Bill Widrig, a volunteer with the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program’s Forest Pest Hunters program, was on his way to climb a rock wall on Goodman Mountain, just south of Tupper Lake, when he noticed an all-too-familiar site: the telltale leaf banding of beech leaf disease. [Read more…] about Rock Climber Finds Beech Leaf Disease Near Tupper Lake
Forestry
Environmentalists Have Big Stake in Finch Pulp Mill Closure
The purely economic decision by Finch Paper in Glens Falls, now part of a global company, to stop purchasing Adirondack regional trees for its pulp to paper operation and to instead acquire its pulp from far beyond New York’s borders is serious – and deserves the attention it’s getting at New York Almanack, and the worries from forest product industries, harvesters, truckers, suppliers, and landowners elsewhere. [Read more…] about Environmentalists Have Big Stake in Finch Pulp Mill Closure
Finch Paper Closing Glens Falls Pulp Mill; Logging Affected
The Finch Paper mill in Glens Falls, NY, a facility which has been buying pulp wood from the region’s loggers since 1865, has announced they will stop making their own pulp from local logs and will transition to buying it from suppliers outside the area.
Finch has been blending its own pulp with about 20% outside purchases. Going forward Finch is likely to source all its pulp from Canada, or buy market pulp, eliminating the work associated with the 45-50 log trucks who arrived at the mill daily. [Read more…] about Finch Paper Closing Glens Falls Pulp Mill; Logging Affected
Emerald Ash Borer: A Threat to Trees, Mohawk Traditions
Within the past several years, at least three terrestrial pests have invaded the forests of the Lake George watershed. Among them: emerald ash borer, which was first detected in Warren County in 2020, along the Schroon River near Chestertown.
That discovery was the first indication that the invasive species might have established itself in the southern Adirondacks. [Read more…] about Emerald Ash Borer: A Threat to Trees, Mohawk Traditions
A New Native Species Selection Tool
Are you looking for recommendations of native plants and trees to plant on your specific site? DEC and the New York Natural Heritage Program recently released a Species Selection Tool that provides a list of recommended native tree, shrub, and herbaceous plant species, including flowering species, ferns and herbs, to improve habitats, increase biodiversity, and benefit wildlife across New York State. [Read more…] about A New Native Species Selection Tool
2026 Spongy Moth Outbreak Outlook for New York State
The spongy moth (Lymantria dispar) is a non-native insect from Europe. In New York, spongy moth caterpillars feed on a variety of trees, with oak as their preferred species.
Spongy moths have naturalized in our forested communities, which means they are always present in New York in some capacity. In recent years, spongy moth populations have experienced a boom throughout the Northeastern U.S. [Read more…] about 2026 Spongy Moth Outbreak Outlook for New York State
When the Trees Came Back: The Battle to Save Vermont Forests
When the Trees Came Back: The Great Battle to Save Vermont’s Forests by Robert A. Mello (Vermont Historical Society, 2026) chronicles the recovery of Vermont’s forests, which were 75% deforested by the 1880s due to farming and logging.
The book highlights how advocates, citizens, and lawmakers reversed this environmental disaster, restoring the state to roughly 75% forest coverage today. [Read more…] about When the Trees Came Back: The Battle to Save Vermont Forests
Attorneys General Sue Trump Regime Over USDA Funding Conditions
New York Attorney General Letitia James and 20 other attorneys general today filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to block sweeping new funding conditions imposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that they say jeopardize billions of dollars in funding for critical state programs.
The lawsuit challenges USDA’s new “2026 Conditions,” which force states to comply with vague and arguably unlawful policy requirements or risk losing essential funding for programs that feed families, support farmers, and protect communities. Attorney General James and the coalition are asking the court to block these conditions and protect states’ access to funding already approved by Congress. [Read more…] about Attorneys General Sue Trump Regime Over USDA Funding Conditions
Oak Wilt Quarantine District Expanded in Yates, Ontario Counties
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has expanded the oak wilt quarantine districts in Yates and Ontario counties in the Finger Lakes after finding new trees infected with oak wilt. [Read more…] about Oak Wilt Quarantine District Expanded in Yates, Ontario Counties
2025 Progress Towards Planting 25 Million Trees by 2033
Governor Kathy Hochul launched the 25 Million Trees by 2033 initiative during her 2024 State of the State Address to recognize the importance of trees and forests for climate mitigation and community health.
