Natural Environment

Focus Group Meetings

All focus groups emphasized that southwestern New York's natural environment is its greatest strength. Strengths must be tended, invested in, and monitored, in order to remain a strength. Waterways were especially noted as a primary strength and a high priority for investment and protection.
Strengths
geography, health of environment, caring citizens, culture, fisheries and wildlife, waterways, trail efforts
Weaknesses
​lack of collaboration, failure to use a regional approach, poor follow-through and enforcement of regulations, myopic vision
Opportunities
​increased interest in rural outdoor tourism, attractive residential location for those who work remotely, increased collaboration opportunities
Threats
​increasing demand for people to buy and build on rural lands, economic collapse, sprawl, failing infrastructure
Map indicating rare plants and animals populations (orange highlighted areas) in the vicinity of Salamanca and Allegany State Park.
NYS DEC Environmental Resource Mapper GIS tool, 2023
Objectives
  • Objective #1 Assist communities in developing best practices for water protection & management, solar siting, and environmental planning
  • Objective #2 Create regular communication across region and share efforts for mapping, planning and conserving land
  • Objective #3 Promote ecotourism and recreation economies
  • Objective #4 Mitigate the impact of invasive plants
  • Objective #5 Protect water bodies from damage due to septic systems, poorly sited development and other threats
SOUTHERN TIER WEST
​Center for Regional Excellence
4039 Route 219, Suite 200
Salamanca, NY 14779

716-945-5301  
​Fax 716-945-5550

STW"s mission is to help coordinate and enhance planning and development activities in Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua Counties so as to promote social, physical, and economic development in these counties. Southern Tier West seeks to improve the quality of life for the region's people and assure that the "people of the Southern Tier West region have access to adequate occupational, educational, and recreational opportunities; environment; health care services; housing; public safety; and transportation.
SOCIAL
Southern Tier West
Fresh Local WNY