Surprisingly to most, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts ranks eighth as the most forested state in the country, with 79% of its forests privately owned. As part of that 79%, I believe landowners have an obligation to practice land stewardship. My view on stewardship is simple: address the needs of your forest today to create a healthier tomorrow. Creating and executing a stewardship vision is a process that brings me much enjoyment and satisfaction. The ability to focus on creating tomorrow through proper management of one of our greatest natural resources—our forests—is a privilege.
This past summer, our property had a unique opportunity to create habitat as a symbiotic benefit of the harvest. Collaborating with our forester, Mark Mueller, forest resource manager at Hull Forest Products, was one of the keys to this project. Mark’s comprehensive approach to the harvest, combined with his ability to blend the landowner’s vision, comply with state regulations and provide additional value-adding suggestions, was outstanding. Another important aspect was the pairing of the logger and his equipment to the job; once again, Mark’s insight was extremely helpful.
While I was pleased with the cutting plan, I knew this was a ripe opportunity to elevate the harvest’s impact. To be clear, the elevated plan I’ll discuss is outside a forester’s normal scope. So, the quest to add another member to my team began. I reached out to Forest Steward Program Forester Mike Downey for guidance or suggestions. After a pleasant conversation discussing my vision, Mike suggested I reach out to the Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society (RGS & AWS), as they had a program that potentially matched my needs.
At my next opportunity, I contacted Todd Waldron at RGS & AWS. Todd is the Northeast forest conservation director. Once we connected, I was immediately greeted with Todd’s contagious enthusiasm. We spoke for quite some time about the potential project and how it could dovetail with the goals of RGS & AWS’ habitat development initiatives. After that in-depth conversation, it became clear that a partnership with RGS & AWS had exciting potential. One of the most impressive aspects of our discussions was Todd’s interest in understanding all the improvement opportunities, including erosion/sediment control and invasive species management. I was fortunate to be asked to submit a proposal outlining the scope of work and associated costs to RGS & AWS for review, with the goal of final project acceptance. Keep in mind that several aspects are considered by RGS & AWS prior to project acceptance. Their vetting process is rigorous, and rightfully so once you take the time to understand their perspective. After much anticipation, I was delighted to hear that RGS & AWS was interested in proceeding with a partnership.
After learning about the organization’s desire to move forward, I reached out to Mark at Hull to validate the capability of Mike Grasso, the logger on site. As I expected, Mark assured me Mike was more than capable of completing the agreed-upon scope of work with RGS & AWS. Mike travels with three pieces of equipment—a skidder, a dozer and an excavator—making him highly versatile in the woods. After speaking with Mike multiple times throughout the project, one thing became clear: Mike takes immense pride in his work. Over the years, I have seen several logged properties; Mike differentiates himself through the quality of his work, which is evident in the product he leaves behind.
When you have an aligned team consisting of RGS & AWS, your forester and a skilled logger, you’ve created the trifecta for tomorrow’s habitat. I encourage landowners to become engaged with the stewardship of their property and, while doing so, to look for opportunities to enhance the value it brings to local wildlife. Seeking guidance from subject matter experts along your habitat journey will help you create a solid plan, avoid mistakes, and produce the desired result.
As part of my vision, this project is just the beginning of creating a legacy for my family. I want to extend special thanks to my team: Todd at RGS & AWS, Mark from Hull and Mike. Without their respective expertise, this project would not have been possible. I will forever be grateful to RGS & AWS for the assistance they provided through our partnership.
Wait no longer—capture your opportunity today and immerse yourself in the process. You won’t be disappointed with the exponential gift your land will provide to you and your family!
This project was funded in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service Landscape Scale Restoration Grant and the Massachusetts Dynamic Forest Restoration Initiative. If you’re a private landowner in western Massachusetts and would like to get involved, please contact Todd Waldron at ToddW@RuffedGrouseSociety.org.
