Interview with Pat Szarpa - Executive Director at Western New York Land Conservancy
What exactly is the Western New York Land Conservancy?
A 501c(3) not for profit land conservation organization whose mission is to permanently protect critical lands in our eight county region. These include both natural and working lands.
When was it founded?
1991
Is WNYLC part of a larger organization?
No - but we are one of at least 90 land trusts in New York State and about 1600 nationwide. Each organization has a defined territory to work in. We all work together in sharing ideas, mentorship and project partnerships.
I know that the WNYLC is a steward of our preserved public lands... does it also help to reverse environmentally challenged lands, like the lands surrounding the Buffalo River and Scajaquada Creek for example?
We are working to expand our organizational and land protections capabilities to serve the natural resource needs of both our urban and rural region and plan to include the Buffalo River watershed in our next strategic land protection plan.
Are there members?
Yes, We are a membership support organization.
Are there other groups that you work hand-in-hand with?
Yes - particularly the American Farmland Trust on our region's farmland protection needs; the Buffalo Audubon Society for the permanent protection of the North Tonawanda Audubon Preserve and the Buffalo -Niagara Riverkeeper with their research and concerns in the Buffalo River Watershed.
What is an urban issue that you are involved with at this time?
We have begun dialogue with Grass Roots Gardens of Buffalo on the development of an urban/rural farm education initiative.
A regional issue?
We are actively involved in assisting the town of Clarence rank parcels of natural and working farmland within their town as part of their Clarence Greenprint Bond Program. We have identified the need to protect and bring recognition to the fragile lands of the Niagara Escarpment in Niagara County. Our goal is to create an international link to the already protected lands of the Niagara Escarpment in Ontario, Canada, and the land protection initiatives of the Escarpment in Wisconsin. It is a 650 mile long land feature with flora and fauna unique to it's rocky face.
Do you cross paths with Buffalo city parks... or Olmsted Parks?
Not recently, but we, along with other environmental organizations in our region, actively work to share ideas, and resources.
Do you involve yourself with water issues as well?
Our mission is to protect land, so our piece of the conservation puzzle is to protect the land in critical watershed areas.
How do you use the court system to get what you want? Are you an aggressive or passive organization?
We take litigation very seriously and we seek litigation as a last resort. We have dealt with a couple cases in our 18 years but these were after all other methods to resolve issues have not succeeded.
How do you weigh the checks and balances of recreation vs. animal habitat? For example, snowmobiling and hunting in lands that might otherwise be considered forever wild or pristine park settings.
Every property is considered individually based on its location and based on what resources are most critical for protection. Many of our permanently protected lands are still privately owned so issues of hunting and public access are determined by the preference of the landowner as long as conservation values are not being violated.
Are you Federally funded?
No. The only time Federal or State funds may come into play is as a result of a grant that we may apply for.
Do you address urban sprawl issues? And if so, why is urban sprawl so rampant in this region?
Urban sprawl is a large part of our discussions and our work in the region. A major part of the problem has been the deterioration of the urban core, and more recently the beginning of the deterioration of the first ring suburbs of Buffalo. The ability of towns to extend water and sewer lines have made it easy for people to "spread out".
Is there a way to curb urban sprawl? Whose responsibility is it to address the issue as it has been addressed in West Coast regions?
It is a piece of everyone's responsibility. One of the best ways to curb urban sprawl is the revitalization of the city, town and village cores, which we are beginning to see in Buffalo. We promote smart growth and the intelligent use of our natural resources in just about everything we do. It is a message we all must continue to reinforce. It will take time, but I am encouraged that we will see changes in attitude, particularly with the important of protecting our region's prime farmland and the importance of fresh locally grown food.
Regarding Farming Issues, What is the Land Conservancy's role when working with farmers?
We provide information on how their land can be permanently protected. Much of our conversation centers around the New York State Farmland Protection grants provided through the Department of Agriculture and Markets. These grants are applied for by the municipality the farmer lives in, either the town or county. The Land Conservancy can assist in this process and, if the grant is awarded, will work with the farmer and the municipality as project manager to make sure the process and paperwork is complete. We then have the responsibility to permanently protect these farms on an annual basis moving forward.
Our discussions with farmers take place one on one or in many cases, as part of group presentations we hold throughout the region.
Is there a push for Organic Farms?
