The Largest Land Conservation Agreement in

New York State History

International Paper Company, State of New York International Paper Company, State of New York and the Conservation Fund Partner to Conserve and the Conservation Fund Partner to Conserve

Land in the AdirondacksLand in the Adirondacks

“More than 100 years ago, the people of New York State had the foresight to create the Adirondack Park to ensure the

preservation of these environmentally significant lands for our benefit and that of future generations. New York is a national leader in open space preservation and today, as we celebrate

Earth Day, we are proud to build on that legacy by announcing the largest land conservation agreement in State history. Under

this agreement, we will protect more than 250,000 acres that will provide new recreational opportunities for the public and

continue to support the local economy.”

Governor George E. Pataki, Governor George E. Pataki, Earth Day, 2004Earth Day, 2004

New York State’s Commitment to Open Space Conservation

Since 1995, Governor Pataki has been working to make New Since 1995, Governor Pataki has been working to make New York a national leader in open space conservationYork a national leader in open space conservationThe project is part of the State’s continuing effort to The project is part of the State’s continuing effort to conserve working forests, a priority in the New York State conserve working forests, a priority in the New York State Open Space Conservation PlanOpen Space Conservation Plan

Doubles the amount of working forest easements the Doubles the amount of working forest easements the State holds within the Adirondack Park to more than State holds within the Adirondack Park to more than 500,000 acres500,000 acres

Under Governor Pataki’s leadership, the State has committed Under Governor Pataki’s leadership, the State has committed to the permanent conservation of more than 780,000 acres of to the permanent conservation of more than 780,000 acres of open space statewideopen space statewide

IP/DEC Working Forest Conservation Easement Project

Preserves 257,000 acres Preserves 257,000 acres Working forest conservation easements on more than Working forest conservation easements on more than 255,000 acres (Easement A and Easement B)255,000 acres (Easement A and Easement B)Purchase of 2,000 acres in fee for addition to the Forest Purchase of 2,000 acres in fee for addition to the Forest PreservePreserve

Consists of 21 separate tracts spread through 34 Consists of 21 separate tracts spread through 34 towns in 9 countiestowns in 9 counties

Warren, Washington, Franklin, Clinton, Hamilton, St. Warren, Washington, Franklin, Clinton, Hamilton, St. Lawrence, Essex, Saratoga and HerkimerLawrence, Essex, Saratoga and Herkimer

A Win/Win Situation

For the environment, economy and future of the For the environment, economy and future of the AdirondacksAdirondacks

Working and sustainablyWorking and sustainably--managed forests to support managed forests to support the economy and families in the communities of the the economy and families in the communities of the AdirondacksAdirondacksOpen space protection in perpetuityOpen space protection in perpetuityExpanded public recreational opportunityExpanded public recreational opportunityNew York State will pay its proportionate share of local New York State will pay its proportionate share of local property taxesproperty taxes

Project Focuses On

Retaining IP’s productive timberlands in active forest Retaining IP’s productive timberlands in active forest managementmanagementPublic will gain new recreational opportunitiesPublic will gain new recreational opportunitiesIP will remain as theIP will remain as theunderlying fee owner underlying fee owner and continue its and continue its sustainable management sustainable management of these lands of these lands

Why this Easement Project?

Property has significant open space and natural Property has significant open space and natural resources such as large unbroken tracts of forest resources such as large unbroken tracts of forest land and over 250,000 acres of forested watershed land and over 250,000 acres of forested watershed lands feeding hundreds of Adirondack streamslands feeding hundreds of Adirondack streams

These natural resource areas represent every major These natural resource areas represent every major forest type in the Adirondacks.forest type in the Adirondacks.

Forests included in the easement have been Forests included in the easement have been managed for longmanaged for long--term timber harvesting and is a term timber harvesting and is a large contributor to the base of regional pulp and large contributor to the base of regional pulp and paper industrypaper industry

Natural resource values and traditional recreation Natural resource values and traditional recreation values will be preserved by easements which will values will be preserved by easements which will limit and restrict future developmentlimit and restrict future development

Property is part of the Northern Forest, a forested Property is part of the Northern Forest, a forested landscape approximately 26 million acres in size landscape approximately 26 million acres in size that stretched across northern New York, that stretched across northern New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and MaineVermont, New Hampshire and Maine

Conservation Easements

The Legislature of the State of New York has The Legislature of the State of New York has declared the public policy of the State to be the declared the public policy of the State to be the conservation, preservation and protection of its conservation, preservation and protection of its environmental assets and natural and manenvironmental assets and natural and man--made made resources, and has enacted Article 49, Title 3 of resources, and has enacted Article 49, Title 3 of the Environmental Conservation Law to provide the Environmental Conservation Law to provide for and encourage the limitation and restriction of for and encourage the limitation and restriction of development, and use of real property through development, and use of real property through conservation easements.conservation easements.

