Increase in Garbage
State parks, national parks, local parks, dense forest areas with trails, and beaches are increasingly facing the issue of overcrowding. As more people visit these natural areas each year, the amount of garbage left behind has surged. Often, visitors fail to pack adequate supplies or research whether the area is a carry-in, carry-out location, leading them to leave trash behind rather than take it with them. Many assume that park or forest rangers will pick up their litter, contributing to the problem.
In some parks, garbage cans are intentionally not provided due to conflicts with bears. It is crucial to educate the public about this, as leaving trash on the ground exacerbates bear-human conflicts. Unfortunately, in many areas across the country, garbage left by visitors has attracted bears, leading to situations where bears become accustomed to human presence and, as a result, must be put down.
The volunteers at Morgan Duke Conservation Society work diligently in areas like the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Outer Banks, and dense forest regions within the Adirondack Forest Preserve and Catskills. They ensure that garbage is not accumulating to the point where it poses a threat to wildlife. Additionally, our volunteers engage with visitors, educating them about the principles of Leave No Trace and the detrimental effects that garbage can have on ecosystems and wildlife habitats.
Recycling
The Morgan Duke Conservation Society has partnered with CLYNK to promote recycling efforts. Our volunteers collect New York deposit cans and bottles found on trails and in other areas across the state. These are placed in CLYNK green bags and recycled at Hannaford stores, with the proceeds going to the Morgan Duke Conservation Society’s CLYNK account. This initiative helps ensure that cans and bottles are recycled instead of ending up in landfills.
In the Adirondacks, we have also partnered with a local small business, Bottle & Can Redemption Center, where our volunteers can drop off cans and bottles for recycling, with funds directed to our account.
Over the years, our volunteers have discovered some interesting finds in state parks and backcountry areas of New York, including an old 1980s soda can at Minnewaska State Park. These finds serve as reminders that soda cans do not decompose easily in the environment.
Our recycling efforts have garnered ongoing community support, with individuals donating their bottles and cans to the Morgan Duke Conservation Society by dropping them off at MT Returnable in Queensbury, NY, or through CLYNK. Those interested in donating can request a CLYNK bag via our online form.
Since 2013, we have partnered with Funding Factory, where individuals and businesses can donate empty toner and inkjet cartridges for recycling. Funding Factory’s sister company, Clover, disassembles, cleans, and resells these items, with proceeds going to the Morgan Duke Conservation Society. This initiative also helps reduce the number of cartridges that end up in landfills, where they can take decades to decompose. Businesses and individuals can support our mission by donating their unused or outdated cartridges.
Overcrowded Places & Reforestation
Many natural areas, including national parks, state parks, local parks, and beaches, are experiencing significant overcrowding, leading to numerous challenges. In areas with narrow trails, the high volume of visitors often results in people walking off-trail, damaging the natural vegetation that provides crucial habitat for wildlife such as deer, bees, pollinators, and butterflies. This is particularly concerning in regions where rare and endangered plants and flowers are present.
In the Adirondacks, for example, camping is only allowed at designated spots away from water bodies like streams and rivers, including the Hudson River. This restriction is in place to protect trees that prevent soil erosion into the water, which can turn clear streams muddy and degrade the aquatic ecosystem.
Our volunteers are actively involved in reforestation efforts in the Adirondacks and other areas, planting trees in locations where human activity has damaged vegetation, particularly along rivers and streams. These efforts also extend to reforesting areas that were once logged by utility companies. Contrary to common misconceptions, our tree-planting initiatives are not aimed at shutting down campsites but rather at restoring vegetation to support wildlife and maintain healthy ecosystems.
In addition to reforestation, our volunteers educate the public on protecting ecosystems and vegetation. In New York State and other locations, we encourage visitors and campers to avoid overcrowded trails and campsites. If no space is available, we advise them to return at a later time rather than creating unauthorized campsites that can damage vegetation and impact rivers and streams. Through these efforts, we aim to preserve the natural beauty and ecological health of our cherished natural areas.
Young Forest:
In New York State, the Young Forest Initiative within Wildlife Management Areas plays a crucial role in sustaining early-stage forests, which are vital for certain wildlife species. Young forests, typically 0-20 years old, consist of tree seedlings, shrubs, grasses, and flowering plants growing together. These areas are often the result of natural disturbances such as fire, flooding, insect outbreaks, or changes in land use. Today, active wildlife habitat management is necessary to maintain young forests across the landscape.
At the Morgan Duke Conservation Society, we contribute to the preservation of these young forests by providing essential habitat for wildlife that depends on them. This includes installing birdhouses, duck nest boxes, bat houses, and planting trees in areas where wildlife requires them. We also conduct research by placing cellular wireless trail cameras near these nest boxes and birdhouses to monitor their use by birds and ducks. The data collected is shared with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), our internal reports, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at NestWatch.org.
