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 Appalachian Highlands Recent Publications |
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 The Appalachian Highlands in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are an area rich in wildness, natural resources, and recreational opportunities. This region-shaping landscape encompasses more than 235,000 acres of public open space hosting more than fourteen million recreation visits yearly, clean drinking water for twelve million people, and much of the regionŐs biological heritage, including the few remaining unfragmented forests critical to the survival of migratory songbirds. The vast open spaces of the Highlands still function as an effective, if undesignated, green belt. But the Highland's ability to provide such shape and form to the region is in jeopardy due to unfettered growth. The towns that encompass the Highlands are likely to grow by 28 - 48% by the next generation if current policies and trends continue. Regional Plan Association has been working with public and private partners to help address this challenge, including our successful work with the Public Private Partnership to Save Sterling Forest, the 20,000 acre tract now protected as Sterling Forest State Park. Current efforts include the preparation of the USDA Forest Service Highlands Regional Study Update, an assessment of conservation priorities in the New York and New Jersey portions of the Highlands RPA is also working with local municipalities to develop conservation compacts: agreements that will protect the core conservation areas in the New Jersey through grassroots collaborative partnerships. And we are engaged in on-going advocacy with the Highlands Coalition including the promotion of the Highlands Stewardship Act, an effort to bring $ 25 million a year of federal funds for land acquisition in this critical area, as well as several initiatives in New Jersey to link Highlands conservation with the State Plan and other state-level policies. |
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