Arbor Day Marked With Dozens Of Tree Plantings Along Long Island Preservation Area

LONG ISLAND, NY — Just in time for Arbor Day, community members and local politicians gathered for the planting of dozens of native trees at the newly improved state Department of Conservation's Conscience Bay-Little Bay Tidal Wetland Area in Setauket, on Thursday morning.

The plantings complement the agency's work with the Peconic Land Trust and other partners to preserve environmentally sensitive properties along the North Shore of Long Island. The agency recently added a three-car parking lot to help foster public access to this valuable parcel.

The agency has worked with partners to purchase and conserve North Shore properties through the state’s Environmental Protection Fund to protect tidal wetlands and adjacent upland areas, as well as create a valuable community recreational asset.

Since 2015, the agency has acquired six properties on Dyke Road in Setauket where 15.52 acres were added to the DEC’s existing 52-acre Conscience Bay-Little Bay State Tidal Wetland. Since 2015, it has awarded the Peconic Land Trust more than $400,000 in Conservation Partnership Grant Program awards to continue progress on open space protection initiatives like Conscience Bay.

Gov. Kathy Hochul's 2025-26 Executive Budget, includes a proposal to maintain the historically high level of $400 million in EPF funding, which supports climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, improves agricultural resources to promote sustainable agriculture, protects water sources, advances conservation efforts, and provides recreational opportunities for New Yorkers.

The EPF also supports New York’s 30x30 Initiative, which commits to conserving 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030, and grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, through the Long Island Sound Study, provide funding for the Conscience Bay-Little Bay land acquisitions.

Land trusts play an important role in advancing open space protection, and the DEC supports the trusts through Conservation Partnership Program grants funded by the record-high EPF.

The tree plantings support Hochul’s 2024 State of the State commitment to plant 25 million trees by 2033 to invigorate New York State’s tree planting efforts, advance climate goals, and grow the state’s forest products industry.

Acting DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton noted that many years of "hard work and advocacy" by the agency's Natural Resources staff and community partners made the day "possible."

The agency "greatly appreciates the advice, cooperation, and assistance" from partners like the Peconic Land Trust, Strongs Neck Civic Association, Three Village Civic Association, Town of Brookhaven, and the Setalcott Nation, which "were all vital to the success of this project and the public access and enjoyment it will bring," she said, adding that it is encouraged that the public "make every day Arbor Day and submit tree plantings on DEC’s Tree Tracker website.”

Peconic Land Trust President John v.H. Halsey said that as Arbor Day is celebrated, it's a reminder of why environmentalists "work so hard every day to conserve land in our communities."

“Together these parcels contribute to the health of Conscience Bay and Little Bay by protecting tidal wetlands as well as wildlife by providing habitat," he said. "In addition, these parcels represent the history of this place as Setauket ancestral land and the home of the Culper Spy Ring so helpful to General Washington during the American Revolution."

"We started this effort in 2014 and in recent months conveyed the last of the parcels to the DEC illustrating the power of partnerships between land trusts and our public partners," he added. "We thank Governor Hochul, our representations in the New York State Senate and Assembly and in the Town of Brookhaven, and the team at the DEC for their commitment to protecting the places we know and love on Long Island. We look forward to future collaborations.”

State Senator Anthony Palumbo said the tree planting "symbolizes our commitment to protecting Long Island's unique ecosystem and our continued efforts to combat shore erosion and protect the region's water quality."

“Thank you to the Department of Environmental Conservation, Peconic Land Trust and members of the community, for your efforts to improve and preserve this important historical and ecological site," he added.

State Assemb. Rebecca Kassay thanked the DEC for its "ongoing efforts to conserve and repair our unique and magnificent ecosystems."

"Areas like this tidal wetland are fragile and rely on our intrepid community members as well as state and federal agencies to protect and restore the land and water so that it may continue to serve as a healthy host to all living creatures," she said. "This tree planting further beautifies the gateway to Strongs Neck, and furthers our district's and our state's goals to properly steward our environment. I look forward to continuing collaborations with our partners at the DEC to protect open space, restore native ecosystems, and connect our residents to nature throughout the district.

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine noted that that any efforts to conserve the environment "are always appreciated and encouraged."

“Planting trees is a critical component to these types of projects, and we thank the DEC for recognizing the importance of this initiative," he added.

Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico said that the tree planting, falling "on the heels of Earth Day, highlights what’s possible when we work together to protect our environment."

“The town of Brookhaven was proud to partner with New York State on this meaningful restoration, helping return this property to its natural state. It’s now preserved for future generations as a thriving tidal wetland — just as it should be," he added.

Suffolk Legis. Steve Englebright said, "Appropriately, it is here that the DEC has previously extensively planted native shrubs on reclaimed land. Overlooking beautiful Conscience Bay, this site, along with nearby Little Bay’s fringing tidal marshlands and an uplands area between these two bays that features freshwater wetlands in swales between apparent ancient coastal dunes, is a showcase of the DEC’s capable execution of mission and purpose. On behalf of Suffolk County residents, especially those who live near any of our harbors, thank you Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton and the DEC staff for your vision and dedication.”

Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, called the planting "a triumph of ten years of teamwork that breathes life back into Conscience Bay."

"Restoring these tidal wetlands is key to building climate resiliency, safeguarding our coastal communities, protecting wildlife habitats, and preserving public access to nature," she said. "This has taken years of collaboration and is a reminder of what’s possible when communities, local partners, and the state come together to restore our environment. We’re proud to partner with DEC to help revitalize this area; just in time for Arbor Day.”