§ 53-0305. Designation of commissioner.

For the purposes of this title, the commissioner is designated as the
appropriate state official to coordinate federal funding of urban
forestry and arboriculture programs and by regulation may provide for
the submission and approval of urban forestry and arboriculture plans.
The department will also provide technical assistance to urban areas for
urban forestry and arboriculture, and encourage the participation of
municipal foresters, private agencies, organizations, firms, and
individuals to furnish urban forestry and arboricultural services in
order to carry out the purposes of this title. The commissioner may take
steps necessary to facilitate the cooperation of private agencies and
organizations with municipalities for the purposes of this article,
including long-term contracts with private parties for the use of vacant
public lands in or around urban areas, subject to other requirements of
state law and the jurisdiction of other public agencies with respect
thereto, for purposes of urban forestry and arboriculture under this
article, and to provide trees and shrubs for planting in accordance with
an approved urban forestry or arboricultural plan. This program shall be
administered in cooperation with the Cornell cooperative extension and
the soil and water conservation districts to avoid duplication between
these agencies and the department.