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Forests

New York state is 62 percent forested -- forests cover 18.6 million acres of our 30 million total acres. Much of this land is privately owned and managed for wood or pulp, and most of the land owned by the state is forested.

New York's forests are important economic resources -- according to Cornell University, the forest industry employs more than 60,000 people and directly contributes some $4.6 billion to the state's economy each year.

Forests also provide outstanding recreation for many thousands of New Yorkers and visitors. DEC cares for about four million acres of land including the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve, State Forests, Unique Areas and the State Nature and Historic Preserve.

Preserving and protecting our forests benefits local communities and industries, and the state as a whole. On this page you will find the programs DEC employs to manage state-owned forest lands, and to assist private landowners in managing their forests.

Firewood Alert

Don't Move Firewood!

A new regulation is now in effect that prohibits the import of firewood into New York unless it has been treated to kill pests. The new regulation also limits the transportation of untreated firewood to less than 50 miles from its source.

Bringing your firewood with you? Most people don't realize they move bugs along with their firewood. You could be spreading diseases from insect invaders that can quickly kill large numbers of trees. Our forests are at risk from the transport of firewood infested with tree killers. Help STOP THE SPREAD of these pests:

  • Leave firewood at home-do not transport it to campgrounds or parks.
  • Only purchase firewood that has been harvested in New York State or treated for pests.
  • Burn all firewood brought to the campsite.

See our Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

More about Forests:

  • Forests and the Environment - Forests provide critical ecosystem services essential to human life and a high standard of living: clean water and air, forest products, fish and wildlife habitat, scenic beauty, recreational opportunity, carbon sequestration, open space, and energy independence.
  • New York's Forest Preserve - These public lands include 2.7 million acres in the Adirondack Forest Preserve and 288,000 acres within the Catskill Forest Preserve.
  • State Forests Outside the Preserve - Reforestation areas and multiple use lands outside the Adirondack and Catskill Parks.
  • Conservation Easements - Conservation easements are used to protect a variety of important natural resources and landscape values, such as water quality, wildlife habitat, sensitive ecosystems, wetlands, riparian areas, scenic areas, agricultural land, working forests, and historic sites. Easements allow for continued private ownership and traditional management while limiting or eliminating future development and undesirable land uses on a property.
  • Unit Management Plans - (UMPs) are plans intended to assess the natural and physical resources present within a unit, identify opportunities for recreational use and consider the ability of the resources and ecosystems to accommodate public use.
  • Recreation Management Plans - (RMPs) are plans intended to assess the recreational resources present within a Conservation Easement, identify opportunities for recreational use and consider the ability of the resources and ecosystems to accommodate public use.
  • Forest Health - The DEC Forest Health program is responsible for monitoring the ecological health and function of all of the forests of New York State. The highest priority is placed on early detection of and rapid response to high-impact invasive species that may threaten the health of our forests.
  • Forest Products Utilization and Marketing - The Forest Products Utilization and Marketing program deals with many aspects of the utilization, significance, understanding and promotion of New York's forest resources and forest industries.
  • Private Forest Management - Foresters provide expert advice on wildlife habitat improvement, erosion control, tree planting, recreation enhancement, sugar bush management and silviculture
  • Urban and Community Forestry - Urban and community forestry is the management of trees and forests within populated areas from small villages to large cities
  • Forest Fires - Information on wildfire in New York
  • New York's State Forester - New York State Forester's role and information.