| Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) oversees nearly 450,000 acres of forests across the Commonwealth. These forests are managed for a variety of co-benefits including recreation, water quality, open space, sustainable forest products and wildlife habitat. One of DCR’s guiding management frameworks is called the Landscape Designations and Management Guidelines, which have been in place for over a decade. DCR classifies its state forestland into three broad categories including Woodlands (active forestry), Parklands (parks and heavy recreation use) and Reserves (no forestry except in unique situations approved by the Forest Reserve Scientific Advisory Committee). Approximately 40% of state forestland is classified as Woodlands, while 60% is classified as Parklands or Reserves, where little to no forest management work can take place. As part of a 10-year review, DCR has been working through the plan to determine if updates are needed. According to the Massachusetts Forest Alliance, DCR will be holding both virtual and in-person public meetings – and one field tour – in August and September to collect feedback. Here is the schedule: Tuesday, August 23, 6:30 – 8:30 pm – virtual meeting, click here to register Monday, August 29, 6:30 – 8:30 pm – virtual meeting, click here to register Thursday, September 8, 6:30 – 8:30 pm – in-person meeting at MassWildlife Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Rd, Westborough – no registration necessary Monday, September 12, 4 pm – field tour at Otter River State Forest in Baldwinville – click here to register Tuesday, September 13, 6:30 – 8:30 pm – in-person meeting at Pittsfield Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield – no registration necessary Wednesday, September 14, 6:30 – 8:30 pm – virtual meeting, click here to register Please speak up for healthy forests and abundant wildlife! We need your support letting DCR know that sustainable forestry and landscape level forest mosaics are critically important tools for maintaining healthy forests, abundant wildlife, and diverse habitat conditions. Contact Todd Waldron, Northeast Forest Conservation Director, at toddw@ruffedgrousesociety.org if you have any questions – and if you’re not currently and RGS & AWS member, check out our website at www.ruffedgrousesociety.org. |
