Coordinated by New Paltz village resident Peter Fairweather, Green Assets is a project of the Shawangunk Ridge Biodiversity Partnership. This consortium of 10 environmental groups has been studying ecosystem issues relating to the scenic ridge, where development pressures are mounting.

The ridge's natural ''resources are coming under increasing pressure,'' Fairweather told the town board during a recent presentation.

Green Assets offers a unique clearinghouse for regional scientific information pertaining to thriving and endangered ecosystems. The ridge hosts numerous streams, rare pine forests and threatened animal species.

Intermunicipal planning is the key to preservation, according to Fairweather and town officials.

''Makes tons of sense,'' said Rich Gottlieb, the owner of the Rock & Snow, a sporting goods store in New Paltz.

''It's a community,'' he added. ''It needs to be integrated. There's more to it than ... 'this is mine and that is yours.' ''

The program also will save quality-of-life costs by helping natural forces cleanse air, water and soils, Fairweather said. Membership is free to municipalities that join.

Town looking at rights

In a separate project, New Paltz town officials are in the early stages of developing plans for acquiring development rights, based on a new inventory of open spaces.

Drawing on public input, the inventory was compiled by a volunteer committee and consultants. Funded by a state Greenway grant, the inventory was presented separately last week to the village and town boards.

Research on how other municipalities have handled open-space preservation needs is being conducted by Shingebiss Associates, a New Paltz consulting firm specializing in grants and project facilitation.

The firm also will develop protection plans and an analysis of likely fiscal effects, Shingebiss director Glenn Gidaly said. The cost of the firm's work on the project is expected to run between $10,625 and $16,150.

The town board is scheduled to vote on a preservation plan early next year.

Green Assets, meanwhile, offers a database of sensitive habitats and natural re-sources. Users will be municipalities with land-stewardship interests on or near the ridge. Governments must vote to join, as New Paltz did, and form committees to work with Fairweather.

The Green Assets information includes high-tech maps of Ridge landscapes. The program will ultimately provide a regional platform for obtaining grants and lobbying for other support, according to New Paltz town Supervisor Don Wilen.

On the Web

For more information about the program, go to www.townofnewpaltz.org/BCC.htm