For Immediate Release: May 15, 2001
Contact:
Victoria Hristovski | Director Public Information | Adirondack Park Agency
contact@apa.ny.gov | (518) 891-4050
PAUL SMITHS - It was another exciting day at the Adirondack Visitors Interpretive Center (VIC) at Paul Smith’s on Friday, May 11 when representatives from International Paper, the United States Forest Service, the Adirondack Park Institute, Paul Smith’s College and the Adirondack Park Agency were on-hand to unveil the new signage for the Forestry Ecosystem Research and Demonstration Area (FERDA.)
FERDA was established in 1999 as a joint project of Paul Smith’s College, US Forest Service, Burlington Research Station and the Adirondack Park Agency’s Visitor Interpretive Center. Over the past two summers, the US Forest Service Staff has been working with Paul Smith’s College on extensive vegetative surveys to gather baseline ecological data on 14-five-acre blocks of northern hardwood forests. In the winter of 1999, treatments were carried out on seven of the blocks to implement a representative sample of sylvicultural systems, including clearcutting, shelterwood, two-aged group selection, single tree selection and no-cutting (on 2 blocks).
"Congratulations to all the people who worked on this," said International Paper’s Timberland Manager Joe Hanley. "The education value of this trail will serve to deepen the public’s appreciation of Forestry and its environmental and economic impacts."
International Paper showed its support for this initiative with a grant to assist in establishing baseline surveys. The research agenda includes studies to determine the effects of the treatments on ground cover vegetation, the establishment of deer exclosures to determine the impact of browsing on forest regeneration, and a survey of visitors to determine public preferences for forest managements, as well as evaluating the effects of the various treatments on residual trees. Paul Smiths College Vice-President John Mills hailed the project as a real bonus to professors and college students. "We are a four-year school now and we need to develop more research projects like this. There is a tremendous education component that will come out of this project."
"Because of the significance of this project as an educational tool, more and more people
will actually get out there and get their hands dirty and learn at the same time," said Mark Twery of the US Forest Service.
International Paper followed up its support with an $11,000 grant to the Adirondack Park Institute, the Centers’ not-for-profit, to develop the outdoor interpretation for the site. "We are very fortunate to be involved in this project and many others that IP has helped fund for us. With their contributions, we are continuing to teach a generation to care," said Thad Collum of the Adirondack Park Institute. The signs developed by the Interpretive Center staff explain the different treatments and will interpret research as it progresses over the years on the plots. Next summer, Interpretive Center staff hope to follow the outdoor portion with an indoor exhibit and computer simulation that allows people to see and change different aspects of the forest ecosystem.
"Today we are witness to the powerful effects collaborating, and bringing people together can have," said APA Chairman Richard Lefebvre. "This is where nature and man meet and we can never work hard enough to make sure there is a symbiotic relationship between the two."
To learn more about the FERDA site, or to schedule a free group tour, please contact the Paul Smith’s VIC at 518-327-3000, or the Forestry Division of Paul Smith’s College, 518-327-6236.
The Paul Smith’s VIC is located on rt. 30, one-mile north of Paul Smith’s College. The Newcomb VIC is located on Rt. 28N, 14 miles east of Long Lake. Both Centers are operated by the Adirondack Park Agency and are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Admission is free.