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The importance and value of the Highlands region may be demonstrated
by the
number and type of wildlife species that are found there. There
are more
than 100 species of nesting birds, large mammals including bobcat
(Lynx
rufus), black bear (Ursus americanus) and river otter (Lutra canadensis),
and wild trout fisheries in the Highlands. The Highlands is also
part of a
major east coast migratory flyway for many bird species. There
are a
number of species found in the Highlands that have special status
due to
low or declining population numbers. There are a number of endangered
species found in the Highlands. Endangered species are in immediate
peril
of survival due to low population numbers as a result of one or
several
reasons including habitat loss, over-exploitation, predation,
competition,
disease, disturbance or contamination. Federally endangered species
represent those species that are in peril at the national level
and State
listed endangered species are those that are not nationally at
risk but are
locally rare. Species listed as threatened are those that are
at risk of
becoming endangered if trends continue and management efforts
are not
successful in increasing population numbers. Species of concern
are of
State level interest and represent those species where population
trends
suggest that if left unabated, they will become threatened and
potentially
endangered. Endangered or threatened species within the Highlands
region
include: the timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus), bog turtle
(Clemmys
muhlenbergii), red shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus), barred owl
(Strix
varia), great blue heron (breeding) (Ardea herodias) and eastern
wood rat
(Neotoma magister).
Almost 50 species of vertebrate animals are listed on State inventories
for
species that are endangered, threatened, or are of concern (Table
2-6). Roughly 62 percent, or 872,639 acres, of the Highlands is
considered
important wildlife habitat with over 35 percent of the Highlands
supporting
Federal or State endangered species.
Large, unbroken tracts of forest (greater than 500 acres in size),
which
comprise nearly 25 percent (or nearly 350,000 acres) of the Highlands
support habitat requirements of far-ranging mammals such as bear
and bobcat
and provide interior forest habitat critical to the survival of
many
nesting neotropical songbirds. There are only 11 tracts of forest
that are
greater than 5,000 acres in size and these largest tracts comprise
approximately 60 percent of the New YorkNew Jersey Highlands,
or 416,000
(29 percent) acres of core forest interior habitat. Just as important
as
the sheer amount of habitat in the Highlands is its location and
contiguity. Protected open space, located in key locations, provide
feeding and migration corridors, critical to the survival of large
animals
such as the black bear, and furbearers such as bobcat, and river
otter.
In addition to the critical habitat, the New YorkNew Jersey
Highlands
provides to species in peril, the region also represents a vital
link in a
major bird migratory flyway connecting wintering habitat in Central
and
South American and breeding grounds in northern latitudes. One-quarter
of
all neotropical bird species found in the United States are found
in the
Highlands and half of the total number of species that breed in
the
Highlands are neotropical migrants. Many of these species are
forest-interior breeding species, and the 416,242 acres of interior
forests
in the Highlands provide critical habitat for species including
red-eyed
vireo (Vireo olivaceus), American redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)
and
eastern pee-wee (Contopus virens). Some two-thirds of the migrant
birds
that use the eastern migratory flyways are believed to be in serious
decline. Several species, including the wood thrush (Hylocichla
mustelina), Kentucky warbler (Oporornis formosus), black-throated
blue
warbler (Dendroica caerulescens) and cerulean warblers (Dendroica
cerulea)
are on the Audubon Watch List for species in rapid decline
(www.audobon.org/bird/watch). One reason for their decline is
the loss of
habitat through forest fragmentation and development pressure
(Robinson et
al., 1995, Villard et al. 1995, DeCalesta 1994).
On Plants and Animals:
A significant percentage of the New YorkNew
Jersey Highlands provides
critical resources to a wide variety of species. Indeed, approximately
62
percent (or 873,996 acres) of the Highlands provides important
habitat for
many species of plants and animals that have some status of concern
at
either the State or Federal level. The wide variety of habitat
types and
the juxtaposition of habitat types helps to maintain the rich
biodiversity
of the region. However, there are serious threats to the
region. Fragmentation and alteration of habitat continue to pose
the
greatest threat to the biological communities in the Highlands.
Rapid
urbanization encroaches on and fragments habitat, destroys individuals
as
well as populations, and potentially threatens the continued existence
of
many biological communities. Degradation of habitat by direct
destruction
or indirectly through pollution, erosion, introduction of invasive
species,
or fragmentation all threatens the existence of species, diminishes
natural
communities, and reduces genetic variability.
