Primary Funder: NFWF New England Forests & Rivers Fund
Funding Amount: $180,000
Project Title: New York and Vermont Forest Block Initiative
Location: St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Lewis, Clinton, Franklin Counties New York and Franklin, Chittenden, Addison, and Rutland Counties Vermont.
Innovation: The project will create and expand dynamic forest block restoration projects to increase diversity through structural forest mosaics across the St. Lawrence valley of New York, and the Champlain valley of Vermont. The Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society (RGS & AWS) will build upon existing opportunities available through the NRCS Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) Program to (1) increase capacity for work across the region such that dynamic forest blocks can increase the overall diversity of forest cover types, (2) increase capacity to implement silviculture treatments through workforce development and access to specialized equipment and (3) collocate public land projects adjacent to WLFW private land projects to maximize forest structure heterogeneity and species diversity.
Impact:
- Two new dynamic forest restoration blocks in NY & VT – 4,000 acres under DFRB
- 1000 acres under improved forest management
- 200 acres forest habitat diversity restored.
- 300 landowners reached.
Partners:
Indiana University of PA and American Bird Conservancy – IUP and ABC, in partnership with Pheasants Forever and NRCS, has provided the sub-award funding for the two RGS & AWS Working Lands for Wildlife foresters in Vermont and New York.
Audubon NY & Audubon Vermont: Audubon will be a key partner in conducting both private landowner outreach and participation as well as public awareness and educational activities. Audubon’s platform will help give RGS a platform to disseminate information to the public.
State Wildlife Agencies: Vermont ANR, and New York State DEC will be critical partners, providing the bulk of the public land portions of restoration blocks identified by the agencies, including Upper & Lower lakes State Wildlife Area (NY), Fred Johnson State Wildlife Area (VT), Fairfield Swamp State Wildlife Area (VT) and Cornwall Swamp Wildlife Management Area (VT). County and town forests will comprise the rest of public lands within blocks. State data scientist(s) will assist with ARU deployment, and County Foresters (state employees) will assist with landowner outreach and project development. Forestry
Workforce Development: RGS and AWS have met with and gained the support of the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, and the Northern Forest Center. Both organizations have pledged their partnership to address unmet workforce needs identified by NRCS and Vermont ANR. USDA NRCS, Canton & Colchester offices: NRCS staff assist in all aspects of the Working Lands for Wildlife program, project implementation.
Private landowners: Private landowners surrounding public land focal areas will be key partners and a focus of our targeted outreach efforts to deliver NRCS Working Lands for Wildlife funding and habitat outcomes.
