New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC, DEC, or EnCon) is the department of the New York state government responsible for the conservation, improvement, and protection of natural resources, manages the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve lands, state forest lands, wildlife management areas and various other state owned public lands of New York, is responsible for regulating sport fishing, hunting and trapping, and enforces the state's environmental laws and regulations. Its regulations are compiled in title 6 of the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. It was founded in 1970, replacing the previous Conservation Department.