Section 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.