Managing Your Land

Many of the Hudson Valley’s great open spaces — lands of extraordinary scenic and biological value — are maintained through the dedicated stewardship of private landowners. Here are some helpful resources to help you preserve the irreplaceable natural and scenic resources on your property.

General Stewardship

• Private Landowner Network (for land conservation & tax information)

Around the Home

• Creating a Pond (PDF)
• Green Lawns and Garden Tips
• Drought Facts
• Green Building
• Water Conservation

Habitats

• Urban and Community Forestry 
• Managing Habitat for Grassland Birds 
• Enhancing Wildlife Habitat (PDF)
• Backyards for Biodiversity Fact Sheet (PDF)
• Identifying Trees at Risk from Ice and Wind (PDF)
• New York Wildflower Habitat For Pollinators And Beneficial Insects (PDF)
• Farming for Bees: Guidelines for Providing Native Bee Habitat
• Master Forest Owner Volunteer Consultation
• Upland Forest Habitat Fact Sheet (PDF)
• Upland Meadow Habitat Fact Sheet (PDF)

Deer Management

• Suburban Deer Management (PDF)
• Deer and Ecosystem Health (PDF)
• Deer Resistant Plants (PDF)
• Deer Resistant Plants Native to New York (PDF)
• Plants Not Recommended (PDF)

Invasive Species

• Lower Hudson Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management
• Capital Region Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management
• Water Quality and Home Pesticide Use (PDF)
• Nuisance and Invasive Species
• Controlling Invasive Species in Woodlots (PDF)
• Invasive Wood-Boring Insects (PDF)
• Invasive Species Fact Sheet: Water Chestnut (PDF)
• Invasive Species Fact Sheet: Giant Hogweed
• Terrestrial Invasive Species in NY (DEC)
• Self-Reporting of invasive species by landowners
  
  

Agricultural Resources

• Resources for New Farmers in NY (PDF)
• Introduction to Soil Health Practices (American Farmland Trust) (PDF)
• 2023 Hudson Valley Farming Series (Cornell Cooperative Extension) 
• NY State Integrated Pest Management Program
• USDA Conservation at Work Video Series
• Plants That  Help Agriculture and Native Pollinating Insects
  
  

Grant Opportunities

 

• Trees for Tribs
• Regenerate Grant for Private Landowners of Forests
  
  

Other

• NYS Conservation Easement Tax Credit
• NYS Cooperating Forester Program
• Posting Your Land
• NOAA Sea Level Rise Viewer/Mapper
• Guidelines and Best Practices for Stream Crossings