Botanist Rich Ring monitors known rare plant locations in State Parks and other OPRHP lands, and conducts surveys to identify and protect new rare plant locations. He also consults with Parks’ Regional Biologists and Stewards on a variety of projects to assure rare plant locations and habitats are conserved.
In 2015 and 2016, botanist Rich Ring initiated a study of these unique natural communities, which are best represented on State Parks lands in the Palisades and Taconic Regions. He produced a report emphasizing ecological health, rare plants, and management recommendations of these unique ecosystems.
In 2010, NYNHP botanists discovered a new location in the Hudson Valley for Small Whorled Pogonia (Isotria medeoloides), an orchid species included on the Federal Endangered Species List as Threatened. Botanist Rich Ring has been monitoring and stewarding the population since 2014, in collaboration with OPRHP biologists and consultation with the Smithsonian Institution.
Since the summer of 2017 through 2019 ecologist/botanist Elizabeth Spencer surveyed priority rare plants and High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF) Rare Plant species on Green Certified state forests, multiple use areas and unique areas managed by the DEC Division of Lands and Forests. Ecologist Greg Edinger also completed a small number of HCVF rare plant surveys in 2017 and 2018. This work supports of the ongoing DEC Lands and Forests Unit Management Planning process.
In the summer of 2019 chief botanist Steve Young surveyed the rare plants of the Junius Ponds Unique Area northeast of Geneva, NY in preparation for Thruway roadwork in the area.
In the summer of 2017 chief botanist Steve Young surveyed the rare plants of the Hempstead Plains in Nassau County in preparation for extensive grassland management efforts by the Friends of Hempstead Plains.
In the summer of 2016 chief botanist Steve Young surveyed the rare plants of Plum Island off the coast of the North Fork of Long Island.
Chief Botanist Steve Young assists the iMapInvasives Program and the DEC Bureau of Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health with plant identification, plant surveys, and compiling invasive plant lists.
Feb. 11, 2021 | Updated Feb. 15, 2021, 11:15 p.m.