At the age of 12, I was playing with matches in the only grassy field in my urban neighborhood in Yonkers, New York. Pretty soon, my summer fun turned into a dangerous game as a match flicked through the air ignited dry grass. When I frantically stomped on the smoky spot, it turned into a fireball which seemed to magically move to another part of the field. I ran to sound the alarm. But by the time the fire engines arrived, the entire field was charred and smoldering. Fortunately for me, the firemen dowsed the field before any neighboring houses went up in smoke. While I escaped reform school, you can bet my summer fun was replaced by a lengthy grounding and an endless succession of backyard and house chores.

Decades later, I would come to appreciate the important role grasslands play in the circle of life in the Hudson Valley and throughout the world. Scenic Hudson's terrific Conservation Science Director Dr. Sacha Spector has deepened my understanding with a fascinating article recently published in Wings, the Journal of the Xerces Society. Sacha also oversees our grassland restoration projects on park lands owned by Scenic Hudson....

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Two New York Times articles published earlier this month illustrate the highs and lows of land protection right now. One, "Preservation Groups Find Bargains in Housing Bust," described how plummeting real estate prices have provided once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for land-conservation organizations to protect irreplaceable natural treasures once destined for sprawling development. From Idaho to Florida and Virginia to Oregon, groups have preserved fields and forests, marshland and ocean waterfronts that as little as a year ago were slated for massive housing projects. Many of these scenic wonders now will be turned into parks.

That's the high. The low, "New Year but No Relief for Strapped States," noted the challenges many state governments face to rein in skyrocketing deficits. Actually, the earlier article hinted at this dilemma's environmental implications: dedicated funds for protecting land and creating new parks already have been a casualty of fiscal belt-tightening in statehouses from Olympia to Albany – just when they could do the most good. With red ink continuing to rise, even more drastic cuts are likely. There's a trickle-down effect, too. With less state support, county and municipal governments are being forced to slash their own budgets, so land preservation and parks often take another hit on the local level....

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In 1963, a handful of concerned citizens founded Scenic Hudson, the organization I head, to halt a massive hydroelectric project from defacing Storm King Mountain, one of the most breathtaking landmarks along the Hudson River. Two years into the group's lengthy but ultimately successful battle, it won a major victory when the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that Scenic Hudson had "standing" -- the right to present evidence in court that the project would harm the environment.

Below: Storm King Montain

Prior to this, federal licensing of mega-projects was pretty much pro forma, with testimony restricted to industry experts and the corporate bottom line being of chief concern. As a result of the "Scenic Hudson Decision," as the ruling is known, nature and economics now received equal footing in this process. Licensers were obligated to weigh the potential impacts power plants and dams would have on scenic and historic resources. Just as important, citizens were allowed a voice in articulating these impacts. The decision recognized that such treasures not only offer enjoyment but define America's heritage. Destroying Storm King's granite slopes, celebrated in some of the nation's first literature and painting, would be akin to dynamiting Mount Rushmore.

The Scenic Hudson Decision made big waves far beyond the Hudson. It provided the impetus for Congress to enact the 1969 National Environmental Policy Act, which requires an environmental impact review of all major federal projects, or those needing federal approval. Many state legislatures followed suit with similar laws regarding projects under their jurisdiction. It also encouraged the creation of myriad organizations dedicated to protecting our precious landscapes. For these reasons, the Scenic Hudson Decision is generally considered the birth of America's modern grass-roots environmental movement. 

Sadly, over the years courts have steadily chipped away at citizens' right of standing, defining more and more narrowly those eligible to claim environmental harm from a development and limiting the legal recourse of groups like Scenic Hudson to defend irreplaceable natural assets. But an October 26 decision by New York's highest court has given us cause to rejoice.

