SCHENECTADY – Mayor Gary McCarthy today announced the City of Schenectady will host a public meeting on the draft Community Forest Management Plan. The goal of the plan is to provide a comprehensive guide to maintain, protect, and enhance Schenectady’s community forest.
The public meeting will be on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, at 5:30pm at the Mont Pleasant Public Library, 1036 Crane Street, Schenectady, NY 12303. The draft plan is available to the public on the City of Schenectady’s website: www.cityofschenectady.com/596/Climate-Smart-Communities
The City of Schenectady was awarded an Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) grant for $61,200 from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for a city-wide tree inventory and community forest management plan. The initiative is designed to assist in improving the community’s urban forest with comprehensive planning to identify and assess existing trees along with future planting sites. The management plan also establishes best practices and a tree maintenance schedule.
“We look forward to hearing from the community as we roll out this comprehensive plan to create a healthy and sustainable community forest that is properly managed and cared for, benefiting all of Schenectady’s residents,” Mayor McCarthy said. “It is our goal that these efforts will have a lasting impact on the health and vibrancy of our neighborhoods for generations to come.”
The Community Forest Management Plan extends beyond maintenance and operational guidance to include a variety of long-term goals, strategies, and priorities to achieve optimal levels of community forest management, sustainability, and equity. Achieving the goals set forth in this plan requires a shared commitment and partnership between the City, its partners, and residents to sustain a rich community forest, thriving economy, and improved well-being for future generations, Mayor McCarthy added.
The City of Schenectady completed the Community Forestry Management Plan in partnership with community forestry consultants at PlanIT Geo. The Community Forestry Management Plan was prepared with funding provided by New York State’s Environmental Protection Fund, administered by the Urban and Community Forestry Program within the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Division of Lands and Forests.
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