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Alliance
Guiding Principles Blueprint Process Blueprint Points: 1. Aquatic and Terrestrial Invasive Species 2. Acid Rain 3. Global Climate Change 4. Main Street Revitalization 5. Water, Sewer and Storm-water Infrastructure 6. Marketing and Entrepreneurial Development 7. High-Speed Telecommunications 8. Workforce/Community Housing 9. Transportation Infrastructure 10. Energy 11. Effective Governance and Policy Framework 12. Land Use Change 13. Property Taxes 14. Primary Healthcare Crisis Appendix Procedures and Schedule Founding Sponsors Alliance Core Team July 2007 Forum Participant List |
BLUEPRINT FOR THE BLUE LINETHE
COMMON GROUND ALLIANCE
FEBRUARY 2008 BLUEPRINT POINTS 1. AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL INVASIVE SPECIES RATIONALE: Aquatic and terrestrial invasive species, including pests and pathogens, are a significant threat to the Adirondack Park’s native species and can have a devastating impact on our native ecosystems, our forest products industries, and recreation and tourism industries. Aggressive non-native invasive plants and animals crowd out naturally occurring species and choke their habitats, such as wetlands, which are critical to supporting biodiversity, flood control and water quality. SUGGESTED ACTION:
2. ACID RAIN RATIONALE: The Adirondacks suffer from air pollution from mid-western coal-burning power plants that has resulted in acid precipitation, mercury deposition and deposition of other contaminants which threaten terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and public health. Many of the Park’s water bodies currently have a ban on fish consumption. In a Park where outdoor activities are a focus for both local residents and visitors, this is threatening the quality of life and tourism economy. SUGGESTED ACTION:
3. GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE RATIONALE: There is widespread scientific certainty that global climate change is occurring due to increasing amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Global climate change has the potential to alter the region’s climate in a manner that could significantly influence the region’s economy, landscape, character, and quality of life. Climate change will affect the region’s seasonal tourism economy—particularly in winter—and will affect our forest ecosystems, and change the composition of native plant and animal communities. Already under stress from acid rain, invasive species and salt runoff from treated roads, our ecosystem will suffer added risk from climate change. Currently, New York State is a leader in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which calls for the reduction of the state's carbon emissions. A regional cap-and-trade program, such as suggested by RGGI, will assist all participating states in reaching such state-specific goals. SUGGESTED ACTION:
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