EVENTS:
September 2025 - Mushroom Walk and Identification
Rob Miller, a local mushroom expert, shared his knowledge with the group on foraging and identifying mushrooms. He also spoke about mushroom habitats and provided printed materials for further exploration.
November 2025 - Annual Ecological Balance Support
TPF hosted the Upper Camp 1 organization for a week of controlled deer hunting. This event occurs annually in November.
December 2025 - Annual Field Inspection
To assure the continued pristine nature of the TPF Preserve and to create a record of changes and pressures on the site, the Nature Conservancy does an annual field inspection. The December 2024 report found, “The property is in great condition and continues to be well protected by the Taconic Plateau Foundation.” No detrimental change was noted in the January 2026 report.
2025 Outreach - TPF continually encourages the use of the preserve for educational and scientific projects, as well as group visits consistent with our mission. We have contacted local schools, libraries, land conservation organizations, and historical associations to share in this local natural resource.
Upcoming 2026 - TPF will sponsor a PRISM invasive species management and control workshop in the spring of 2026 for interested parties in Duchess County. Following the workshop, TPF will develop an action plan for invasive species management.
NEWS:
Invasive Species
One of TPF’s priorities, which is highlighted in the Hudsonia Biodiversity Report, is invasive species.
o TPF has joined Lower Hudson PRISM (Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management), a New York State framework for regional coalitions, that coordinates invasive species prevention, monitoring, and control efforts, to get professional support for invasive species control and muster volunteers to staff projects. TPF representatives attend PRISM informational and training meetings.
o We have recruited private property owners who share the public road to join in the control of invasives along the road, so the preserve has a buffer against invasives.
Scientific Studies
In collaboration with Green Berkshires, a conservation organization that engages in detailed, comprehensive study of the tristate South Taconic Plateau, TPF is planning to research and analyze specific lichen and reptile populations. The TPF Preserve is also one of the study sites in the Green Berkshires 20-25-26 study of natural carbon sequestration on the Southern Taconic Plateau.
