New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced today that August 2021 marks the 75th anniversary of DEC’s Conservationist magazine.
“For 75 years, Conservationist magazine has connected readers to nature and, along the way, inspired countless New Yorkers to become environmental stewards themselves,” Commissioner Seggos said. “From the very first issue, Conservationist focused on the environment. Today, the magazine is a trusted source of information about wildlife and our natural resources, as well some of the country’s most exceptional wildlife photography. Conservationist has also evolved with New York’s growing community of environmental stewards. While sustaining its focus on outdoor adventures like hunting and fishing, the magazine now features pressing environmental issues that range from combatting climate change to the inspiring transformation of former industrial sites and innovative ways to address emerging threats to our air, land, and water.”
First published in August 1946 by DEC’s precursor, the New York State Conservation Department, Conservationist magazine sought to spread its message of stewardship using photography to highlight New York’s world-class fishing streams, crystal clear lakes, lush forests, and spectacular high peaks. The magazine’s founders understood and appreciated the state’s abundant natural resources and New Yorkers’ shared responsibility to protect them.
With six issues published each year, there have been a total of 450 issues of Conservationist magazine since its inception. Visit the DEC website to check out the magazine’s evolution since its launch in 1946.
Today’s Conservationist remains committed to providing readers with information about New York’s unmatched outdoor opportunities, such as hunting, fishing, and hiking. It also focuses on the work of DEC’s Divisions of Forest Protection (Forest Rangers) and Law Enforcement (Environmental Conservation Police Officers), extremely popular topics with readers. Over the last few decades, the magazine has increased its focus on environmental challenges such as air quality, solid waste, harmful algal blooms, and greenhouse gas emissions, bolstering DEC’s ongoing efforts to inform New Yorkers about the critical environmental issues of the day.
In addition, DEC publishes Conservationist for Kids (C4K), specifically designed for children to highlight ways they can enjoy, explore, and learn more about the outdoors. DEC has published 39 issues of C4K since its debut in 2007. Each year, an estimated 280,000 copies of C4K are distributed to fourth-grade classrooms across New York State free of charge, as well as DEC environmental education centers, regional offices, and fish hatcheries, and State Parks’ nature centers and other facilities. Recent C4K issues have featured stories about amphibians and reptiles, outdoor safety, and cleaner vehicles.
To encourage new subscribers and in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the magazine, DEC is offering a special $2 subscription rate for both in-person and online subscribers, including gift subscriptions, to the Conservationist during the upcoming Great New York State Fair, Aug. 20 – Sept. 6, 2021. This special rate will be limited to 7,500 online and in person subscribers.
In addition, in 2021, a law was enacted authorizing DEC to continue to hold sweepstakes and contests intended to stabilize, improve, or otherwise increase the subscriber base of the Conservationist magazine. Visitors to the Conservationist booth at the upcoming New York State Fair can enter a raffle, at no cost, to win a prize valued at $500.
Conservationist magazine has been published continuously since 1946. To learn more about the magazine or to subscribe, visit https://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/conservationist.html.
