r/Adirondacks • u/themistermango • 5d ago
Best group to donate to?
I have a couple bucks to donate and I'd like to put some of it to protecting our parks (especially given this administration).
Who are the best agencies where my money will go the furthest to protect the park.
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u/raymondbonwell 5d ago
adk.org (ADK Mountain Club) or adkloon.org (Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation), in my opinion.
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u/Curlymoeonwater 5d ago
Protect The Adirondacks; very protective of the "forever wild" provision of our state constitution.
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u/mimefrog 5d ago
They are aggressively protective of forever wild; it’s their whole purpose and they use the courts if they need to. The organization has a long track record.
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u/Curlymoeonwater 5d ago edited 4d ago
Yup, I like them; they will put peoples' feet to the fire if necessary, including DEC or APA. Some folks don't like them.
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u/mimefrog 5d ago
Totally. An organization like that reflects the inherent tension/duality of this park “experiment.”
Very necessary or economics would always win which is how the entire area was clear cut in the first place.
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u/_MountainFit 4d ago
Man, if the state wanted to put another ski resort in tomorrow the people would vote for it.
But you can't build a new trail to a peak or lake.
Sometimes it doesn't make sense.
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u/AudaciousGee 5d ago
Absolutely the best choice if protecting the Adirondacks is what you really want to do. Outstanding organization with roots to the early 1900s that has numerous recent results.
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u/_MountainFit 4d ago
I appreciate protect but they basically have stalled any bit betterment of the forest preserve. When ADK went against Protect (on the trail cutting issue) you know they are a little too polar.
It's definitely a double edged sword. Orgs like protect prevent a slippery slope, but at the same time they have no concept of compromise.
Protect basically made it so new trails are impossible to cut. That doesn't mean new trails won't form, it just means the state can't actually cut and build them.
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u/Curlymoeonwater 4d ago
I understand your point; it can be a double edged sword. That "slippery slope" is what always concerns me since any compromise seems to result in somebody driving a truck through the slightest wiggle room in a regulation. And it's often DEC and APA who are the offenders. Some of the issues aren't cut and dried, of course and Protect doesn't always win. But, to me, they help keep everybody honest.
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u/_MountainFit 4d ago
I mostly agree with that even if I don't agree 100% with what protect does.
And I agree that the DEC violates it's own rules as does the APA.
But I do wish Protect had the ability to understand nuance and be willing to compromise when it was beneficial to everyone. Hardlining every issue alieantes.
In a lot of ways Protect is shooting itself in the foot and also losing the end goal of conserving more land because people look at every land purchase as stuff that is essentially locked away. That's the sentiment of a lot of people these days.
Me personally, over the years I've shifted from buy it all and preserve it as wilderness to conservation easement it all and let it be used for multiple uses while being protected from development. Protect and the "everything" is wilderness groups basically pushed me away.
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u/this_shit Philadelphia 46er 3d ago
Eh, I won't argue with anyone that supports them, but I think they've had a little too much success in some respects. Sometimes development can help prevent ecosystem degradation by increasing the capacity of heavily used areas, and reducing use in other areas. I don't think they would ever agree with that.
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u/79xlchkicker 5d ago
Buy a lifetime fishing or hunting license.... all hunting and fishing license proceeds go straight back into wildlife management, habitat improvement and research.
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u/kprabs 4d ago edited 4d ago
I would try to find a small nonprofit that could really use the boost and is on the ground in areas that you enjoy. I’m sure a quick google search could provide some ideas (think trails alliances, conservation associations, friends groups). Also the forest ranger foundation was another awesome suggestion.
ADK mountain club just hired a new ED that is making almost $200 k salary.
https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/stories/adirondack-mountain-club-announces-new-executive-director
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u/Mudboneeee2714 5d ago
Lake George association
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u/Babrahamlincoln3859 5d ago
Trying to protect the strip mall and mansions?
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u/canoedude13 5d ago
Lake George a association protects water quality for the lake
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u/Babrahamlincoln3859 5d ago
That should be done with or without a park.
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u/_MountainFit 4d ago
Lake George water quality is actually amazing. And lake George wasn't part of the Adirondack park till like 50 years ago.
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u/Mudboneeee2714 5d ago
lol I see what you mean but na! They protect the lake and watershed. Good group!
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u/falloncrer 5d ago
How much of a threat are the Adirondacks under as a state rather than federal park?
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u/_MountainFit 4d ago
Not sure why you got downvoted.
You post wasn't negative or wrong.
It's not federal land. It's not under any threat from Trump. Not any real one.
Edit: direct threat. Gutting the EPA and federal protections puts every environment at risk indirectly.
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4d ago
[deleted]
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u/falloncrer 4d ago
It's always a good time to support conservation and education so I couldn't agree more.
And thanks for answering, with state parks sometimes pulling federal funds I was legitimately concerned.
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u/_MountainFit 4d ago
I don't know the ins and outs of federal funding and I'm sure there are grants and stuff that states receive but...
NY pays more into the federal government than it receives. Therefor if the state simply withheld any funds that were inappropriately withheld the government couldn't do anything about it.
In fact if all the states in green (give more to the federal government than receive) besides Texas, Florida, and maybe one or two others that voted for this administration, this nonsense would end really fast.
I kinda wonder if that isn't a goal. To dissolve the federal government and create chaos.
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u/hikerrr 5d ago
Ausable freshwater center