The presence of invasive species in many systems, including the
Highlands,
has altered community structure and ecosystem function. Some of
the more
common invasive plant species in the Highlands include Norway
maple (Acer
platanoides), tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima), Japanese barberry
(Berberis thumbergii), Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica),
purple
loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), garlic mustard (Alliaria officinalis)
and
stilt grass (Microstegium vimineum). In addition, animals that
live in the
soil have been impacted by the invasion of exotic earth worms
(Kalisz 1993)
throughout the region while range expansion of cowbirds exacerbate
the
effects of forest fragmentation on forest interior breeding birds
(Moorman
et al., 2002). Little scientific evidence is available as to how
these
invasive species are altering the biodiversity of the Highlands.
However,
the community structure and function will inevitably change in
the presence
of the host of the invaders (Lodge, 1993, Drake et al., 1989).
High whitetail deer populations are changing the forest plant
communities. Deer selectively graze on native seedlings and tend
to avoid
many invasive species. Preferential grazing ultimately alters
regeneration
pathways of the native forests. Reduced hunting pressure and the
encroachment of suburbia exacerbates the problem. In addition,
the
presence of pest species such as the wooly adelgid selectively
removes one
of the potential keystone species of the Highlands forests and
threatens
the continued integrity of the region’s biodiversity.
On Recreation:
The Highlands represent a major outdoor recreational resource
for the
citizens of the New York City metropolitan region. The attendance
at major
outdoor recreational venues in the Highlands is over 14 million
visitor
days per year. This total is for attendance at State parks and
forests,
Morris, Orange and Westchester County Parks, and the Morristown
National
Historic Park, and does not include other county parks or Federal
or State
wildlife management areas. The total visitation for these parks
has shown
a steady rise over the past decade (from approximately 8 million
to more
than 14 million). This level of visitation is greater than the
visitation
at such famed national parks as Yellowstone, Yosemite or Grand
Canyon.
In New York State, the Hudson River valley and adjacent Highlands
are a
focal point of open space and greenway planning and protection.
The Hudson
River Estuary Program was established as part of the National
Estuary
Program in 1987. In 1991, the State of New York passed the Hudson
River
Valley Greenway Act of 1991 to create a regional planning process
to
promote the protection of the region’s natural and cultural
resources. The
Hudson River and Highlands area of New York State was designated
as part
the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area in 1996, recognizing
the
importance of the history and the resources of the Hudson River
Valley to
the nation. In 1998, the Hudson River was also designated a National
American Heritage River under Executive Order 13061. This designation
directed the various Federal agencies to cooperate with State
and local
agencies to enhance the historic, cultural, recreational, economic
and
environmental value of the Hudson River and to improve the health
of the
adjacent communities.
The New YorkNew Jersey Highlands are a favorite hiking destination
for New
York City metropolitan area residents. There are approximately
855 miles
of recreational trails that cross both public and private land.
Some of
these trails represent linear recreational features that traverse
large
sections of the Highlands countryside. These long distance trails
include
such notable regional hiking trails as the Appalachian Trail,
Highlands
Trail, and Long Path. Many of the region’s long-distance
rail-trails and
county greenways are multi-use trails supporting bicycling, cross
country
skiing and horseback riding in addition to walking. There are
approximately 343 miles of long distance trail. In addition, there
are
more than 620 miles of local hiking trails. Many of these local
hiking
trails are concentrated in the larger sections of State parkland
such as
Harriman, Bear Mountain, Ringwood/Ramapos, and Clarence Fahnestock
State
parks. A volunteer organization, the New YorkNew Jersey Trail
Conference,
maintains many of these trails. Approximately 25 percent of local
hiking
trails exist on private lands. These trails are much more susceptible
to
incompatible neighboring development, closure and/or rerouting.
The
unauthorized use of motorized all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) on recreational
trails is an area of concern by both land managers and trail users,
alike. The issue of managing ATV use is receiving increasing scrutiny
on
the part of State and county land use management agencies.
One of the biggest draws of the Highlands is their scenic beauty.
The Bear
Mountain and the Hudson Highlands have long been nationally renowned
for
their scenic splendor. Automobile touring on the Highlands scenic
highways
and byways is popular activity. The autumn months during the height
of the
autumnal leaf color are especially popular and often combined
with a trip
to farm markets or cider mills. Ecotourism is increasing with
28 sites
officially designated in the Highlands region by the states of
New York and
New Jersey. There are more than 170 recreational trail viewpoints
and
lookout towers available for scenic viewing of the Highlands.
Based on our
viewshed analysis, more than 140,000 acres of the Highlands ridges
and
valleys, including the nationally significant Hudson Valley, can
be
considered as having exceptional scenic value.
