The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) was created on 1 July 1970 to combine in a single agency all state programs designed to protect and enhance the environment. The mission of the DEC is: “To conserve, improve and protect New York’s natural resources and environment and to prevent, abate and control water, land and air pollution, in order to enhance the health, safety and welfare of the people of the state and their overall economic and social well-being.”

The DEC’s goal is to achieve this mission through the simultaneous pursuit of environmental quality, public health, economic prosperity and social well-being, including environmental justice and the empowerment of individuals to participate in environmental decisions that affect their lives.
Here are some links to the DEC website:

Your guide to outdoor fun in New York: https://www.dec.ny.gov/62.html

DEC has environmental education programs and resources that will help everyone become a better steward of the environment: https://www.dec.ny.gov/26.html

Have you ever wondered why you need a license to do some of your favorite outdoor activities? Fishing and hunting, as well as other outdoor sports and recreation, require careful management to strike a balance between supply and demand: https://www.dec.ny.gov/63.html

Today New York has more forest than it has had in the past 150 years. New York’s forests serve as an important economic and recreational resource. Preserving and protecting our forests benefits local communities and industries, and the state as a whole: https://www.dec.ny.gov/61.html

One of DEC’s main responsibilities is to manage and protect New York State’s wild animal and plant populations. To do this, DEC conserves crucial habitats and sets regulations and policies that protect plant and animal resources: https://www.dec.ny.gov/23.html

While people usually enjoy having wildlife around, problems sometimes arise when the activities of people and wildlife clash: https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/265.html

The Department is concerned with the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the people of the State of New York and the conservation and protection of its natural resources. Water stored behind a dam represents potential energy which can create a hazard to life and property located downstream of a dam. In order for a dam to safely fulfill its intended function, it must be constructed, operated and maintained properly: https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/4991.html