The Adirondack State Land Master Plan

Provides, in pertinent part, that Provides, in pertinent part, that “due to the “due to the importance of the forest products industry to the importance of the forest products industry to the economy of the Adirondack Region, bulk acreage economy of the Adirondack Region, bulk acreage purchases in fee should not normally be made purchases in fee should not normally be made where highly productive forest land is where highly productive forest land is involved…however, conservation easements involved…however, conservation easements permitting the continuation of sound forest permitting the continuation of sound forest management and other land uses compatible with management and other land uses compatible with the open space character of the Park should be the open space character of the Park should be acquired wherever possible to protect and buffer acquired wherever possible to protect and buffer state lands.”state lands.”

The State desires to:

Prevent fragmentation of ownershipPrevent fragmentation of ownershipPrevent extensive subdivision and development Prevent extensive subdivision and development for nonfor non--forest purposesforest purposesEnsure that the property remains available for Ensure that the property remains available for future generationsfuture generationsProvide a plan for recreational activities that is Provide a plan for recreational activities that is compatible for both public and private userscompatible for both public and private users

Terms of the Easement

I. Restrict commercial and residential developmentSubdivision Restrictions:Subdivision Restrictions:

Protected property is segregated into 21 tractsProtected property is segregated into 21 tractsA tract may include multiple detached parcels or an A tract may include multiple detached parcels or an individual parcelindividual parcelEasement limits IP’s ability to subdivide and sell Easement limits IP’s ability to subdivide and sell individual parcelsindividual parcelsWithout the easement, under current APA regulations, IP Without the easement, under current APA regulations, IP would be able to subdivide and sell off 120 parcels with no would be able to subdivide and sell off 120 parcels with no permit requiredpermit required

I. Restrict commercial and residential development (cont.)Camp Development Restrictions:Camp Development Restrictions:

The easement restricts IP’s ability to construct new camps, The easement restricts IP’s ability to construct new camps, requiring IP to remove camps located in environmentally requiring IP to remove camps located in environmentally sensitive areas in order construct new camps.sensitive areas in order construct new camps.A net total of 40 new camps may be constructed by IP if it A net total of 40 new camps may be constructed by IP if it removes 30 existing camps located in environmentally removes 30 existing camps located in environmentally sensitive locationssensitive locationsThe new camps must be constructed away from water The new camps must be constructed away from water bodiesbodies

II. Require modern sustainable forestry practices

Sustainable Forestry is defined as Sustainable Forestry is defined as -- forest management forest management activities that meet the needs of the present for forest activities that meet the needs of the present for forest products without compromising the ability of future products without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, and which generations to meet their own needs, and which sustainability is achieved by practicing a land sustainability is achieved by practicing a land stewardship ethic that integrates the reforestation, stewardship ethic that integrates the reforestation, managing, growing, nurturing, and harvesting of trees managing, growing, nurturing, and harvesting of trees for useful products with the conservation of soil, air, for useful products with the conservation of soil, air, and water quality, biological diversity, wildlife and and water quality, biological diversity, wildlife and aquatic habitat, recreation, and aesthetics. (DEC’s aquatic habitat, recreation, and aesthetics. (DEC’s Sustainable Working Forestry Conservation Sustainable Working Forestry Conservation Easement)Easement)

II. Require modern sustainable forestry practices (cont.)

IP currently adheres to the Sustainable Forestry IP currently adheres to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) of the American Forest and Initiative® (SFI) of the American Forest and Paper AssociationPaper AssociationIP lands are SFI® certified (obtained through IP lands are SFI® certified (obtained through independent thirdindependent thirdparty audit and party audit and verification) verification)

Sustainable Forestry Initiative ® Comprehensive system of principles, objectives and Comprehensive system of principles, objectives and performance measures developed by professional foresters, performance measures developed by professional foresters, conservationists and scientistsconservationists and scientistsProgram objectives include:Program objectives include:

Broadening the practice of Broadening the practice of sustainable forestrysustainable forestryMinimizing visual impact Minimizing visual impact of harvestingof harvestingProtecting water qualityProtecting water qualityEnhancing wildlife habitatEnhancing wildlife habitat

Use Best Management Practices (BMPs) to help meet Use Best Management Practices (BMPs) to help meet objectivesobjectives

Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Contributes to a successful and environmentallyContributes to a successful and environmentally--sustainable timber harvest by helping to protect water sustainable timber harvest by helping to protect water quality and forest and soil resourcesquality and forest and soil resourcesSimple, often lowSimple, often low--cost practices and techniques that can be cost practices and techniques that can be incorporated into timber harvests, such as:incorporated into timber harvests, such as:

Developing a plan, including objectives for the timber Developing a plan, including objectives for the timber harvest and forest regenerationharvest and forest regenerationPlanning, locating and constructing Planning, locating and constructing landings and roadslandings and roadsPlanning proper skid trailsPlanning proper skid trails

III. Provide certain public recreational rightsEasement A (84,232 acres)Easement A (84,232 acres)

Grants New York State with full public recreation rights, Grants New York State with full public recreation rights, including:including:

hunting, fishing, and trappinghunting, fishing, and trappinghiking and campinghiking and campingcanoeing/boatingcanoeing/boating

