Catskills to Adirondacks

The Capital Region is an important link between the Central Appalachian Mountains and the Northern Appalachian Mountains.

The Eastern Wildway consists of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Great Smokey Mountains, the Appalachian Mountains and runs all the way north to the Boreal in Canada. The Catskills and Adirondacks are a part of this larger chain of mountains along the east coast, connecting to the Green Mountains in Vermont and beyond.

Where are animals and birds going? They are on the lookout for mates, migrating to breeding grounds, feeding grounds, and more recently, moving their home ranges slowly north to adapt to changes in our climate.

Recent studies conducted by The Nature Conservancy in North America show species are already moving 11 miles north and 36 feet higher in elevation each decade!

In collaboration with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), we explored how the Capital Region fits within this larger landscape context and identified actions we can take to improve the region for wildlife and humans in the face of climate change.

More than 1/2 (60%) of the US lands and waters are fragmented by human development, blocking species movement and preventing them from finding new and suitable habitat (TNC).

Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy partnered with The Nature Conservancy to study this linkage to better understand the challenges facing wildlife. The Nature Conservancy led on the mapping initiative as well as learning more about bridges and underpasses on routes 5, 5s, 88 and the Thruway. Mapping of these alternative crossings for wildlife to avoid roads included assessments for future improvements to benefit animal movement. These transportation corridors cut through the middle of the linkage, creating challenges for wildlife movement and risks for drivers.

Through a partnership with The Nature Conservancy, a sophisticated mapping analysis was conducted on the Catskill to Adirondack Linkage to better understand wildlife movement through the region.

Three locations were identified as being the most critical for wildlife movement. The Noses in Montgomery County, Glenville Hill in Schenectady County and the Helderberg Escarpment in Albany County.

MHLC has many areas of interest for conservation. However, this work has helped us to prioritize our conservation work in these areas with willing landowners to make a difference for wildlife.

With this new look at our landscape and how it fits into the larger picture, MHLC will work with willing landowners to increase our land protection efforts in these areas of importantance. This will include using various protection techniques including conservation easements to protect lands leading up to wildlife crossings to ensure species have room to choose the safer route.

TNC will take the lead leveraging existing relationships with local transportation authorities to share project results and identify opportunities to inform routine maintenance and long-term transportation planning for the benefit of wildlife movement and reduced collisions with animals in the region.

If you live in the Glenville Hill, Sprakers or Rotterdam area, have more than 50 acres of open land and are interested in learning how you can protect your land to help wildlife movement,  contact  Associate Director Sarah Walsh.