ࡱ> qsp%` ebjbjNN 4|,,]\\\\\\\p$4p+29+;+;+;+;+;+;+$,hT/_+\& & & _+\\t+'''& \\9+'& 9+'')\\C* `26϶$#*9++0+*,J0&^J0C*C*>J0\*b' _+_+' +& & & & ppppppppp\\\\\\ Raw notes on North Country Public Radio news coverage of the FP deal 9-25-08 June 2005 higher costs fuel, raw materials, sagging paper prices, 1.6 million dollar year to date loss, early June idled 10 salaried foreman, another 20 full-time administrative employees laid off for at least 4 months, recalls seasonal improvements in paper prices, required employees to pay 50% of health insurance costs, up from 25% morale suffered one of regions biggest landowners, 160,000 acres employs more than 800 ppl president Richard Carota June 2006 board of directors, advisors to solicit and evaluate offers to buy paper mill and associated manufacturing facilities in Glens Falls, normal business operations continue, timing tied to FP recent financial rebound, growing customer demand for factories main product lines, factory more valuable to potential buyers, Samuel Hoops, principle shareholder member of board, it just seems it would be better to get out of the paper business FP one of the north country top private sector companies, because of land holdings, mainstay of regional economy Dave Russel, union VP local 155 at mill, think its a sad day that a place thats been this long in community is thinking about selling. no plans to shut down mill, offer glens falls plant only, not forest lands. end tradition of family ownership since 1860s. labor strikes over years. less stability in future, paper market cyclical instability, over last decade paper and pulp mills around region have shut down IP, Champion, Domtar have left or sharply reduced holdings in north country April 2007 FP selling all assets (mill, land) proposed buyer Atlas paper not anticipating immediate changes, retain existing management, employees, wouldnt disclose price rumors for years that FP interested in selling Newcomb town supervisor George Canon - shock, disappointed, could affect hunters, fishermen that lease land for camps Peter Bower, residents committee to protect Adks, might pave way for conservation deal similar to IP, Champion, Domtar property could be opened up for real estate development (undeveloped shoreline lands, Boreas Ponds, Essex Chain of lakes) April 2007 End of an Era 1865 Jeremiah and Daniel Finch, Samuel Pruyn partnered to buy sawmill, over next 140 years private company one of biggest players in Adk timber industry, bought 165,000 acres of forest land, employing 850 workers. Hopes to sell to Atlas paper resources, CT Phil Terry, summers Long Lake, historian, author, last of traditional timber barons that shaped this regions landscape, subject to same forces Champion, IP, Domtar, 15 years of major changes in global paper market, tax structure, end of an era. Rumors that market forces might force FP to make change. Betty Little, always a loss when lose locally-owned company. Newcomb, surrounded by FP holdings, George Canon supervisor - if deal goes through, hopes new owners will allow hunters, fishermen to continue leasing land, almost all 55,000 acres FP owns in Newcomb is leased. tradition of certified forestry practices, lauded by environmental groups, recognized as steward, refused to enter into conservation easement deal with state. Neil Woodward, head of Adk Mtn club two great portions of hight peaks, approaches to Santanonis and Allen mtn, public access / recreational access through public acquisition would be tremendous gain, essex chain of lakes, between blue mtn lake, long lake, Hudson river, acquisition of that land for forest preserve or conservation easement would be incredibly valuable addition. Local leaders like George Canon fear state owns enough property, not in favor of taking more land in holdings. New owners strong temptation to sell for real estate, shoreline lands, speculate at building lot potential. Andrew Bursky company chairman, Atlas paper will own and operate FP for a long time. June 2007 Mike Carr not financed by NYState private loans John Hancock ins. co, open space institute Joe Martins, conservation deal cornerstone large package designed to save pulp mill in Glens Falls made it possible for Atlas holdings to buy mill, keep in operation 20 year contract to provide wood fiber to mill some parcels of land near towns might be sold for private development some local govt leaders not happy not best news in world, not universally condemned, all appreciated being told in advance Betty Little has concerns, begun