BY PAUL MITCHELL
North Country This Week

CANTON – A presentation to highlight the Village of Canton’s Community Forest Management Plan will be held Thursday, May 12 at 6 p.m..

Canton’s Director of Economic Development Leigh Rodriguez noted the plan was made possible with the help of a $14,000 grant from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Division of Lands and Forests.

The presentation will be made via Zoom by Miguel Berrios of LBS, and the community is invited and encouraged to attend in the Courtroom of the Municipal building at 60 Main St. or via the Zoom link found on the www.cantonny.gov website.

“This plan addresses tree maintenance practices such as pruning and the protection of existing trees, including a response to the Emerald Ash Borer infestation that is slowly advancing toward the Canton-Potsdam area. Improving practices for new tree plantings have also been addressed in the Plan, and planting plans for areas of the Village have been prepared,” said Rodriguez.

Public comment and questions are welcomed. A copy of the plan can be viewed at https://cantonny.gov/village-of-canton-completes-community-forest-management-plan/.

Canton’s vision is a community of people and their homes, stores, and other structures and spaces within a forest of trees.This forest is made up of trees along our streets, roads and highways, in our parks and other public spaces, and around our buildings and structures. This forest is diverse and beautiful and provides many benefits to the people who live, work or visit here. This forest also protects the land and water, purifies the air, and provides habitat for birds and other wildlife. The underlying purpose of our Community Forest Management Plan will be to guide our decision-making toward the best practices for the conservation and maintenance of existing trees and planting new trees that will enhance this forest and our community, the plan reads.

For more information, contact Leigh Rodriguez, Director of Economic Development at lrodriguez@cantonny.gov.