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WE THE PEOPLE HEREBY PETITION:

1.  NEW YORK STATE GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL

2.  NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

3.  THE NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY AND THE CONNECTICUT/NEW YORK CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY

TO:

1.  Place all the public land in the Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area in a protected status where NO logging is allowed so the mature forests can continue their natural life cycle as healthy, biodiverse, carbon sequestering forested ecosystems and future generations can enjoy this public treasure.

2.  Honor the will of the People of the State of New York who have overwhelmingly communicated to the NYS DEC over the years their desire for Zoar Valley to be preserved and protected in perpetuity.

3.  Honor the wishes of Herbert Darling, Sr., who gifted much of the gorge ecosystems in Zoar Valley to the People of NYS for the purpose of retaining Zoar in its wild, natural state for the enjoyment of all.

4.  Abandon the NYS DEC's draft plan to log 575 acres in Zoar Valley over the next 10 years, and abandon the Audubon Society's planned 92-acre slash wall enclosure by the Connecticut/New York Chapter of The National Audubon Society at Wickham Woods in Zoar Valley. Both plans would harm the adjoining Old Growth Forest ecosystem and would destroy a significant, healthy, and biodiverse 100-120 year-old Eastern Hardwood forest that contains endangered species and globally rare habitats that are protected by law.

5.  Rewrite the current Draft Unit Management Plan for Zoar Valley and restore it to a preservation plan with no commercial timber harvesting.

6.  Give the people a voice and hold public meetings and open up a public comment period on the future of Zoar Valley.

As Mr. Darling said, keep Zoar Valley in its wild, natural state for the enjoyment of all.

NO LOGGING IN ZOAR VALLEY!

In recommending Zoar Valley as the #1 conservation priority of all the Lake Erie Gorges in New York, the DEC's Natural Heritage Program, a joint project of the DEC and The Nature Conservancy, found that:

"Conservation of uplands in other parts of the watersheds far from gorges is necessary to preserve the full complement of forest species diversity. Zoar Valley is probably the best chance within the study area to conserve forests characteristic of the High Allegheny Plateau.

"Zoar Valley is by far the best remaining matrix forest-gorge landscape in the region in terms of both integrity...and biodiversity. It is recommended as the prime focus of...regional conservation efforts.

"Zoar Valley stands apart as the largest area by far of intact landscape, having the largest area by far of virgin [old growth], secondary old growth, and contiguous climax forests… In terms of unique communities, Zoar Valley contains a suite of globally rare rich fens, communities apparently lacking at the other sites.

“The Zoar Valley segment of Cattaraugus Creek...might be deemed irreplaceable for the component plants and animals that are not found in similar rivers of the region.

"Logging is the primary disturbance to the matrix forests of these gorges, including...harvest intensity on state and private lands that does not sustain old-growth patches or climax forest types.”

Planet earth is in a global climate emergency and forest carbon sequestration must be prioritized in all environmental decisions and policies, especially those concerning forest management. New York needs to revise all New York State policies and forest management plans – which have been converted to “young forest” deforestation plans in recent years – to reprioritize the retention of as much forest cover as possible for its many beneficial contributions to life on the planet. This would be in keeping with NY’s stated climate goals and multi-billion dollar climate investment.

New York State needs to protect our forest resources and direct all wildlife “young forest” habitat projects to take place on non-forested land, such as fields, meadows, former farmland, fallow fields, and abundant mowed open space. No deforestation should take place in order to create non-forested bird and other wildlife habitat. The climate crisis as well as logic and common sense dictate this. This will also eliminate loss of species and habitat in our forested ecosystems.

Instead of logging forest for bird habitat, it would make sense for New York State to combine its 30x30 open space preservation plan and NYS’s plan to plant 25 million trees by 2033 with the requests by special interest groups for more migratory bird and hunted bird habitat.

Zoar Valley is one of the last remaining unspoiled wilderness areas in New York, a unique and irreplaceable ecosystem of old growth forests–including virgin old growth, high tree species diversity, high forest type diversity–including a rare forest type, globally rare rich fens, protected plants and animals, abundant wildlife, and a variety of recreational pursuits, including a world-class steelhead trout stream. The beauty of the scenic views and natural environment provide a peaceful respite for people to recharge and restore their well-being.

SAVE ZOAR VALLEY! 

Petition by Zoar Valley Coalition, LLC

Visit us for updates and to get involved:  www.zoarvalley.org

Photo Credit:  Lynn Kenney