talks with TNC, benefit local economies- stays in working forest, hunting camps/leases honored, continued, 18 month window, look at how to actually disperse the land, whether all go to state, some for housing, growth in communities, where we can development rights to moderate intensity areas Mike Carr TNC will pay taxes, some parcels sold for development or other uses. 31 towns 6 counties, much is remote. but more than 70 lakes and ponds, highly sought after for second homes, state development. Big working forest component for remote lands. Outsales of lands not critical to core biodiversity mission. Vast landscape of mtns, cliffs, lakes, rivers, stretches of Hudson, Opalescent, Cedar, Indian rivers. August 2007 Land deals reshape Adirondack Park & debate Interview with Phil Brown, the managing editor of the Adirondack Explorer Q: How is changing larger discussion of conservation in park? Enough victories that environmentalists have won the big fight? A: Major victory, environmentalists and local officials concern with jobs. Both sides win, land protected and jobs protected. A little backlash, talk to local officials now. If state owns land, it cant be developed. Now that so much land protected, buzz word if state owns or controls acreage, not always a good thing, out of reach of development. Will be a debate how much should go into forest preserve, how much working forest, how much developed. In other deals, no talk about development. TNC itself not ruling out development. New twist. Q: Sheer economic terms, remarkable percentage of private land has shifted economic status, taken off table for future development. Do we understand what that means for future of region? A: Good to raise questions. Good thing to protect wild lands, plenty of areas where development can take place without these lands having to be developed. The idea that running out of developed land, is overstated. Q: Other big conservation deals out there? FP, IP holy grails of big land protection battle, any other big ticket items? A: Follensby Park, Whitney Lands 35,000 acres with spectacular water bodies on them. Now saved 700,000 acres through conservation easements, mostly in last 10 years. On balance great thing that lands protected. But still lot of work to be done, how to implement easments, ensure that the easement lands protected as supposed to be according to agreements, each easement different, different parameters, confusing to public, some cases full recreation rights, other cases dont, some cases hunting camps can stay, other cases they dont, I really do think we need to step back, now that deals done, and try to figure out a better way to manage these easement lands. September 2007 Fred Monroe is town supervisor in Chester and heads the Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board A: Really concerned, local governments try to plan for communities, this conservation easement movement totally bypasses local planning, big problems with it, local govt represents residents, have interest in use of land in their jurisdiction, not at the table. Q: Defenders of easement say logging will continue, traditional economic activity continue, therefore were looking out for economy as well. A:Very arrogant approach, conservation easements are by terms perpetual, use of land changes, land itself changes, economies change, communities change, were going to lock up this land forever with certain use, logging use, what happens if global warming and no longer have marketable timber on these lands? Inflexible, dead hand control. Q: There will be more tests of legal status of lands in future? A: almost inevitable, 100 years from now, land has changed, economic use of land change, parties change, theres going to be disgruntled people in the future, theyve locked up this land in perpetuity? no productive use of this land? inevitable challenges Q: 10 years, 700,000 acres roughly out of development playing field. How effects wider discussion of economic development on private land? A: a law that no one can change is supply and demand. 