In In the Matter of Save the Pine Bush v. Common Council of the City of Albany, the Court of Appeals ruled that those who use, study or enjoy a resource at risk are entitled to standing. A 1991 lower state court decision required those seeking standing to live in close proximity to a proposed development. Supported by Scenic Hudson and other groups, the nonprofit Save the Pine Bush had argued that plans to construct a hotel outside Albany's Pine Bush Preserve -- one of the world's best remaining inland pine barrens -- would destroy habitats of the endangered Karner blue butterfly and hence the enjoyment of its members, who don't live near the preserve but visit it regularly.

In granting standing to Save the Pine Bush, the court ruled that "people who visit the Pine Bush, though they come from some distance away, seem much more likely to suffer adverse impact from a threat to wildlife than the actual neighbors of the proposed development." Calling the 1991 standing decision "arbitrary," the court noted "it would mean in many cases that there would be no plaintiff with standing to sue, while there might be many who suffered real injury." (The new decision states that to achieve standing, groups must demonstrate their members have an interest greater than the general public in the environment at risk.) While no one can predict how this broadened interpretation will affect standing nationwide, New York Court of Appeals decisions often set legal precedent. 

The Scenic Hudson Decision also provided the springboard for passage of federal and state legislation requiring government agencies responsible for licensing projects to weigh alternatives that avoid or mitigate harmful environmental impacts. In August, the U.S. Court of Appeals boldly upheld this cornerstone of environmental policy. In Green Island Power Authority v. FERC, the court annulled a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) order to re-license a hydroelectric plant at Cohoes Falls, on the Mohawk River near Albany, and directed FERC to reconsider a proposal by a competing firm whose project would double the renewable energy generated at the site and permanently restore the flow of this awe-inspiring waterspout. (The current plant's operation shuts off the falls except during periods of high water.) Scenic Hudson had joined a coalition of environmental groups submitting briefs supporting this challenge.

The court stated FERC has an obligation under the Federal Power Act to consider reasonable alternatives to ensure its license meets the public interest. This ruling not only may ensure protection of New York's second largest waterfall (after Niagara), but gives hope to all of us working to conserve natural wonders throughout America.

One important local byproduct of the Scenic Hudson Decision was New York's State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), which requires that most projects or activities proposed by a state agency or local government, and all permits from these entities, undergo an environmental impact assessment through a proscribed process that includes substantial public involvement. While a SEQRA review can be time-consuming -- which is why some view it as an impediment to growth -- it often leads to improved designs that tread more lightly on the land. Recently I've been named to co-chair a state-appointed working group that will examine ways to make the SEQRA more efficient without compromising environmental protection or public input. The ultimate goal, whether in my backyard or yours, is striking a balance between economic development and conserving irreplaceable natural resources that leads to healthy, prosperous communities.

In New York's City of Poughkeepsie -- headquarters of Scenic Hudson, the organization I head -- a former department store that sat empty for decades recently was transformed into apartments and offices. A dozen miles down the Hudson River, in the City of Beacon, the thrilling art museum Dia:Beacon, which wows visitors from around the world, fills a former Nabisco box-printing factory.

Luckey Platt building, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. / Wikimedia Commons

Why am I writing about old buildings? Because they're excellent examples of adaptive reuse -- rejuvenating existing structures for new purposes -- and in addition to revitalizing downtowns, such projects benefit the environment. They relieve development pressure on forests that offer recreation and sequester carbon, and on working farms supplying fresh local produce. They also lower the natural resources consumed by construction -- 35 billion board feet of lumber annually alone.

Studies show there's a pressing environmental need to concentrate growth in municipalities. The National Wildlife Federation has estimated that sprawling development imperils one out of every three rare or endangered species in the U.S. Data also indicate people solidly support such "smart growth." According to a National Association of Realtors survey, nearly 90 percent of respondents favored funding improvements in communities over new development in outlying countryside.

Why are so many empty buildings languishing, while new construction goes on apace? ...

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One gorgeous Saturday last month, I kayaked across the Hudson River's wide Newburgh Bay, as a volunteer escorting 200 swimmers taking part in a fund raiser for the River Pool at Beacon. (The brainchild of folksinger and environmental icon Pete Seeger, the pool encircles a shallow portion of the Hudson along the city's shoreline, allowing people to take a refreshing dip without worrying about dangerous currents.) As the swimmers exerted themselves to complete the mile-long crossing, I soaked up the breathtaking scenery of the Hudson Highlands, which have been dubbed "America's Rhine."

