impact. The action involves the This application
proposes the removal of any invasive on the LHPRISM Tier list
within a 50 foot buffer of a population of rare plants within
Highland Lakes State Park. The estimated impacted area is 2.82
acres. Care will be taken to ensure the rare plant population is
not negatively impacted by invasive species management. The
management team will review the identification of rare plants
before arrival to the site. Management will take place when rare
plants are easiest to identify. Manual management will be
prioritized and would include pull up and dig up methods using
hand tools such as pick mattocks and shovels. When chemical
management needs to take place, the cut stump method will be
prioritized.
Here's a partial look at the 9 page list of Invasive Species
that the DEC is trying to eradicate in the Lower Hudson Valley.
It has MANY trees on it, along with other "flowering weeds".
[attachimg=2]
HTML https://www.lhprism.org/species-information
And for those who do not understand the "CUT-STUMP" method of
vegetation control, here is an explanation of that process,
quite easy, and very effective. It insures that a cut tree will
not re-sprout more branches and grow again.
[attachimg=3]
HTML https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/forestry/cut-stump-herbicide-treatments-for-invasive-plant-control/
So what is the difference between INVASIVE vegetation anywhere
else in NY State and the vegetation along the Erie Canal?
The answer is NOTHING, it's ALL invasive and has to go for the
safety of the public and the health of the ecosystems around
these areas. The State DEC has identified issues with many
species, both plant & animal, and other agencies are following
suit by cleaning up their properties. But if those trees, plants
or whatever just happen to be within the Erie Canal Corridor,
some concerned citizens are up in arms... why?
The answer to what is different is 100% about the PEOPLE in
these locations, it would seem.
While some in upstate NY Towns like Fairport, Pittsford and
Brighton want to PROTEST the removal of invasive species, there
are groups forming in New York State to HELP the effort, and
work WITH the NYS DEC and other agencies to identify, contain &
remove these invading, unwanted species.
Here's a group that is dedicated to learning about these species
and how they affect the environment around us, taking a lead
role is supporting the effort of removal.
[attachimg=4]
HTML https://ellalhv.org/invasive-species/
Maybe the lesson to learn here is a simple one, pick your
leadership carefully when it comes to protesting something about
the environment.
Many in the Rochester area have chosen to following the musings
of a beekeeper & biology teacher who want to ignore the words of
the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation when it comes
to what constitutes an "invasive species".
And those same people who chose this "poor leadership" simply
"look the other way" when their leaders spread mis-information
about invasive species and public safety in and around the Erie
Canal system... choosing to believe that "shade" is more
important that "public safety" when it comes to earthen dams
covered with trees and other invading plants.
Maybe it's time for these Canal Communities to wake up and see
the danger in their own neighborhoods. It's not just from
invasive trees weakening the Erie Canal Embankments and choking
off a healthy environment with other invasive plants and
animals.
The real danger is from those in our community who would spread
mis-information about public safety along the Erie Canal
Corridor on social media and those who also ignore the work of
NYS agencies, like the DEC and Canal Corporation in identifying
these invasive species issues, and eradicating them.
When environmentalist embrace the "wrong trees" it hurts
everyone, but not nearly as much as the damage done to their own
reputations as "treehuggers" who can't figure out this simple
truth...
In some cases it's the trees that have become the problem.
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