6 million acres, size of MA, lock up half private land from economically beneficial uses, commercial uses, housing, inevitable that drive up price of whats left. Q: Prior conversations, simply not accurate that youre built out. You do find private land, buildable lots. A: some places in some hamlets but some are built out. My town built out, then we expanded hamlet in Chestertown and Pottersville, but without that there wasnt much left suitable for building. Q: Environmental Protection Fund in NYState expanded dramatically. More purchases on the way? A: Certainly. Open Space committee for several years, always ask question, what is overall plan? Want local communities to plan, but how much more you want as state land, conservation easements. Where is state plan for this property? Should be public debate about how much state land, how much private land, what are the effect on the communities. Doesnt happen. Targets of opportunities, I understand, FP says we want to sell timber lands, state says sky is falling, have to buy up conservation easement / development rights, but the result is that purchases made are not the most beneficial for environment or the economy. We should have a plan, why isnt there? State should have one. Q: TNC saw prized opportunity, no public guarantee that state will buy any of that. Should there be a public process, hearings, testimony about whether that land should be added to forest preserve? A: Yes I think so. Public should be involved in weighing in on decisions. Q: One place where going in opposite direction in terms of public input is the veto. Used to be local governments had pretty guaranteed veto, and in recent deal with IP, Pataki and Spitzer admin did an end run, used a different pool of money. Do you agree veto power is effectively gutted? A: Veto power gave important leverage to local governments. Exercise veto, effect of bringing property owner, state to table to discuss what issues are for local govt and residents and get accommodations. Worked in some situations. Disappointing that follow a process that gave some leverage to highly affected interest, now going to do an end run around it. Q: 100 year-out view, what will this means for communities, shrinking school enrollment, affordable housing, already under a lot of stress. A: My biggest concern that it might cause many local governments to cease to exist. Looks pretty bleak, if state acquires all this land, yes its going to be beautiful, well protected place, but I dont think its going to be a place that people can live or thrive. January 2008 Interview with Mike Carr executive director of the Adirondack Nature Conservancy A: Summer and fall in field completing rapid ecological assessment, disposition strategy will be based on. Mapping and analysis done, rolling out disposiation strategy/conservation plan. Fed by another big block of work stakeholder outreach, local govt officials, lease club holders, state govt leaders, open honest dialog about community issues, cultural issues, moving quickly because massively expensive, terrifying in terms of daily carrying costs. Launched private fundraising campaign, 35 million dollars largest private campaign in history of adks. Q: Local govt leaders, now big player in their lives, own a lot of land in towns and counties, we want to talk negotiate with you, our priorities are science, habitat, how have they responded? Has that been tense? A: initial tension, fear of change, ownership change, but immediately began opening doors, sitting down, having meaningful conversations, reaching out, direct, honest open, not overpromising, listening hard for what they hope for in this transaction. Snowmobile corridor connections, dormitories for exchange students in Newcomb, help with water supply, cell tower sites, affordable housing. Meeting with town supervisors very productive, we learned a great deal. they know that at the end of the day we wont make all of them happy, but theyre very appreciative of fact that were trying and listening and have been open and honest with them. Q: One group playing interesting role publically are other env groups, saying publically and in print heres what we think TNC should do with this project A: we met with them 2 days in Nov, some of them dont have conservation of biological diversity at top of their lists, some are more influenced by public recreation opportunities, those opportunities are unparalleled in this acquisition if we can get it right. But fiscal reality if no real hard cash, 110 million dollars in debt on table, hard to think critically about fiscal reality of the conservation planning, in many ways thats not their purview, shouldnt be their responsibility. Input from the groups invaluable. May be that we cant achieve fiscally or politically the dreams of the conservation community,but well try hard to get as close as we can. Q: History of holding different roles. Primarily ecological organization trying to preserve habitat, but