We "push" more for local farming and supporting our local farmers. It is the prime soils we want to preserve, plus keeping food close is more nutritious and uses less energy to get to us. We want to see working farms continue to thrive as part of the fabric of Western New York.
Does the Land Conservancy conduct research on best farm practices?
No - that would be the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. On farms we currently protect, we certainly pay attention to what is happening when we make our annual visits to the farms and if the farmer is staying within the parameters of the conservation easement.
Is there an effort to create zones in this region?
Zoning is one of the topics we discuss along with the American Farmland Trust in our regional farmland protection presentations. Zoning is done town by town, so we meet with many local officials to discuss the importance of good zoning codes that will identify and allow farming to take place. From a county perspective, Erie County is getting ready to update its Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan. The protection of farmland is described and embraced in the Framework for Regional Growth that was created several years ago and highlights Erie and Niagara Counties.
Are we losing farmland and if so is it being replaced wisely?
Farmland is lost at an alarming rate. No, it is not being replaced wisely. We are ending up with a fragmented community; strip plazas and cul de sacs that are unnecessary in a region that is losing population on a regular basis.
How does the Land Conservancy prioritize the lands?
We are following a five-year land protection plan that was formulated within the organization. We are in the process of updating that plan for the next five years beginning in 2011.
How does a Parcel get added to our list of protected properties?
We review each project based on a set of criteria we have devised to rank a parcel. Our Conservation Committee reviews this information and then makes recommendation to our board for projects we should go ahead with. Projects generally come from inquiries made to our office or from parcels we have identified in our land plan as being significant to protect. We have also had land donated to us.
Once we have the land permanently protected by either a conservation easement or by owning it, we schedule our annual monitoring visit, maintain good landowner relations, and also in very rare cases need to proceed with litigation if there are violations to the land that the landowner or neighbor does not want to correct.
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What exactly is the Western New York Land Conservancy?
A 501c(3) not for profit land conservation organization whose mission is to permanently protect critical lands in our eight county region. These include both natural and working lands.
When was it founded?
1991
Is WNYLC part of a larger organization?
No - but we are one of at least 90 land trusts in New York State and about 1600 nationwide. Each organization has a defined territory to work in. We all work together in sharing ideas, mentorship and project partnerships.
I know that the WNYLC is a steward of our preserved public lands... does it also help to reverse environmentally challenged lands, like the lands surrounding the Buffalo River and Scajaquada Creek for example?
We are working to expand our organizational and land protections capabilities to serve the natural resource needs of both our urban and rural region and plan to include the Buffalo River watershed in our next strategic land protection plan.
Are there members?
Yes, We are a membership support organization.
Are there other groups that you work hand-in-hand with?
Yes - particularly the American Farmland Trust on our region's farmland protection needs; the Buffalo Audubon Society for the permanent protection of the North Tonawanda Audubon Preserve and the Buffalo -Niagara Riverkeeper with their research and concerns in the Buffalo River Watershed.
What is an urban issue that you are involved with at this time?
We have begun dialogue with Grass Roots Gardens of Buffalo on the development of an urban/rural farm education initiative.
A regional issue?
We are actively involved in assisting the town of Clarence rank parcels of natural and working farmland within their town as part of their Clarence Greenprint Bond Program. We have identified the need to protect and bring recognition to the fragile lands of the Niagara Escarpment in Niagara County. Our goal is to create an international link to the already protected lands of the Niagara Escarpment in Ontario, Canada, and the land protection initiatives of the Escarpment in Wisconsin. It is a 650 mile long land feature with flora and fauna unique to it's rocky face.
Do you cross paths with Buffalo city parks... or Olmsted Parks?
Not recently, but we, along with other environmental organizations in our region, actively work to share ideas, and resources.
Do you involve yourself with water issues as well?
Our mission is to protect land, so our piece of the conservation puzzle is to protect the land in critical watershed areas.
How do you use the court system to get what you want? Are you an aggressive or passive organization?
We take litigation very seriously and we seek litigation as a last resort. We have dealt with a couple cases in our 18 years but these were after all other methods to resolve issues have not succeeded.
How do you weigh the checks and balances of recreation vs. animal habitat? For example, snowmobiling and hunting in lands that might otherwise be considered forever wild or pristine park settings.
