Ecological Scorecard

Top Ecological Scorecard

Assessing Environmental Change at Recreation Sites

Catskill Park

Beginning in 2026, DEC has partnered with the New York Natural Heritage Program to initiate a pilot phase of the Ecological Scorecard project on Forest Preserve lands in the Catskill Park, funded by the Environmental Protection Fund.

The project in the Catskills will monitor ecological indicators in select recreation areas to assess how they may be changing over time. In the pilot phase, limited data collection will take place at points of interest such as hiking trails, backcountry campsites, and lean-tos.

Adirondack Park

Since 2019, DEC has partnered with SUNY ESF’s Adirondack Ecological Center to carry out the Ecological Scorecard project on Forest Preserve lands in the Adirondack Park. Funded through the Environmental Protection Fund, this long-term project monitors ecological indicators such as plant communities, wildlife, or other natural features in select recreation areas and assesses how these areas may be changing over time. Monitoring takes place at:

Points of interest used for recreation (i.e., campsites, lean-tos, and trails);
Under-construction sites not currently open for recreation; and
Two control sites in ESF’s Huntington Wildlife Forest in Newcomb, NY.

This targeted monitoring, combined with data collected about visitor use, allows DEC staff to make data-driven adaptive management decisions which help balance recreational activities with improved ecological outcomes. For further information, please visit SUNY ESF’s Ecological Scorecard website.