The most exciting way to experience the Hudson or any body of water is to get out on them. The "greenest" and healthiest way of doing this is in a kayak. Statistics bear out that I'm not alone in believing this. Over the last 15 years, the number of U.S. kayakers has swelled from 400,000 to well over two million. Like me, no doubt they're enchanted by how different the world looks from the middle of a river or lake, not to mention the access kayaks provide to secluded spots -- such as wetlands and islands -- impossible for landlubbers to reach. The feeling of escape and discovery when exploring unspoiled places like these is almost palpable.

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Media nationwide -- including The Daily Green -- reported on the May 15 ceremony near the small upstate New York village of Fort Edward marking the start of General Electric's cleanup of PCBs it had dumped in the Hudson River. One speaker at the event rightly called it "a historic day for a historic river."

It was a particularly satisfying moment for environmental groups in the Hudson Valley -- including Scenic Hudson, which I head. We've been crusading for a quarter century to compel GE to remove these 1.3 million pounds of toxins that made the Hudson the most PCB-polluted waterway in America. Polychlorinated biphenyls not only have been linked to cancer, thyroid disease and immune-system disorders in humans, but adversely affect fish, forcing New York State to close or impose severe restrictions on lucrative recreational and commercial fisheries all the way to New York Harbor, 200 miles downriver.

While this is a great victory, it's far from complete. ...

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One of President Obama's priorities is overhauling America's health care system, whose costs continue rising at nearly seven times the rate of inflation and currently represent about 17% of our gross domestic product. One reason for these skyrocketing figures is that people require more and more care.

Why? Because we're not as healthy as we used to be. And the prime factor for that is we don't exercise enough. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), only a quarter of Americans exert themselves at recommended levels, while nearly a third don't exercise at all. No wonder obesity is a national epidemic, among young and old alike, and a leading cause of increased incidences of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and even some types of cancer.

Not surprisingly, this inactivity leads to $76 billion -- 10% -- of our nation's annual medical costs. But there's hope. A study released last year determined that those who keep themselves fit file a third fewer medical claims than couch potatoes. And it doesn't take much to get in shape: The CDC estimates that a vigorous, daily 20-minute walk could stop the obesity epidemic in its tracks.

So how do we encourage people to take the initiative? ...

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Back in February, I was interviewed on American Public Media's "Marketplace" to provide commentary on how environmental programs are being slashed nationwide to reduce states' huge budget deficits. The damage of such cuts can be severe. California officials were considering rollbacks in critical emissions regulations, while Florida was contemplating relaxation of rules permitting new development -- described recently in Time magazine as a "planning-nightmare sprawl of golf courses, strip malls and cookie-cutter subdivisions named after the plants and animals they replaced."

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A visit to the Hudson Valley is wonderful at any time, but a trip this year promises to be even more exciting than usual. In addition to the region's vaunted tourism mainstays -- stunning parks, outstanding museums and historic sites, and, of course, the breathtaking Hudson River itself -- there will be dozens of special events, exhibits and performances commemorating the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's voyage of discovery on the river that bears his name.

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The recently passed economic stimulus package includes $905 million for revitalizing our National Parks, many of which have suffered the same kind of neglect as other environmental causes during the past eight years of the Bush Administration. Such expenditures will both put people to work and restore public facilities at America's most magnificent natural areas – from the Hudson Valley's Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites to the Grand Tetons and Denali National Park in Alaska. The Department of the Interior estimates that the funds will create 100,000 jobs over the next two years.

This investment builds on a proven precedent during other periods of economic hardship. During the Great Depression, one of President Franklin Roosevelt's chief means of boosting employment and jump-starting local economies was the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). According to a fascinating Web site dedicated to "Roosevelt's Tree Army," as the CCC was dubbed, the 3.4 million men engaged in the program accomplished $2 billion worth of work. Those are 1942 dollars; adjusting for inflation, that amounts to more than $25 billion today. ...

