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The Shawangunk Ridge Conservation and Design Guidebook written by David Church and John Myers and published by the Catskill Center is reprinted here. Contained within it is a wealth of information on many topics including:

    Ferns on rock: Photo copyright Š Gary Kitchen
  • ridge overlay districts
  • steep slope ordinances
  • ridgeline viewshed protection
  • camouflaged antennas and towers
  • use of earth-tone colors on ridge houses
  • tree-cutting restrictions
  • acquifer/drinking water protection.

Please read and share with your neighbors and town officials. Click below to read each chapter.

Other Resources available:

  • Homeowners' Guide to Living with Nature in the Shawangunks
  • Community Planning for Nature and People
  • Partners Preserving a 'Last Great Place'

The Homeowners Guide to Living with Nature is a new brochure that gives tips and web links about gardening in ways that help attract wildlife ­ such as songbirds and butterflies -- to your yard. Building a pond, planting native plants, and keeping open meadows on your property are just some of the ideas explored in this useful brochure, published by the Shawangunk Ridge Biodiversity Partnership.

Copies are available at garden centers, town halls, post offices, and other locations in towns around the Shawangunk Ridge, and the brochure can also be downloaded from the Mohonk Preservešs web site (www.mohonkpreserve.org/pdf/Homeowners.pdf).

For other information and publications from the Biodiversity Partnership, go to www.mohonkpreserve.org/index.php?publications#partnerpub

Over 40,000 acres of the ridge are protected by members of the Shawangunk Ridge Biodiversity Partnership. Composed of non-profit and public organizations, the Partnership uses science and land management strategies to preserve the sensitive wildlife habitat and other natural resources of the Shawangunks.

Informed by field research findings, Partners collaboratively manage the larger landscape, provide environmental education, and work with local communities to preserve open space on the slopes of the ridge.


The Shawangunk Ridge Coalition needs your help. You donations make it possible for us to keep our work going to protect the beautiful Shawangunk Ridge.


Contact: Shawangunk Ridge Coalition, 156 Ramapo Valley Rd., Mahwah NJ 07430;
201-512-9348 x25; Email: info@shawangunkridge.org