Planning and Policy
Cooperation among forest landowners, the public, and government fosters
confidence and ongoing, productive involvement by all of society in developing
and implementing public policy. Long-term comprehensive planning for state-owned
land occurs in collaboration with Vermont citizens and local government.
Although no indicators were identified under planning and policy, an
assessment of current conditions can be reflected in a discussion of the
role and function of the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.
The mission of the department is: "to practice and encourage high-quality
stewardship of Vermont's environment by:
- monitoring and maintaining the health, integrity, and diversity of
important species, natural communities, and ecological processes;
- managing forests for sustainable use;
- providing and promoting opportunities for compatible outdoor recreation;
- furnishing related information, education, and service."
To fulfill our mission, the department will continue to work, as we have
for almost a century, for the wise management and use of Vermont's forests,
forest land, and other natural resources, and outdoor recreation opportunities.
While we deal with natural resources, an underlying, legislatively mandated
foundation of all our work is service to people. The department is largely
decentralized in both function and structure. Of the 118 full-time employees,
31 are located in the central office at Waterbury, while 87 are in various
field offices near the resources they manage and the people they serve.
We continue to be asked to take on more responsibilities and perform more
efficiently; however, we are reaching a limit on the capabilities of the
department to fulfill our mission and added functions. Although periodic
internal assessments and reorganizations will always be necessary, increased
efficiency can no longer compensate for continual reductions in staff
and funding. A major commitment to our programs, through provision of
adequate money and people, must come from outside the department if we
are to fulfill our mission properly.
 Over
the past 20 years, the department has put considerable efforts into comprehensive
planning. For example, we have either been responsible for or participated
significantly in the Vermont Forest Resource Plan, Agency Lands Conservation
Plan, Vermont Recreation Plan, Northern Forest Lands Council Report, State
Parks Marketing Plan, Urban and Community Forestry Five-Year Plan, Trails
and Greenways Plan, and Long-Range Management Plans for all state land.
These planning efforts, while time-consuming, provide an opportunity for
public discussion and policy debate. Public interest in natural resource
policies places burdens on the department to provide the most up-to-date
scientific information necessary for the public to make well-informed
judgements. We will continue to encourage people to participate meaningfully
in the process of natural resource stewardship.
Management of state-owned land within the Agency of Natural Resources
must be integrated under common goals and objectives. The department must
take a key role in facilitating this process to encourage linking environmental
and economic values in decision making. At the same time, we need to recognize
that economic values cannot occur at the expense of the resource. We have
a responsibility to show and promote the concept of many elements‹from
forest management, to market opportunities, to industry capacity, to forest
productive capacity and sustainability, and back to forest management.
We must also integrate our activities with others who often have many
diverse public and private interests. This will certainly grow in the
future and encourage us to break down artificial barriers between all
facets of government, cooperative partnerships, forest industry, environmental
groups, and all stakeholders.
In the past, all policy decisions were made at the highest levels of
government. Public interest in natural resource decision making has focused
more attention in the policy arena. Ultimately, policy is decided through
the democratic process in the state legislature. The use of the Forest
Resource Advisory Council, Northern Forest Lands Council, Forest Resource
Plan Steering Committee, and other advisory committees has broadened the
level of participation in the issues affecting Vermont's forest resources.
The department will continue to participate in and provide staff and technical
assistance to FRAC and its successors to make recommendations to the Governor
and the legislature.
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