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April 6, 2022Celebrate Earth Day in the Albany Pine Bush
The Albany Pine Bush Preserve will host its annual Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 23, 2022 from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. The public is invited to volunteer on a variety of conservation projects in the Pine Bush. Projects will take place in different parts of the preserve and all equipment will be provided. All registered participants will meet at their worksite location and receive a commemorative sticker. Please dress appropriately for the weather and outside working conditions and bring snacks and water. Space is limited. Reservations can be made at www.albanypinebush.org/events or by calling 518-456-0655. The Albany Pine Bush Earth Day celebration is a free event.
“This is a wonderful day to meet many of our neighbors dedicated to helping the preserve” said Lead Educator, Jackie Citriniti. The event will consist of many different projects such as trash collection and tree planting. “It’s always amazing to see how much we get done in just a few hours! If you’re looking for a great way to contribute to helping a rare ecosystem right here in your backyard, join us on April 23rd to celebrate Earth Day” continued Citriniti.
John McConnell, a peace activist, first proposed Earth Day at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco to be celebrated on March 21, 1970, the first day of spring, to honor the earth and the concept of peace. A month later on April 22, 1970 Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin organized a second Earth Day as a national teach-in on the environment. Earth Day is now an annual occasion, a day on which events are held around the world to demonstrate support for environmental protection.
The 3,400+ – acre Albany Pine Bush Preserve (APBP), located in New York’s Capital District, protects one of the best remaining inland pitch pine-scrub oak barrens in the world. This extraordinary fire-dependent ecosystem provides habitat for many plants and animals, including more than 20 percent of New York State’s wildlife Species of Greatest Conservation Need, such as the endangered Karner blue butterfly. The APBP is a National Natural Landmark, Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Site, National Recreation Trail site, a New York State Unique Area and Bird Conservation Area, and a National Audubon Society Important Bird Area. Characterized by rolling sand dunes and over 20 miles of trails, the APBP offers visitors many recreational opportunities including hiking, bird watching, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, mountain biking, hunting, fishing and canoeing. The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission is a public-private partnership created by the NYS Legislature in 1988 to protect and manage the APBP and provide the public with educational and recreational opportunities. The Management Plan for the APBP guides all aspects of expanding and managing the preserve. The Commission’s goal is a preserve of 5,380 acres.
As the gateway to the Pine Bush, the Discovery Center at 195 New Karner Road, Albany, is a “green” certified interpretive center where visitors come to understand why the Pine Bush is rare and special. A visit to this unique destination is an exciting exploration where learning comes naturally through interactive exhibits, an outdoor Discovery Trail, and numerous programs on the ecology, natural history, cultural history and management of the Pine Bush. Admission to the Discovery Center is free (there is a fee for some programs). The Center is open daily weekdays 9am-4pm, and weekends 10am-4pm. For more information, visit www.AlbanyPineBush.org or call 518-456-0655.
