Defending New York’s Family Forests

A group’s choice results in a more healthy forest

Ed heard concerning the Family Forest Carbon Program from a good friend who runs a neighborhood land belief. Momentum for the concept picked up when fellow Spring Lake resident Dana Cusimano acquired concerned.

With hard-earned financial savings her Depression-era great-grandparents put aside so their youngsters might develop up in nature, Dana’s grandparents—a faculty principal and English instructor—bought land at Spring Lake. Dana spent her childhood summers there. “I learned how to sail a boat before I knew how to drive,” she says. Today, her grandchildren are exploring the identical woods and waters.

Ed and Dana invited representatives from the Family Forest Carbon Program to judge Spring Lake’s forest, and the go to revealed that 154 acres had been eligible for enrollment. Ed and Dana had been on board.

“Our ultimate goal is to protect the lake,” says Dana. “This program provides a source of income that allows us to keep control of our forest, which in turn keeps our lake healthy and clean. It was a perfect match.”

The subsequent step: get all 32 households to conform to enroll.

“Dana was the one who presented at the shareholders meeting—she’s a very convincing person,” Ed laughs. “It was accepted almost unanimously.”