ADK is Leading the Way in Conservation Issues Critical to Outdoor Loving People

ADK is the voice and lobby for the larger hiking and paddling community's perspective for the protection of the Forest Preserve and wildlands and waters vital to ADK's members.

(photo by Gordon Ellmers)


A very successful and visible part of ADK is the Advocacy and Conservation efforts that have been occurring on a regular basis. These efforts are an integral part of the very reason for existence of ADK, and fully support the our mission. Building on our tradition of excellence based upon thorough research and sound analysis, ADK's advocacy program performs a critical service in promoting our mission goals. This continues to be a major ADK initiative.

Among the conservation issues for which ADK is taking a lead roll in New York State are:

  • ADK is a leading party in the New Source Review (NSR) lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Appeals to prevent weakening of the Clean Air Act.   Our objective in this litigation is to preserve New York's right to sue the owners of Mid-Western coal burning electrical power generating plants that have re-built these plants in recent years without installing air pollution control technology as required by the current language of the Clean Air Act.
  • ADK has been granted intervention by the Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., to participate in the current lawsuit against the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) contesting the agency's regulatory decision which exempts coal-burning power plants from compliance with strict pollution control standards in relation to mercury emissions and other hazardous air pollutants.
  • ADK is working to ensure that oil and gas exploration does not adversely impact the aesthetics of the popular Finger Lakes Trail/North Country National Scenic Trail which pass through the Tuller Hill State Forest, Robinson Hollow State Forest and Potato Hill State Forest.
  • ADK is an active member of the Public/Private Partnership to Protect Sterling Forest, formed in 1995 to support the acquisition of Sterling Forest State Park.   Sterling Forest's unfragmented forest, a part of the nationally significant Highlands region, is critical to preserving the park's scenic and recreational resources.
  • ADK submitted detailed comments on the following UMPs: Jessup River Wild Forest, Siamese Ponds Wilderness, Vanderwhacker Wild Forest, Jessup River Wild Forest, Silver Lake Wilderness Area and the Shaker Mountain Wild Forest.   ADK is currently working on comment on the St. Regis Canoe Area Draft UMP. Of great interest to ADK is the UMP's proposed relocation of the Northville-Lake Placid Trail (NP trail)
  • ADK is strongly advocating for an increase in the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) from $150 million to $300 million ensuring that sufficient funding is allocated for open space protection and state land stewardship. ADK has already met with the Governor's office and senior legislative staff advocating for a $300 million EPF with strong emphasis on land acquisition and state land stewardship funding.
  • ADK submitted detailed comments on important planning documents reflecting the Forest Preserve and other important wild lands and waters throughout NYS, including the Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Draft ATV Use Policy, the Adirondack Park Snowmobile Plan, and the 2005 Open Space Conservation Plan released by DEC and the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP).
  • ADK's Neil Woodworth, Marisa Tedesco and Wes Lampman met with the North Country Trail Association's Director of Trail Management, Clare Cain. Ms. Cane provided ADK with detailed maps outlining a potential route for the proposed Adirondack route of the North Country Scenic Trail.

ADK Advocacy Program Leaders

Neil Woodworth, ADK Executive Director and counsel has sixteen years of experience working with ADK to protect wilderness in New York State and to promote the club's programs in education, conservation, and responsible recreation.   He has represented ADK in a variety of legal cases involving wilderness protection of the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve, public navigation rights on rivers and acid rain regulation.   Prior to his service with ADK, Neil is a graduate of Hobart College and Albany Law School, and was an attorney working with Seymour Fox., P.C.   He has received appointments to the Congressional Northern Forest Land Council, the Governor's Task Force on the Adirondack Park Agency, the Governor's Task Force on Military Overflights, the Empire State Task Force for Land and Water Conservation Funding, and the New York State Forest Preserve Advisory Committee.  Neil has served in many volunteer positions at ADK including: second vice committee chairman, and member of the Albany Chapter Outings Committee.   Neil is active in many outdoor pursuits, including hiking, canoeing, backpacking, backcountry skiing, and bird watching.   As Adirondack Forty-sixer (No. 2036), he has climbed all of the highest mountains in New York State.  

Marisa Tedesco, ADK's Conservation Director joined the professional staff of ADK in 2002 as a legislative intern in the Albany Public Affairs office while completing a graduate degree from Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy. She holds an undergraduate degree from Marist College and is a former legislative intern for Assemblyman Kevin Cahill. Marisa has played a critical role in ADK's campaign to eliminate the scourge of acid rain in the Adirondacks. Her knowledge of the state legislative process combined with her legislative and regulatory research skills, strong communication abilities, and commitment to the environment have made Marisa one of Albany's most effective public interest advocates.