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.