Highlands Conservation Act and Monroe

To the editor Peter Martin should be thanked for his excellent efforts on the Town of Monroe Master Plan formulation. His work is invaluable. I believe that his compensation is equal to the price of this newspaper. But one important ingredient was missing from the draft Master Plan document: The Highlands Conservation Act. The Highlands are part of the great green sweep of the Appalachians that shadows the East Coast from Georgia to Maine. The Highlands region stretches from eastern Pennsylvania through New Jersey and New York to northwestern Connecticut, forming a vital linkage between the Berkshires and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Town of Monroe in its entirety is in the Highlands region. The Monroe Master Plan presents the opportunity to take another bold step to protect the critical treasures of the Highlands in the town. This June, President Bush signed into law the Highlands Conservation Act. The bill authorizes $10 million annually over ten years for land conservation partnership projects. Lands identified as having high conservation value for water, forest, agricultural, wildlife or recreational resources by the USDA Forest Service in the Highlands region would be eligible for federal matching funds to cover up to 50 percent of the cost of purchasing lands or development rights from willing sellers only. Close to home, County Executive Edward Diana has earmarked $20 million over the next five years to protect exactly the same type of lands to which the HCA is geared. The Orange County Land Trust also has grown in stature and funding, and New York State has proven its commitment to continued local land preservation evidenced by its support for the Sterling Forest purchase. For years, local towns and villages have searched for a formula to protect vital spaces, but have been stymied by lack of funds. This money is starting to be spent and it behooves us to get in the game. The Master Plan is an excellent place for the Town's approach to be spelled out. Andrew Lawrence Monroe