The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) presented a draft of their joint Visitor Use Management (VUM) and Wildlands Monitoring tool during the State Land Committee Report at the APA Meeting in Ray Brook.

ADK applauds the formation and release of this document, which is seen as a big step towards establishing a visitor use management framework consistent with standards set by the Federal Interagency Visitor Use Management Council (IVUMC), something ADK has routinely advocated for over the years.

“The IVUMC guidance outlines a planning process that collaboratively identifies desired conditions for resources and visitor experiences and then uses adaptive management and monitoring of visitor use to meet the desired conditions,” said Cathy Pedler, ADK Director of Advocacy.

The new DEC and APA VUM will help provide sustainable access to the Adirondack Forest Preserve using management objectives, impact thresholds, and triggers for specific actions. This includes establishing carrying capacities and data collection strategies to monitor resource impacts and determine if changes in management actions are needed.

“This tool will help land managers make data-based decisions that protect the Forest Preserve while maintaining a quality visitor experience,” said Michael Barrett, ADK Executive Director. “We look forward to the opportunity to provide comments and suggestions for improvement.”

Photo by Nancie Battaglia/Almanack file photo