Fishing is a popular recreational sport in the Highlands. The
extensive
network of cold-water trout fisheries throughout the Highlands
makes it one
of the more popular fishing destinations in the region. There
are
approximately 1860 miles of streams that have been mapped by New
York State
Department of Environmental Conservation and New Jersey Department
of
Environmental Protection as trout streams. These trout streams
have been
classed as either trout production or trout maintenance. Trout
production
streams have the highest water quality and have suitable habitat
characteristics such that they support trout reproduction. Trout
maintenance streams generally do not support trout reproduction
but do
support a put-and-take trout fishery. The region is also well
known for
the warm and cold-water fishing opportunities that the numerous
lakes and
reservoirs provide. While some of these waters have limited public
access,
many of the largest water bodies such as Round Valley, Spruce
Run,
Greenwood Lake, Lake Hopatcong, and the Hudson River have public
boat
ramps. Other lakes, most notably in Harriman State Park, have
hand carry
boat launch sites open to the public.
In addition to fishing, Highlands waterways also provide numerous
opportunities for canoeing, pleasure boating and sailing. The
Appalachian
Mountain Club has mapped 535 miles of canoeable rivers. The larger
lakes
and reservoirs as well as a spectacular stretch of the Hudson
River are
popular for sailing and pleasure boating.
Hunting has been a very popular recreational activity in the
Highlands. There are approximately 25,000 acres of public open
space
accessible for both small game and deer hunting. Additional lands
are
owned and managed by private individuals and gun clubs with the
primary
purpose of recreational hunting. However, in recent years the
number of
hunting licenses sold has been on the decline and there is concern
that, as
the primary deer control mechanism, a continued decrease of hunting
pressure will result in increased deer overpopulation problems.
Public
participation in non-consumptive uses of wildlife such as birdwatching
and
wildlife viewing is on the rise and both New York and New Jersey
have
established a network of wildlife viewing sites open to the public.
Camping is a popular recreational activity in the Highlands. Harriman,
Clarence Fahnestock, Spruce Run, Round Valley and Stephens State
Parks all
have public campgrounds open to families or organized groups.
There are
also over 30 private campgrounds as well as numerous Y, church
and Scout camps.
The New YorkNew Jersey Highlands represent the closest area
of extensive
open space to the New York City metropolitan area. It is a heavily
used
resource and meets a diverse set of needs from semi-wilderness
backpacking
to Saturday morning soccer games. The approximately 20 percent
of the
Highlands already set aside as parks, forests or refuges, represents
a
sizeable area of permanently protected open space. Continued population
growth in the region suggests that the demand for outdoor recreational
experiences will continue to grow. All levels of government have
responded
to this demand as evidenced by the many proactive open space policies
that
have been adopted. Recent years have shown some significant tracts
of
preserved open space through either fee simple purchase or conservation
easements.
Recreation and open space will be impacted by the expected changes
in
population and land use in the Highlands. Projected land development,
especially when located along major roadways and within the viewshed
as
well as the watershed, will significantly detract from the outdoor
experience and its recreational economic value. Continued parcelization
will make parkland acquisition more costly, access to private
land less
likely, and reduce the buffer that private open space provides
to public
parks. Public access to waterways for fishing, canoeing and boating
will
be further restricted as lakeshores and riverbanks are developed.
Lands
open to hunting will be further reduced as large tracts are converted
or
fragmented by development. Competition between different recreational
user
groups for a limited land base is already an issue and may intensify.
And lastly, from the Bureau of Land Management:
Mature deciduous forest
<http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i6580id.html>Cerulean
Warbler
Recently expanding population in NJ Highlands, Hudson Valley,
and CT; uses
mature upland and riparian bottomland forests.
<http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i7550id.html>Wood
Thrush Declining
nearly throughout its range; breeds primarily in mid-successional
forest
with dense deciduous understory.
<http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i6390id.html>Worm-eating
Warbler
Requires mature upland forest with dense understory; ground nester.
<http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i6760id.html>Louisiana
Waterthrush
Requires rocky, flowing streams in mature forest.
Objective: Roughly 600,000 ha of deciduous (and mixed) forest
is required
to support entire habitat-species suite (e.g. 170,000 pairs of
Wood
Thrush), with 11,000 ha suitable to support 4,700 pairs of Worm-eating
Warblers and 500 pairs of Cerulean Warblers. In addition, 7,800
km of
forested streams are required to support 5,700 pairs of Louisiana
Waterthrush.
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