now in real estate business and logging business. A: Very exciting, vert complex. reality of working at landscape scale. Capture opportunities on ground, economic opportunity of logging taking place, being done to very high standards, doubly certified, greatest examples around world of functioning temperate deciduous forest thats been managed for 142 years since civil war, scientists elated at what finding in forest canopy, understory, aquatic systems, very light footprint for a commercial working forest. Frankly, lot of very valuable sawlog and pulp. Pleasant surprise economically for TNC. 2nd half of interview: A: Timeline calls for that to happen by April 1. Series of mtgs with town supervisors, govts, town by town, out and decided on by June 2008, offering pieces for sale. Q: People have raised concerns about more and more pieces being withdrawn from private ownership, at a time when housing costs rising, troubling indicators in terms of population, school enrollment. When people say were concerned that room for us to exist here is shrinking, easements are part of that problem as they see it, how do you respond? A: Big fan of tight hamlet boundaries. Dont buy the myth that every acre of ground in Adks represents developable piece of property. All sorts of acres out there that dont make sense economically or from community perspective to develop. Broad statement that easements are taking away theoretical full build out of Adk park I dont buy. Q: Are communities paying some of the price that more private land around them is no longer available for development? A: without cons easements we wouldnt have timber industry in adks. Conservation easements are making possible the long term private ownership and commercial forest operations Q: A lot of negotiations are happening behind the scenes involving local govt leaders stakeholders. If someone hears this report and wants to have my say, I want to give feedback about what Ive seen out there, what matters to me, should they go to town supervisor, local govt? A: most effective path through town supervisor. Weve met a lot of people, hundreds and hundreds of people we didnt know a year ago, great input from many of them. Kept lines open with town supervisors. Dont have luxury of a long drawn out affair. All of us have one chance, one tight window to get on this train. Community issues, conservation issues, state public rec issues, private timber investment groups, will close very quickly because of force of economics of this transaction, scale of risk that TNC took institutioinally, Im confident that well get to yes in the next couple of months with the towns. Q: One of the things that happened when there needed to be a quick move on Whitney, Champion lands, DEC found that lot of things chewed up, pretty brutalized, what are you finding? What condition is things in? A: Extraordinary condition. Globally temperate forest is highly disturbed, this is one of great examples around the world. High summits of snowy mtn Indian Lake, flanks of Santanoni in high peaks, neotropical migrant habitat bicknells thrush, down drainages, outcroppings of calcareous rock rare plants not found elsewhere, ferns mosses bryophytes, blue ledges. Worth the risk institutionally and globally worth the risk. Feb 2008 Interview with Mike Carr and Pete Grannis (DEC) about agreement PG: This is extraordinary opportunity, most important land preservation project in country at this time MC: All work come together in elegant way from conservation perspective, community perspective. Careful listening, stakeholder outreach, reviewing proposals from variety of interest groups. Q: Heard strong distinct response from town leaders? A: met with 5 supervisors whose towns encompass 80% of property, first time theyd seen their details, dont wan to characterize overall reaction, extent that our field work, Mike Carr, Betsy Lowe, tremendous time in field talking to town supervisors, local interests, to extent their discussions were reflected in proposal we disclosed, viewed very positively by 5 supervisors. MC: Sense high level of trust, respect, admiration today in Warrensberg where came together in briefing, reflection of what we heard over last 6 months in their communities, commitment on part of TNC and department to deliver very exciting projects Q: Commissioner youve mad ea real effort tto convince communities, reassure them that Dillenberg case will not affect their revenues, tax revenues on land, are they starting to buy that idea? PG: not an