New York State Protects Over a Million Acres of Land
New York, NY —
New York State has protected more than a million acres of land since Governor Pataki took office twelve years ago. The state reached that landmark today by securing a conservation easement on 51,000 acres in Saint Lawrence County in the Adirondack Park.
REPORTER: The Rayonier forestry company will get $6.5 million dollars in exchange for allowing the public to fish and camp on the site, and the company will agree to practice sustainable forestry. Pataki made the announcement at the Museum of Natural History, where he was surrounded by environmental leaders.
PATAKI: And this will bring the total amount of open space since the state has preserved since I've been governor to 1 million 20 thousand acres of open space.
REPORTER: Pataki leaves office at the end of the year. Environment groups have praised the governor's record in land conservation but some believe he could have enforced more regulations.
