As much as visitors and year-round residents of Long Island's East End enjoy the
perks of fine dining, shopping, and the world-class culture available, it is the
natural beauty of the diverse landscapes and outdoor recreation opportunities that
draw people here year after year, season after season.
There are very few places in the world where one can explore barrier beaches, bays
and sounds, lakes and rivers, fields and forests, all within an hour drive. Therefore,
it is only natural that many of the people who love the East End are dedicated to
preserving these resources. An abundance of groups and organizations exist that
focus on preservation. Some focus on land, some on the waterways, and some on wildlife.
Each of these different perspectives is crucial to the health of Long Island, and
each must be carefully managed if future generations will be able to enjoy the same
amenities.
Group for the East End has been a leading organization in the fight to protect the
natural resources of eastern Long Island since 1972. Their mission is to protect
and restore the environment through advocacy and education. The Group promotes an
attitude of conservationism. Their activities include fundraising and political
activism to convince local governments and businesses to make decisions that will
be best for the environment. They also have a strong educational component including
summer camp programs. There are many ways to become involved in their ongoing struggle.
Visit the website at www.eastendenvironment.org
for that information, as well as information about places to explore on the East
End, and much more.
The Nature Conservancy is a well-known international organization with a solid reputation
for fighting to preserve the natural world. A lesser known fact is that in 1980
The Nature Conservancy launched one of their largest fundraising efforts ever to
obtain over 2,000 acres of pristine land on Shelter Island known as the Mashomack
Preserve. Mashomack is accessible by foot if desired, located less than one mile
from the South Ferry and has 20 miles of trails and a visitor's center. A wide variety
of programs and guided walks are scheduled throughout the year. Visit the Nature
Conservancy website at www.nature.org,
or call the Mashomack visitors center at 631-749-1001 for more information.
Another organization dedicated to the preservation of land, but from an agricultural
perspective, is the Peconic Land Trust. This group was established to protect working
farms, natural lands, and heritage. Since 1983, they have protected over 10,000
acres of land. The Peconic Land Trust manages some remarkable stewardship initiatives.
They operate the Quail Hill Farm which is a community-supported organic farm, the
Shellfisher Preserve which is a former shellfishing facility, now converted to help
reseed the bays with shellfish among other aquaculture research activities, Bridge
Gardens, a botanical garden that hosts a number of activities throughout the year,
and Charnews Farms, a recent acquisition. More information on the large spectrum
of work being done by this group can be found at www.peconiclandtrust.org.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County may not be the first organization
that comes to mind when considering environmental groups, but they provide a huge
amount of information and programs to help residents make the healthiest choices
for their families and the environment. CCE offers dozens of informational flyers
about all aspects of agriculture, pest control, health, and marine science and safety.
They also run a Green Youth Initiative as part of their 4-H program. Information
about programs offered at their locations in Riverhead and at the farm in Yaphank
can be found on their website at
www.ccesuffolk.org. They can also be contacted at 631-727-7850.
Wildlife has been harshly impacted over the years by the burgeoning population of
the East End. More and more often, people and animals are crossing paths in ways
that are often detrimental to the creatures. The Wildlife Rescue Center of the Hamptons
has taken on the role of caretaker for injured and displaced wildlife. Located in
Hampton Bays, they offer a 24-hour-a-day hotline. Reach them at 631-828-WILD (9453).
They can be reached in a nonemergency at 631-728-4200. The center also offers educational
programs for school groups, creating awareness about local species and how to care
for them. Their website is
www.wildliferescuecenter.org. (For more information on the Center see Wildlife Rescue Center of the Hamptons Vol. 2 Issue
2)
As the Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center continues to grow and expand,
it's important to remember that it houses the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research
and Preservation, an organization that has done amazing things over the years. They
rescue, rehabilitate and release sea creatures like sea turtles, whales, dolphins
and seals, some of which are endangered and all of which need careful tending. Often,
their current 'patients' can be seen at the Aquarium. Education about these animals
and their place in the ecosystem is crucial to keep people aware of their importance.
The Foundation has a hotline to call in case one of these animals is spotted along
the shoreline in need of assistance. Contact the hotline at 631-369-9829 or visit
www.atlantismarineworld.com
for information on other marine education programs as well.
The Quogue Wildlife Refuge boasts 7 miles of walking trails surrounding Old Ice
Pond. The refuge began 75 years ago as a waterfowl conservation group, and their
purpose has shifted very little over the years. Throughout the boom years of building
on the East End, the 305-acre preserve has managed to hold tight. They offer a large
number of educational programs throughout the year, and have a display of animals
that cannot be returned to the wild, including red-tailed hawks, owls, a red fox,
and a bobcat. Contact them at 631-653-4771 or www.quoguewildliferefuge.org. A visit here is an excellent
way to spend the afternoon for every age.
Another great place to learn about the local flora and fauna of Long Island is the
South Fork Natural History Museum in Bridgehampton. This facility offers fascinating
displays, as well as many hands-on activities and a nature trail, which connects
to the Long Pond Greenbelt, a nine-mile-long system of trails stretching from Sag
Harbor to the ocean. For information, contact the museum at 631-537-9735 or visit
online at www.sofo.org.
One of the important watchdog organizations keeping an eye on the south shore bays
and the Peconic Estuary is Peconic Baykeeper. This group patrols the waters, documenting
environmental damages and issues that need to be addressed. They protect the bays
by gaining scientific information about water quality problems, then using this
proof to sway the actions of government officials to address those issues. They
use the court system to force compliance of environmental laws and regulations that
are sometimes ignored by government or private industry. Learn more about how Peconic
Baykeeper watches over the waterways at www.peconicbaykeeper.org.
This is only a sampling of the many organizations dedicated to the preservation
of the natural world and the many different ways that education, conservation, fundraising
and activism come together with one main goal; to preserve and protect all the amazing
natural gifts of Long Island's east end.
