Legislative findings and declarations

§ 14-0103. Legislative findings and declarations.\n The legislature finds and declares that:\n 1. New York's coastal ecosystems are critical to the state's\nenvironmental and economic security, and integral to the state's high\nquality of life and culture. Healthy coastal ecosystems are part of the\nstate's legacy, and are necessary to support the state's human and\nwildlife populations;\n 2. The policy of the state of New York shall be to conserve, maintain\nand restore coastal ecosystems so that they are healthy, productive and\nresilient and able to deliver the resources people want and need;\n 3. The governance of coastal ecosystems shall be guided by the\nfollowing principles:\n a. activities in and uses of the coastal ecosystem are sustainable;\n b. ecological health and integrity is maintained;\n c. ecosystems' interconnections among land, air and water are\nrecognized;\n d. understanding of coastal ecosystems is enhanced;\n e. decisions are informed by good science;\n f. when risks are uncertain, caution is applied; and\n g. broad public participation occurs in planning and decision making.\n