issue brought up by supervisors, or senator littles staff, they understand our commitment is honest and positive commitment and no intention of letting them down on that. Q: I understand final dollar figure not set until appraisals done out on field, but is there any broad framework, I know TNC has exposure here, publically or privately how much that dollar will be? MC: we paid 683 dollars/acre, 110 million dollars in June, this conservation design has redrawn all the lines, that starts valuation clock all over again, need to roll up sleeves with independent appraisers in dept, begin valuation / appraisal process based on new conservation design, easement components, retained rights components, public value, entirely new set of figures, no sense of that yet, moving quickly toward that due diligence. Q: Big snowmobile trail packages part of this, what means for snowmobile community? PG: extraordinary opportunity for developing enhancing snowmobile economic interests in the park, Mike and Betsy did with this plan, connector trails, 5 communities were very high on list, they are extremely satisfied/pleased with layout of connector trails, marvelous opportunity to build on tourism potential. Feb 2008 Martha Foley talks with Brian Mann Q: how are local govt leaders reacting? havent loved deals like this in past. A: buy in is remarkably strong. were going to hear form Greg Wallace, also spoke with Barry Hutchins, TNC did a really great job working with communities, hammering out compromises that eased suspicion. Lot of hard work to try to meet our needs, showing up in some areas, satisfied with trail connections making between communities between snowmobile trails, still outstanding issues with clubs to talk about, at first flush I like it. Q: Hunting clubs have traditionally leased lands, what happens? A: TNC and state tried to avoid evicting hunt clubs, controversy about that on Champion lands and earlier conservation deals, even with that effort, half will have to go (more than 20), clubs on land that will become forest preserve, no room for human structures under law/constitution, 10 year phase out, well have to wait to see response Q: Mike Carr talked about delivering exciting things to communities A: one big prize is snowmobile trails, they really like this idea, also offers communities chance to buy more than 1000 acres of land, interesting to see exactly what communities decide to use that land for. Q: Big agreement but doesnt include 27,000 acres in southern adks, why not include that A: sign of how big deal is that chunk is set aside for now, lands were talking about are clustered tightly around central adks long lake, Newcomb, to south theres this huge scattering of littler parcels, outskirts of Saratoga Springs, Sacandaga and Lake George, smaller parcels, local govt leaders that have to be brought on board, will take more time to figure out disposition of all that Feb 2008 Brian Mann interviews Greg Wallace, Long Lake town supervisor A: TNC worked very hard to hear needs of communities, Long Lake, Mike Carr and DEC really did hear our concerns, in my opinion I think its going to be a win-win compared to potential alternative Q: what would you say are the big concessions compromises that Long Lake wins in this version A: they heard our concern from open space committee that wanted to retain ability to lumber timber properties within Long Lake, did that with easements, snowmobile corridor guaranteed, need for potential housing issues, TNC willing to give land to Adk community housing trust in long lake for community housing needs Aug 2008 Report on research Tim Howard, New York Heritage program, partnership between NY state and TNC. keep database, key species and key landscapes Michelle Brown, cons scientist with Adk TNC. easements will include provisions for more long term monitoring. rare population area needs to be redlined, no cut area. so far ecologists are delighted, even in logged/managed land, have structural diversity. March 2009  HYPERLINK "http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/13269/nature-conservancy-sells-92-000-acres-to-dutch-firm" Nature Conservancy sells 92,000 acres to Dutch firm 03/31/09  HYPERLINK "http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/audio/news090331d.m3u"  INCLUDEPICTURE "http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/images/sound.gif" \* MERGEFORMATINET  HYPERLINK "http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/audio/news090331d.m3u" \o "Stream audio (broadband)." Listen