The Zoar Valley Coalition is made up of individual citizen and scientist members and local and state-wide conservation organization members, including the Buffalo Ornithological Society, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter, Sierra Club Niagara Group, and Western New York Environmental Alliance.
About Us
The Discovery That Sparked a Movement
The Zoar Valley Coalition was born from a shocking discovery in early 2024 of over 150 acres of the much-loved public forest land in Zoar Valley, New York, marked with spray paint for logging. We asked questions, and what we found was alarming.
We learned the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the
Connecticut/New York Chapter of the National Audubon Society had a plan to conduct clear-cuts and near clear-cuts across a large swath of mature forests in Zoar and then erect a massive slash wall barrier around the former forest to create a habitat for about a half-dozen bird species. This ill-advised plan was created without public knowledge or input.
In fact, we learned hundreds of acres are slated for logging over the next 10 years,
according to the DEC’s Draft Niagara Frontier Unit Management Plan, which includes the forests of Zoar Valley and East Otto State Forest.
Why We Must Act Now
The old growth forested ecosystem of Zoar Valley is a legacy for generations to come. Zoar Valley’s old growth forested gorges were donated to The People of the State of New York by Herbert Darling, Sr. and the Darling Family with the express wish that they remain forever wild for the enjoyment of everyone.
Recent forest inventories in Zoar have ranked it as the number one most biodiverse old growth forest in the Northeast on the Rucker Index. The past generations at the DEC recognized its importance, ranking it in 2002 as the number one priority conservation area of all the Lake Erie Gorges in New York State.
The realities of the climate crisis and accelerating species extinction make mature and old-growth forests all the more vital for storing carbon and supporting biodiversity. The DEC and The Audubon Society can’t guarantee new growth will successfully become a forest again in 100+ years, given all the uncertainties and accelerated species loss and ecological turmoil we are experiencing from global warming.
Fighting to Protect the Forests and Biodiversity of Zoar Valley
The forests in Zoar Valley are home to species protected by law, which means their
habitats are protected by law. The forests of Zoar Valley support rare fens and dozens of hillside seeps which are home to species protected by law. The DEC and Audubon devised logging plan would devastate these habitats.
Many of us worked alongside the thousands of people who fought successfully 20 years ago to achieve Unique Area designation for the Old-Growth Forested ecosystem in Zoar Valley. Let’s all work together again to make sure the mature Eastern Hardwood Forests under threat in Zoar Valley are protected and remain forever wild.
“It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment.”
~Ansel Adams
Want to get involved?
Volunteer
We are always in need of volunteers in the fight to protect Zoar Valley from logging. There are many ways you can support the effort to save this treasured wilderness area in Western New York. Interested in volunteering? Click below and thank you for getting involved!