historical preserve relatively

NY State Nature and Historical Preserve

New York State has the well known Forest Preserve in Adirondacks and Catskills (provided for in Section 1) and State Forests and Wildlife Management Areas (provided for in Section 2) outside of the Blue-line designated Forest Preserve Boundaries. Yet, on November 4, 1969 the voters of New York State admended the consitution to add a new section that called for a new type of land — The State Nature and Historic Preserve — now managed by the new Department of Environment Conservation.

Article XIV Section 4:Protection of natural resources; development of agricultural lands.

The policy of the state shall be to conserve and protect its natural resources and scenic beauty and encourage the development and improvement of its agricultural lands for the production of food and other agricultural products.

The legislature, in implementing this policy, shall include adequate provision for the abatement of air and water pollution and of excessive and unnecessary noise, the protection of agricultural lands, wetlands and shorelines, and the development and regulation of water resources.

The legislature shall further provide for the acquisition of lands and waters, including improvements thereon and any interest therein, outside the forest preserve counties, and the dedication of properties so acquired or now owned, which because of their natural beauty, wilderness character, or geological, ecological or historical significance, shall be preserved and administered for the use and enjoyment of the people.

Properties so dedicated shall constitute the state nature and historical preserve and they shall not be taken or otherwise disposed of except by law enacted by two successive regular sessions of the legislature.

Since 1969, only 35 facilities have been added to the State Nature and Historic Preserve. While most of these properties are not contigous, they consist of some the most interesting public lands in NY State.

Zoom in to see the specific properties.

Here is a list of the properties, sorted by alphabetical order.

State Nature and Historical Preserve Acres
ALBANY PINE BUSH PRESERVE 1581.3
BARE HILL UNIQUE AREA 400.9
BOG BROOK UNIQUE AREA 131.7
BRANDOW POINT UNIQUE AREA 62.9
CAMILLUS FOREST UNIQUE AREA 351.5
CARPENTER FALLS UNIQUE AREA 38.2
CASTLE ROCK UNIQUE AREA 130.2
CROTON GORGE UNIQUE AREA 20.9
DAVID A. SARNOFF PINE BARRENS PRESERVE 2,572.5
EDGEWOOD OAK BRUSH PLAINS PRESERVE 729.6
HAWK WATCH TRAILWAY 5.0
HENDERSON SHORES UNIQUE AREA 890.3
JUNIUS POND UNIQUE AREA 105.1
KOWAWESE UNIQUE AREA 165.0
LABRADOR HOLLOW UNIQUE AREA 1464.4
LITTLE GALLOO ISLAND UNIQUE AREA 44.8
LONG ISLAND PINE BARRENS 581.2
MIDDLE GROUND FLATS UNIQUE AREA 372.4
MOUNT LORETTO UNIQUE AREA 211.0
NELSON SWAMP UNIQUE AREA 889.7
NEVERSINK RIVER UNIQUE AREA 6,579.9
OLD WESTBURY CONSERVATION-UNIQUE AREA 31.7
ONONDAGA ESCARPMENT UNIQUE AREA 52.3
RAYWOOD UNIQUE AREA 316.5
REINSTEIN WOODS NATURE PRESERVE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER 270.6
ROME SAND PLAINS UNIQUE AREA 1,786.3
RUSH OAK OPENINGS UNIQUE AREA 230.6
SALMON RIVER FALLS UNIQUE AREA 112.4
SPLIT ROCK UNIQUE AREA 34.1
SQUAW ISLAND UNIQUE AREA 0.2
THE GULF UNIQUE AREA 605.5
ZOAR VALLEY UNIQUE AREA 995.6
Total State Nature and Historical Preserve 21,764.5