Columbia County
Greene County

Natural Resources

"The Earth is good.  It is a priveledge to live thereon."     ~Liberty Hyde Bailey

 Natural resource conservation is an issue of critical importance for the survival of humans and the myriad of species with whom we share the Earth.  Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties plays an essential role in conservation and protection of the landscape in the Northern Catskills and Hudson Valley region.  We work in partnership with many other agencies and organizations to educate the public and policymakers about issues that impact the natural world.

 Topic areas include:

Forests and Agroforestry:    The wise use of forests is crucial to the well being of the rural communities where they occur, as well as urban areas that reap the benefit of clean water and fresh air that forests provide. Cornell Coopeartive Extension provides a variety of educational programs that focus on forests,  including instruction on sustainably managing forests, as well as growing crops in the shade of the forest canopy, including mushrooms and American Ginseng.

Water Resources:    The Hudson Valley is a region that has abundant water resources.  It is our responsibility to maintain the integrity of this water for ours and future generations.  Water-related programs include watershed education,  stream explorations and promotion of good land stewardship to protect water quality, such as maintaining forested streambanks.  We also work with lake and property owner associations on such topics as lake management, lakescaping, and controlling invasive species.

Invasive Species:   According to the US Department of Agriculture, an invasive species is a plant or animal that is not native to the area where it is found and whose introduction is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.   Cornell Cooperative Extension is an active member of the Catskill Region Invasive Species Partnership (CRISP), and we work with the New York Invasive Species Clearinghouse to spread awareness of this threat to our native landscape.

Healthy Home Environments:    Environmental stewardship begins at home.   We offer workshops and trainings on home energy conservation in partnership with the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority.   We provide guidance on improving indoor air quality, lead abatement and other home environment issues. We also provide assistance to homeowners who want to conserve their home landscape through our Assessing Your Home Landscape program.

Natural Resources staff members:

Ron Frisbee                        This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.            (518) 622-9820 x 30

Liz LoGiudice                     This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.            (518) 622-9820 x 33

Theresa Mayhew                    This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.               (518) 828-3346 x 204

Marilyn Wyman               This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.             (518) 622-9820 x 36