None The Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts Press Releases Search All Press Releases Kerry Crisley 617-227-7017, ext.316, kcrisley@tnc.org

SEEING THE FOREST AND THE TREES:

STATE FORESTS GET $250,000 BOOST FROM HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Amendment by Representative Kulik will aid forest management in Western Mass.

May 1, 2007 (BOSTON, Mass.) – The Nature Conservancy today hailed the Massachusetts House of Representatives for its passage of a FY08 state budget amendment increasing the number of foresters in the Commonwealth.

The $250,000 in new funding will allow the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to hire staff dedicated to the sustainable management of state forests. The increase will boost DCR’s current efforts to complete and implement new, comprehensive Forest Management Plans, improve the state’s forest economy and ensure the long-term sustainability of this natural resource.

“With this new investment in DCR foresters, the House recognizes that state government can be both a responsible steward of our forest environment, while also generating important new revenue for the Commonwealth,” said the Amendment Chief Sponsor, Representative Stephen Kulik (D-Worthington).  “This is a significant step toward improved management of our state forests to improve their health and economic value.”

The Nature Conservancy would also like to thank state Representatives James Eldridge, Anne Gobi, Denis Guyer, Peter Kocot, Douglas Petersen, Ellen Story and Walter Timilty for their co-sponsorship of this initiative. 

The Conservancy will also seek support for this initiative from state senators during FY08 Senate budget deliberations in mid-May. 

In May 2004, Massachusetts earned “Green Certification” designation from the international Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) on all state-owned lands - totaling 500,000 acres. Green Certification is considered the gold standard for environmental forestry, and Massachusetts is the first state to certify all public lands.

“By earning Green Certification, Massachusetts is leading the nation in sustainable forest management and serving as a critical model,” said Wayne Klockner, The Nature Conservancy’s Massachusetts State Director. “Increased funding and staffing levels are essential to achieve high FSC standards required to maintain Green Certification.”

The designation requires comprehensive management plans for all certified lands, to include conservation, recreation and sustainable forestry. State foresters are responsible for developing and implementing these Plans. They also help citizens who own privately-held forests write and implement sustainable management plans for those lands.

FSC Green Certification also requires the state to set aside forest reserves, managed for ecological and recreational values and allowed to develop into the old growth forests of our future. Large, intact forests provide habitat for wildlife, offer numerous opportunities for recreation, and maintain our supply of clean drinking water by capturing rainfall and filtering it to the rivers and streams that feed our reservoirs.

The Commonwealth partnered with The Nature Conservancy to designate and create nine large forest reserves in Adams, Mt. Washington, Savoy, Otis, Middlefield and other locations. Foresters will play a key role in the ongoing management of these reserves.

“Foresters are the stewards of the public forest lands in their districts and provide support to private foresters,” continued Klockner. “We applaud Representative Kulik and his colleagues for expanding this important need.” 

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.