DEC Land Names Are Practical Clues, Not Just Map Labels

A New York map can say State Forest, Wild Forest, Wilderness, Forest Preserve, campground, Wildlife Management Area, or conservation easement. Those words are not decorative.

DEC explains that Wild Forest areas can allow a wider variety and higher intensity of recreation than Wilderness, while Intensive Use areas include campgrounds and day-use areas with more facilities. DEC also says nearly three million acres of state-managed land are Forest Preserve in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks, protected as forever wild and guided by park plans and unit management plans.

Before planning a camp, hunt, ride, paddle, or group outing, write down the exact unit name and land category shown on the DEC map. Then open that unit’s page and posted regulations. A rule from one land category should not be carried over to another just because both places appear as public land on the map.