Shivering the Timbers: Paradigm Shift for Mass. Forests?
Fallen Birch in a Public Forest
The Technical Steering Committee within the Mass. Department of Conservation and Recreation has released the draft recommendations for the Forest Futures Vision Process. The intent of the vision is to shift the current paradigm of a Gifford Pinchot style multi-use (with more attention to product creation ) approach to modern stewardship (with more attention paid to ecosystem health, public use and carbon sequestering) approach. Within the seventy- one page document is one over-arching vision and ten specific recommendations.
The recommendations:
1. Adoption of an ecosystem model.
- The intent is to place greater focus on biodiversity, carbon sequestration (climate change mitigation), water and soil protection, public use and demonstration forests (to show private landowners forest practices)
2. Elevation the role of forest stewardship in the Commonwealth’s decision making process.
- The intent is to create the position of and appoint a Commissioner of Forest Stewardship.
3. Policies applicable to private owned land in Commonwealth
- Currently the majority of forested lands are in private landholdings. The recommendation seeks to reduce development and fragmentation impacts on private land. In addition to supporting public/private partnerships and increasing the use of conservation restrictions, intent is to require that all forest plans be stamped by a licensed forester.
4. A new DCR landscape planning model.
- The intent is to zone the public lands into three zones with three levels of use.
- Reserves
- Parkland
- Woodlands
5. A new management approach for Forest Reserves.
- The intent is a mostly hands-off management approach and designation of wilderness areas.
6. A new management approach for Parkland.
- The intent is a focus on human use and values. This includes recreational, aesthetic and cultural/spiritual values.
7. A new management approach for Woodlands.
- The intent is a zoning for biomass production, ecosystem elements that benefit from active management (early successional habitat) and demonstration forests.
8. A new DCR organizational structure.
- The intent is to establish a structure for the Forest Stewardship in the Commonwealth.
9. Suggestions to improve the public process.
- The intent is to create a process that increases transparency and provides for greater public influence in the decision making process.
10. Identifies the resources needed to implement the recommendations.
- The intent is to find a way for fund the recommendations and allow for increased land acquisitions.
It will be interesting to see the outcome of not only of this process, but also the ripple effect on peripheral regulations.
Also, being that these most of the recommendations do not directly impact the livelihood of citizens it will be interesting to see the press and attention such a paradigm shift receives. Or doesn’t.
