5,000 native trees have been planted along 10 acres of floodplain at Lower Bashakill Preserve in Cuddebackville in the Town of Deerpark. The trees, which comprise 11 different native species, will help establish forest cover, create wildlife habitat, and improve water quality in the Basher Kill, a tributary of the Neversink River. The reforestation was the result of a partnership between OCLT and The Nature Conservancy.
As one of The Nature Conservancy’s planned 15 reforestation projects throughout New York State this year, the Lower Bashakill Preserve project represents the third largest in terms of acreage and trees, and is the only project taking place outside of the State’s North Country region.
The species of trees planted include: Red maple, Sugar maple, Gray birch, Sweetgum, Black tupelo, Red pine, Eastern white pine, Northern Red Oak, American sycamore, Swamp white oak, and Black willow. The trees were planted in specialized tree tubes to help protect them from damage from wildlife.
According to OCLT, the two organizations first worked together at the 136-acre protected property back in 2001. Jim Delaune, OCLT Executive Director, said: “The Nature Conservancy played a critical role in our acquisition of Lower Bashakill Preserve, so to have an opportunity to partner with them again 25 years later speaks to their commitment not only to this property, but to the protection of the Neversink River and Delaware River watershed as a whole. We thank them for making this large-scale planting possible.”
Gregg Sargis, Natural Climate Solutions Specialist, The Nature Conservancy in New York, said: “Reforestation succeeds when science, land stewardship and strong local partnerships come together. Through our reforestation initiative, The Nature Conservancy is proud to partner with the Orange County Land Trust and skilled planting crews to restore floodplain forest at Lower Bashakill Preserve. Projects like this demonstrate how land trusts can play a critical role in scaling reforestation to improve habitat, water quality and long-term resilience across the landscape.”
Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus said: “Thank you to all our partners who helped in these plantings. They will serve as a major effort to regain and retain our invaluable floodplains.”
Orange County Legislator Thomas Faggione said: “The work being done here today by OCLT and The Nature Conservancy, in unity with our State, County, and Local governments, is a testament to the commitment we all have to leave this place better than we found it, for tomorrow and the generations that follow after us.”
