The pitch pine-scrub oak barrens or pine barrens in the city of Albany and towns of Guilderland and Colonie and known as the "Albany Pine Bush" or "Pine Bush" is a landscape of rare and endangered natural communities and species identified by the New York natural heritage program. Its location at the center of a major urban area makes it especially valuable as an open space resource and, if properly managed, as a passive recreation area and educational laboratory.

Both state, municipal and private actions have been taken to protect the remaining Albany Pine Bush. Because of the fragile qualities of the Pine Bush and its dependence on periodic fires, effective, coordinated management of the remaining Albany Pine Bush is essential.

The legislature hereby declares it to be in the public interest to protect and manage the Albany Pine Bush by establishing an Albany Pine Bush preserve consisting of dedicated public and dedicated private land and a commission made up of representatives of state and local governments and private citizens to manage the preserve for purposes of its protection and controlled and appropriate recreation and education purposes.