FOREVER FORESTS
Healthy, resilient forests are one of the best nature-based solutions to improve our region’s ecological health, strengthen local economies and combat the climate crisis.
Winnakee is committed to protecting and restoring 10,000 intact forest acres in the next ten years by 2032.
“The importance of acting to protect local forests, and the ecosystem services they provide, is at a crucial window in the next ten years, before they are lost to development, pests and pathogens and the effects of climate change.
Within the lifetime of a child born today, many of the environmental and economic benefits of our forests will be denied to their generation, and those to come, if we miss this window in the next decade”
Executive Director, Winnakee Land Trust
Investing in high value conservation lands and intact forests for our future:
- Forest loss and degradation is the 2nd largest contributor to climate change after fossil fuels
- Natural life cycles of forests will be re-established – so that young trees and wildlife that depend on them can thrive
- Intact forest protections support an irreplaceable migration corridor that safeguards the largest at-risk mammal habitat connectivity network in the Northeast
- Winnakee will restore 10,000 acres of intact forest to their fullest ecological potential, supporting biodiversity and climate resilience
- This campaign ensures long term protection of NY forests indispensable to our region’s quality of life, economy and culture
Read more about Winnakee’s Conservation Strategy.
Forests are not regenerating on their own:
- 70% of NY’s forests are not viable to regenerate without timely and comprehensive stewardship
- The Hudson Valley has the fastest growing population, and the lowest forest regeneration rates in NYS
- Dutchess County woodlands face disproportionally high critical forest health issues
Threats to forest regeneration:
- Overabundant deer
- Non-native pests and introduced pathogens
- Invasive plants
- Habitat loss/fragmentation
- Effects of climate change
Winnakee’s active stewardship model – restores forests to their natural regeneration cycles. Read more.
What success looks like:
OUTCOMES OF PROTECTING & RESTORING 10,000 ACRES OF INTACT FOREST
Climate Resilience
- In NYS, simply protecting 10,000 acres of mature, intact forest will keep sequestered one million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (carbon released in deforestation can take a century to re-establish)
- These forests will sequester an additional 11,000 metric tons average annually
- Restored forests further increase sequestration
Restoring young forests and wildlife that depend on that habitat:
- 50 new ecologically meaningful forest interior habitats will be established
- As many as 111 rare, threatened or endangered species protected locally
- Critical habitat for migration corridors will be protected
Nature-based solution value:
- Every $100 invested in restoring degraded land generates up to $3K in economic benefits
- The ecosystem services forests provide are critical to our way of life: Clean air, clean water, flood protection — natural solutions are more effective and economic in the long run
FOREVER FORESTS is one of the most meaningful local contributions we can make to the global climate crisis.
33
YEARS OF LAND PROTECTION
5,000+
ACRES PROTECTED FOREVER
1,000+
CRITICAL HABITAT ACRES PROTECTED
700+
ACRES OF WETLANDS & WATERSHEDS PROTECTED