Every property is considered individually based on its location and based on what resources are most critical for protection. Many of our permanently protected lands are still privately owned so issues of hunting and public access are determined by the preference of the landowner as long as conservation values are not being violated.
Are you Federally funded?
No. The only time Federal or State funds may come into play is as a result of a grant that we may apply for.
Do you address urban sprawl issues? And if so, why is urban sprawl so rampant in this region?
Urban sprawl is a large part of our discussions and our work in the region. A major part of the problem has been the deterioration of the urban core, and more recently the beginning of the deterioration of the first ring suburbs of Buffalo. The ability of towns to extend water and sewer lines have made it easy for people to "spread out".
Is there a way to curb urban sprawl? Whose responsibility is it to address the issue as it has been addressed in West Coast regions?
It is a piece of everyone's responsibility. One of the best ways to curb urban sprawl is the revitalization of the city, town and village cores, which we are beginning to see in Buffalo. We promote smart growth and the intelligent use of our natural resources in just about everything we do. It is a message we all must continue to reinforce. It will take time, but I am encouraged that we will see changes in attitude, particularly with the important of protecting our region's prime farmland and the importance of fresh locally grown food.
Regarding Farming Issues, What is the Land Conservancy's role when working with farmers?
We provide information on how their land can be permanently protected. Much of our conversation centers around the New York State Farmland Protection grants provided through the Department of Agriculture and Markets. These grants are applied for by the municipality the farmer lives in, either the town or county. The Land Conservancy can assist in this process and, if the grant is awarded, will work with the farmer and the municipality as project manager to make sure the process and paperwork is complete. We then have the responsibility to permanently protect these farms on an annual basis moving forward.
Our discussions with farmers take place one on one or in many cases, as part of group presentations we hold throughout the region.
Is there a push for Organic Farms?
We "push" more for local farming and supporting our local farmers. It is the prime soils we want to preserve, plus keeping food close is more nutritious and uses less energy to get to us. We want to see working farms continue to thrive as part of the fabric of Western New York.
Does the Land Conservancy conduct research on best farm practices?
No - that would be the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. On farms we currently protect, we certainly pay attention to what is happening when we make our annual visits to the farms and if the farmer is staying within the parameters of the conservation easement.
Is there an effort to create zones in this region?
Zoning is one of the topics we discuss along with the American Farmland Trust in our regional farmland protection presentations. Zoning is done town by town, so we meet with many local officials to discuss the importance of good zoning codes that will identify and allow farming to take place. From a county perspective, Erie County is getting ready to update its Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan. The protection of farmland is described and embraced in the Framework for Regional Growth that was created several years ago and highlights Erie and Niagara Counties.
Are we losing farmland and if so is it being replaced wisely?
Farmland is lost at an alarming rate. No, it is not being replaced wisely. We are ending up with a fragmented community; strip plazas and cul de sacs that are unnecessary in a region that is losing population on a regular basis.
How does the Land Conservancy prioritize the lands?
We are following a five-year land protection plan that was formulated within the organization. We are in the process of updating that plan for the next five years beginning in 2011.
How does a Parcel get added to our list of protected properties?
We review each project based on a set of criteria we have devised to rank a parcel. Our Conservation Committee reviews this information and then makes recommendation to our board for projects we should go ahead with. Projects generally come from inquiries made to our office or from parcels we have identified in our land plan as being significant to protect. We have also had land donated to us.
Once we have the land permanently protected by either a conservation easement or by owning it, we schedule our annual monitoring visit, maintain good landowner relations, and also in very rare cases need to proceed with litigation if there are violations to the land that the landowner or neighbor does not want to correct.
Well it seems that the further away the land is from a metro area the higher priority it should be given to land conservancy.
We should be adding to the undevelopable land...ie land banking...returning it to wetlands and forest.
We should be adding to land zoned for small to medium sized farms and not allow rezoning for residential or commercial.
Considering governments are going broke and are unable to maintain existing roads, sewars, water mains, bridges, etc with the existing gas taxes, tolls, property taxes, state taxes and federal taxes, does it really need to be said that we should not be building new suburban/exurban infrastructure when we cannot maintain existing infrastructure.
Oh and I wish the liberals would go home and allow game hunting rather than poisoning animals. Allow hunters to kill 100 Geese and Ducks Deer etc and take them to a slaughterhouse and allow them to be sold as game meat.