and investments. Grants from land conservation organizations, including some from the New York State Conservation Partnership Program, and funds from the state's Environmental Protection Fund amount to 23% of income. It was the first land trust established on the northern Shawangunk Ridge. The Preserve's mission is to protect the Shawangunk Mountains by inspiring people to care for, enjoy, and explore the natural world. To accomplish its mission, the Preserve conducts programs in four key areas - environmental education, serving both school children and adults; land protection, saving high-priority land on the ridge; land stewardship, balancing the protection of land and wildlife with opportunities for recreation; and scientific research, creating a "living laboratory" on the land. The land is home to more than 1,400 plant and animal species, including the peregrine falcon, Jefferson salamander, and of rare dwarf pitch pine. Restricted deer hunting is allowed with the aim of preventing ecological damage due to overbrowsing. There is a per-person day fee for cycling and rock climbing. Annual memberships are available. Free one-month memberships were offered to Ulster County residents in the spring and again in the fall of 2014. Hours of operation are from sunrise to one hour past sunset. Minnewaska State Park Preserve adjoins the Mohonk Preserve lands to the south, and protects another of former property of another member of the Smiley family as a state park. Daniel Smiley Research Center The Daniel Smiley Research Center (DSRC) is the Mohonk Preserve's conservation science unit. The DSRC archive is recognized nationally for an extensive collection of biodiversity and natural history long-term research data. The archive includes more than 86 years of natural and cultural history observations, over 120 years of daily weather data, 60,000 physical items, 9,000 photographs, and research library. Of those physical items, there are over 3,000 herbarium specimens, 139 mammal specimens, 107 bird specimens, 140 butterfly specimens, 400 arthropod specimens, and over 10,000 index cards with handwritten and/or typed natural history observations. The collections are also frequently cited in research on climate change, biodiversity, bird migration, and human impact on the environment. References External links Official site NY-NJTC: Mohonk Preserve trail details and info Protected areas of Ulster County, New York Shawangunks Climbing areas of the United States New Paltz, New York Nature centers in New York (state) Nature reserves in New York (state)