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When fate hands us lemons, let’s try to make lemonade
Dale Carnegie

The concurrent housing, financial and energy crises not only create a vital imperative – to divorce ourselves from attitudes and lifestyles that are largely responsible for the hardships so many now face – but present an extraordinary opportunity to ensure a sustainable future for all Americans while revitalizing the economy. The way to achieve this is by train, bus and ferry.

A substantial investment in our mass-transit systems – particularly in projects to increase their availability and make them "greener" – would create jobs, give us a competitive edge in the global marketplace and, perhaps most important, offer a bold new front in the battle against climate change. Studies show that shifting ridership from cars to mass transit dramatically lowers carbon dioxide emissions contributing to climate change. This reduces road congestion, making autos still on the highway more fuel efficient. The U.S. produces 45 percent of the world’s automotive carbon emissions, so the impact this could have is profound.

Over the last two years, I've gotten an in-depth look at mass transit's potential. As a member of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Sustainability of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority – North America's largest mass-transit network – I've been involved in developing a blueprint for the most ambitious greening of a regional transit system ever undertaken. (The MTA services a 5,000-aquare-mile area that includes New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley and parts of Connecticut.) Our report, released earlier this month, calls for the MTA to draw 80 percent of its operating energy from clean, renewable sources by 2050 and capture two-thirds of the four million new residents expected to move into the region by 2030.

The key to absorbing this growth is through transit-oriented development (TOD), which clusters a neighborhood-style mix of residential space, shops, businesses and services around mass-transit hubs, vastly reducing residents' needs to hop in a car. ...

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In spring, summer and fall, farmers' markets are a staple of life in communities throughout New York's Hudson River Valley, where I live. But come November, most stow away their tents and tables, victims of Old Man Winter's imminent approach.

This year, however, my hometown of Red Hook is trying something new: a winter farmers' market offering produce, meats and dairy products from area farms one Saturday a month. The heavy turnout for the first market — held December 13 in a beautifully restored 18th-century inn and stagecoach stop in the village's downtown — proves people are hungry for healthy, local produce regardless of the plunging needle on the outdoor thermometer.

A welcoming feeling of warmth pervaded the inaugural market, equally the result of its historic setting and the sense of community spirit shared by all in attendance. The offerings certainly couldn't have been more diverse. Hearty Roots Community Farm, which is spearheading the market, featured carrots and other root vegetables that looked like they'd just been plucked from the ground. Rib-sticking soups ...

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The electrifying redemption of America’s revolutionary declaration that all human beings are born equal sets the stage for the renewal of United States leadership in a world that desperately needs to protect its primary endowment: the integrity and livability of the planet.
— Al Gore, The New York Times (Nov. 9, 2008)

The results of the recent election promise a sea change in how the U.S. confronts the most daunting challenge facing us — reducing greenhouse gas emissions. President-elect Obama has made it clear he intends for America to lead by example in efforts to halt climate change and its potentially disastrous consequences, including extreme coastal flooding, sweltering temperatures and cataclysmic storms. As he said during the campaign:

“The issue of climate change is one that we ignore at our own peril. There may still be disputes about exactly how much we’re contributing to the warming of the earth’s atmosphere and how much is naturally occurring, but what we can be scientifically certain of is that our continued use of fossil fuels is pushing us to a point of no return. And unless we free ourselves from a dependence on these fossil fuels and chart a new course on energy in this country, we are condemning future generations to global catastrophe.”

Part of this catastrophe — the acidification of our oceans — gets very little attention. That should change shortly. Hudson Valley filmmaker Barbara Ettinger and her husband, Sven Huseby, are putting the finishing touches on an eye-opening film (which I originally wrote about Sept. 18, 2007) showing how the huge amount of carbon absorbed by our seas is decimating fish, shellfish and coral reefs. Without immediate action, experts predict more than one million aquatic species will become extinct within the next century. ...

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