to audio |  HYPERLINK "http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/audio/90331TM.mp3"  INCLUDEPICTURE "http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/images/disk.gif" \* MERGEFORMATINET  HYPERLINK "http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/audio/90331TM.mp3" \o "Download audio (dial-up). Right-click to save target as." Download audio (1:00) The Adirondack Nature Conservancy yesterday unveiled one of the largest timber sales in North Country history. The green group, based in Keene Valley, is selling 92 thousand acres of timber land to ATP, a Danish pension fund. Todd Moe has more. Mike Carr: nearly 33 million dollar investment in the Adk timberlands and the economy assd with that, were making good on a pledge to 27 towns that we would deliver on the economic component of this in the form of working forest. Were selling today 92000 acres of the working forest timber land to a big Danish pension fund ATP based in Denmark, first big green forest investment here in the Adks. Brian Mann: ATP will pay property taxes on the land to local governments. The sale is part of the massive Finch Pruyn deal first unveiled in 2007. Much of the property will eventually be covered by easements that will prevent development and allow limited recreation. The Nature conservancy also plans to sell roughly 65,000 acres of timber land to New York state for park land. N  3?q}*Kx?bc$% Dz47ʾРwowowghU]xCJaJh5mCJaJhCJaJ h@s6] h5m6]h5mh@sh@sCJ h@sCJ hm CJ h X}CJ hjCJ h-CJ hK<CJ hK~OCJ hfCJ h"#lCJ h~[CJ h_CJ hw7CJhw7hWCJhw7hw7CJ htCJ hCJ(EMN   I 34?b}xyh gdec$%/9Q0_"h  D4 ?!###N$T% gd >!?!B!##N$Q$i$t$$$$V%W%()))F*G*|.~......H3o339/909>"?#?&?(?BBBBCYGººzzzhT CJaJhghgCJH*aJhgCJaJhc CJaJhXICJaJhhhhCJaJhf CJaJh>pCJaJhe)CJaJh_hCJaJh_h_CJaJh_CJaJhU]xCJaJhCJaJh5mCJaJ0T%%5'u'u())G* +g+..(/L01?2H3I3V3356099c<<#?$?%? gd%?ABCCD6GHIIIIIbJ K!KLMNBOQNSOSXS{SST gdYGGGHHIP P;QDQQQQNS ZRZ[[\\\\\]I]J^W^X^^^____`_a_b_ysycjh}5B*U\ph h}0Jjh}0JUh} h}0J h}0Jjh}0JUh}CJaJhXkhXkCJaJhXkCJaJhtCCJaJhM]CJaJh:CJaJh|CJaJh50CJaJhCJaJhCJaJhT CJaJhJCJaJ$TUWZW*XX Z ZZRZ[t[\\\\I]v]]J^K^V^W^_abb*degd} gdb______8`9`H`I`L`M`````````aaaaaaaaabbeeԷh_h}CJaJh}CJaJ h}0Jh}jh}5B*U\phh}0J5\ h}0Jjh}0JUjh}5B*U\phh}5B*\ph ee gd21h:pW/ =!"#$% Dd  c dA 4soundStream audio (broadband).b$t BkU,x3D& nt BkU,x3PNG  IHDR [j0PLTËDDD333"""XtRNS@fbKGDH cmPPJCmp0712Om@IDATc``` e n E<E!3j66*ph*W`* }Strong5\0_`!0 } HTML Acronym]|EMNI34?b}xyh c$%/9Q0_"h  D4?NT5uu !!G" #g#&&('L()?*H+I+V++-.011c44#7$7%7<77>9:;;<6?@AAAAAbB C!CDEFBGINKOKXK{KKLMOZO*PP R RRRRStSTTTTIUvUUJVKVVVWVWYZZ*\]]000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000h  D??*H+I+V++WVWYZZ*\]]Z00p<Z00Z000Z00<Z00Z00Z00Z00 <Z00Z00Z00Z00Z0 0X000X000X000X0Z00X00YGb_e37:<T%%?Tee4689;=e5WVVWW`WaWWWWW8XHXLXXXXXXYYY]XXCXXCX#tV>A>>>@@@@@@@@AA EEEE!F+FKKhPlPPQ Q&QoQxQQQlToTmUpUZZZZ$\(\\\]rw!MRgk%2bj} = B gm9<QX_c9gh Yc )37v4  ? A _ i ##$$$$)3)4))**n--{00224484445%5666"7::< <?@H@R@@@sAABCtGGJJKKKKlSsSTUUUvUUUUUUKVVV]]]33333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333%9L#g#(L(..TTKVWVZZ]]w|@:P^`OJPJQJ^Jo(-  ^ `OJQJ^Jo(hHo  ^ `OJQJo(hHxx^x`OJQJo(hHHH^H`OJQJ^Jo(hHo^`OJQJo(hH^`OJQJo(hH^`OJQJ^Jo(hHo^`OJQJo(hHw||K\c        aCSS":SS"SS",bSS"('zAT m f w7Wj*K<tCK~O~[g"#l5m>p@sU]x| X}}Xkc :-h50_e)XIM]JtfR_@UVUVs DDUVUV@{]p@UnknownGz Times New Roman5Symbol3& z Arial?5 z Courier New;Wingdings"qhɆ2&" O/ O/Yx24y]y] 2QHX)?w72FJune 2005  higher costs fuel, raw materials, sagging paper prices, 1Rachel NeugartenRachel Neugarten Oh+'0(8 T`   HJune 2005 higher costs fuel, raw materials, sagging paper prices, 1Rachel NeugartenNormalRachel Neugarten34Microsoft Office Word@f@~>@\϶ O՜.+,D՜.+,@ hp  Cornell University/y]' GJune 2005 higher costs fuel, raw materials, sagging paper prices, 1 Title( 8@ _PID_HLINKSA >http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/audio/90331TM.mp3E  >http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/audio/90331TM.mp3E Bhttp://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/audio/news090331d.m3uEBhttp://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/audio/news090331d.m3uEa&lhttp://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/13269/nature-conservancy-sells-92-000-acres-to-dutch-firmE  !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>@ABCDEFHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_abcdefgijklmnorRoot Entry FPWS϶tData ?1TableGZ0WordDocument4|SummaryInformation(`DocumentSummaryInformation8hCompObjq  FMicrosoft Office Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.89q