Recreational plans to be developed by DEC and approved by Recreational plans to be developed by DEC and approved by IPIPPrivate lease camps will retain exclusive 1Private lease camps will retain exclusive 1--acre envelopesacre envelopes

III. Provide certain public recreational rights (cont.)Easement B (171,004 acres)Easement B (171,004 acres)

Provides DEC with rights to maintain and/or develop Provides DEC with rights to maintain and/or develop snowmobile trails, with other specific recreation rights for snowmobile trails, with other specific recreation rights for certain tractscertain tractsThese lands include approximately 133 mile of existing, These lands include approximately 133 mile of existing, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP)(OPRHP)--funded snowmobile trails that will be permanently funded snowmobile trails that will be permanently secured for public usesecured for public useRecreational plans to be developed by DEC and approved by Recreational plans to be developed by DEC and approved by IP on Easement B landsIP on Easement B landsExisting recreational rights of club/camp lessees will be Existing recreational rights of club/camp lessees will be unaffectedunaffected

IP Lands by TownTown Easement A Easement B Fee Total

Acres Acres Acres AcresALTAMONT 8,975 1,859 0 10,834ARIETTA 3,924 636 0 4,560BLACK BROOK 0 17,521 0 17,521BRIGHTON 10,145 0 0 10,145COLTON 90 12,064 0 12,154CORINTH 0 8,902 0 8,902CROWN POINT 0 15,149 0 15,149DAY 0 12,331 0 12,331DRESDEN 0 5,118 333 5,451EDINBURG 0 4,189 0 4,189ELIZABETHTOWN 0 8,473 379 8,852FORT ANN 0 1,052 0 1,052FRANKLIN 8,844 0 0 8,844GREENFIELD 0 165 0 165HAGUE 0 6,184 97 6,281HOPE 0 1,637 0 1,637HOPKINTON 2,317 14,716 0 17,033INDIAN LAKE 2,610 0 0 2,610JOHNSBURG 0 1,323 151 1,474LAKE LUZERNE 0 3,790 0 3,790LAKE PLEASANT 22,850 1,421 0 24,271LEWIS 0 2,537 0 2,537LONG LAKE 0 10,618 526 11,144MORIAH 0 9,204 353 9,557PARISHVILLE 102 1,232 0 1,334PERU 604 0 0 604PIERCEFIELD 18 3,115 0 3,133PUTNAM 0 604 0 604QUEENSBURY 0 38 0 38TICONDEROGA 0 8,332 80 8,412WEBB 0 26,114 0 26,114WELLS 10,165 1,981 108 12,254WESTPORT 0 8,149 0 8,149WILLSBORO 0 768 0 768

Acquisition

Overall project (fee and easement) will be phasedOverall project (fee and easement) will be phased--in over a 3 year periodin over a 3 year period

74,957 acres to be closed in 200474,957 acres to be closed in 200479,110 acres in 2005 79,110 acres in 2005 101,169 acres in 2006 101,169 acres in 2006

IP is given a 5IP is given a 5--year period to convert area leases year period to convert area leases to 1to 1--acre camp envelope leases acre camp envelope leases

CostsNew York State will pay its proportionate share of New York State will pay its proportionate share of local property taxeslocal property taxes2/3 of IP’s lands are enrolled in New York State 2/3 of IP’s lands are enrolled in New York State forest tax law programs (480/480a)forest tax law programs (480/480a)State will pay up to fair market valueState will pay up to fair market valuePrice to be determined by appraisal process agreed Price to be determined by appraisal process agreed to by the State, TCF and IPto by the State, TCF and IPFunding:Funding:

The Environmental Protection FundThe Environmental Protection FundState to seek Forest Legacy Funding (administered by State to seek Forest Legacy Funding (administered by the U.S. Forest Service)the U.S. Forest Service)

The International Paper Company

Businesses include paper, packaging and forest Businesses include paper, packaging and forest productsproductsThe largest private landowner within the The largest private landowner within the Adirondack Park and one of the largest private Adirondack Park and one of the largest private landowners in the world, with more than 19 landowners in the world, with more than 19 million acres of forestlands worldwidemillion acres of forestlands worldwideHeadquartered in the U.S., with operations in over Headquartered in the U.S., with operations in over 40 countries and market presence in more than 40 countries and market presence in more than 120 nations120 nations

The Conservation Fund

A national nonprofit organization, founded in A national nonprofit organization, founded in 19851985Seeks innovative conservation solutions for the Seeks innovative conservation solutions for the 2121stst CenturyCenturyActs to protect the nation’s legacy of land and Acts to protect the nation’s legacy of land and water resources in partnership with other water resources in partnership with other organizationsorganizationsHas helped to protect more than 3.7 million acres Has helped to protect more than 3.7 million acres of land and water resources throughout the U.S.of land and water resources throughout the U.S.

Water quality protection, public recreation, continued sustainable forestry and a stable tax base for local communities are all part of

the reason why this project represents a win/win for our environment, our economy and the future of the Adirondacks.