DEC has established an online Tree Tracker, where New Yorkers can record trees they plant. Here are some statistics from the tracker for trees planted in 2025: [Read more…] about 2025 Progress Towards Planting 25 Million Trees by 2033
Silver Fly Combating Invasive Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
In summer 2025, DEC and Cornell University’s New York State Hemlock Initiative (NYSHI) confirmed the first establishment of Leucotaraxis argenticollis, a type of silver fly, in New York State.
These silver flies were released to help control hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), an invasive insect that attacks and kills hemlock trees. The silver fly population was confirmed in the own of Bath, in Steuben County, NY. [Read more…] about Silver Fly Combating Invasive Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
The Hidden World of Carnivorous Fungi
In darkness, a wormlike creature squirms. A tiny nematode weaves its way between grains of rock and particles of organic matter, through inverted forests of tree roots. It follows what it thinks is a pheromone trail, pausing to inspect a droplet poised on the tip of a pale, nondescript strand of fungus.
A moment later, its body begins to seize up. The chemical signals that control its muscles have been hijacked, and within seconds it is completely paralyzed. [Read more…] about The Hidden World of Carnivorous Fungi
Maple Decline: Reviewing the Various Factors
Maple decline affects primarily sugar maple (Acer saccharum), Norway maple (Acer platanoides) and red maple (Acer rubrum) in the Northeast. The problem is not a new one; stag-headed maples were described as early as 1917 in Massachusetts.
At that time, die-back was attributed mainly to drought and to the poor conditions for tree growth afforded by the urban environment. However, reports of the incidence and severity of maple decline have increased markedly in recent decades and now include trees in urban, sugar-bush, and forest environments. [Read more…] about Maple Decline: Reviewing the Various Factors
Miyawaki Mini Forests: Revolutionary Reforestation
The Miyawaki mini forest method (also known as pocket forests) was developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki and has been successfully applied, typically on degraded land and without humus, in thousands of places across the globe. [Read more…] about Miyawaki Mini Forests: Revolutionary Reforestation
Hamilton College’s Reforestation Project
Hamilton College a small liberal arts college in Oneida County, NY, was established as the Hamilton-Oneida Academy in 1793. It received its charter as Hamilton College in 1812, in honor of Alexander Hamilton, one of its inaugural trustees, following a proposal made after his death in 1804. Since 1978, Hamilton has been a coeducational institution, having merged with its sister school, Kirkland College.
Since 2018 Hamilton College has been working to reforest part of its lands, including former agricultural fields and a repurposed golf course. [Read more…] about Hamilton College’s Reforestation Project
Trump Seeks Increased Logging of Finger Lakes National Forest
The Finger Lakes National Forest is New York’s only National Forest. “Whether to hike, ski, or admire the fall foliage, diverse recreation opportunities draw in visitors year-round,” says the U.S. Forest Service website.
The Trump regime is planning to cut down more of the Finger Lakes National Forest in order to reach a goal of increasing United States timber production by 25%. “All relevant agencies shall eliminate, to the maximum extent permissible by law, all undue delays within their respective permitting processes related to timber production,” Trump’s Executive Order says. [Read more…] about Trump Seeks Increased Logging of Finger Lakes National Forest
Red and Silver: A Tale of Two Maples
In early spring, a reddish haze appears in the woodlands. With most deciduous trees still dormant, the red maples are living up to their name. Their awakening buds lend color to a gray landscape and signal that spring is coming.
I love watching the steady progression of red as I look out my window. A few weeks after the buds redden, they will break into flower, offering bees and insects a critical early source of pollen and nectar. [Read more…] about Red and Silver: A Tale of Two Maples
Cortland County Tree Plantations: Some History & An Update
During the Great Depression in the 1930s, the Democratic Franklin D. Roosevelt administration, under the 1929 State Reforestation Act and the 1931 Hewitt Amendment, made it possible for hundreds of young men to secure jobs working on the reforestation of many unproductive and abandoned farms.
One of thosee areas is now the Taylor Valley State Forest (Seacord Hill) in Cortland County, NY. [Read more…] about Cortland County Tree Plantations: Some History & An Update
Adirondack Park Invasive Species Report Issued
The Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP) has released its 2024 annual report.
The report celebrates the accomplishments of APIPP staff, volunteers, and partners while also providing updates on the presence of invasive species in the Adirondack region, special initiatives, ongoing research, and more. [Read more…] about Adirondack Park Invasive Species Report Issued
Surviving the Cold in a Polar Vortex
The new year ushered in an arctic blast that has only recently let up. This extreme plunge in temperature is referred to as a Polar Vortex. While it may seem that this is a new term, it has been in use since the 1800s. These periods of intense cold can impact the survival of many native and invasive species, including plants and pests. [Read more…] about Surviving the Cold in a Polar Vortex