The State of New York has announced a new initiative led by Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James to modernize open-space protection. This initiative involves streamlining reviews and utilizing title insurance, as said in a recent press release.
On December 23, 2022, the 30 by 30 Act was enacted in New York State. The legislation mandates the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) to formulate strategies aimed at conserving 30% of the state's lands and inland waters by the year 2030.
According to DEC’s draft "Strategies & Methodology" document, approximately 22% of New York State’s lands and waters currently meet the criteria for being "conserved or protected."
A report from Protect the Adirondacks! estimated that as of 2023, around 6,220,150 acres of land and water in New York are classified as protected. This figure represents about 20% of the state's total land and inland water area.
New York's governance structure includes its executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Kathy Hochul has been serving as the state's 57th Governor since August 2021, while Letitia James has held the position of Attorney General since January 2019. Together, they manage policy administration, enforcement, and legal affairs within the state.
