|
Vermont's forests are a valuable resource. This forested ecosystem provides
the basis for biological diversity, natural communities, wildlife habitats,
scenic landscapes, and recreational opportunities. As a natural resource,
forests provide an important economic base for employment, tourism, and
recreation, and support a diverse forest products industry. Liveable communities
and our quality of life depend on healthy, sustainable forests. Our responsibility
as forest stewards should not be taken lightly.
The landscape of Vermont has experienced many changes during our history.
While we are presently blessed with a stable and productive forest resource,
we cannot forget the past as we look to the future. By the 1850's nearly
all of Vermont had been cleared for agriculture. Since then the forests
have returned and are again abundant, covering over 78 percent of the
state. Current forest statistics describe a forest that is increasing
in acreage, number of trees, annual growth, volume, and maturity, and
exhibits improved overall health. As favorable as these statistics are,
decisions and actions we make today will influence our forests in years
to come.
Because Vermonters use and value forests in many ways, debate over the
future of our forests is spirited. This debate occurs in the state legislature,
in newspapers, and in small town general stores. Issues include the fragmentation
of forest lands, protection of wildlife and their habitats, loss and limitation
of recreational opportunities, sustainable timber harvesting practices,
taxation of forest land, status of forest health, public land acquisition
and management, expansion of economic opportunity, and protection of private
property rights.
We must remember that approximately 83 percent of the forest land in
Vermont is privately owned. This provides the underpinning of the benefits
and values all citizens appreciate and enjoy. Privately owned forest land
contributes significantly to the state and local economy and to tourism
and outdoor recreation, while providing forest products, biological diversity,
wildlife habitats, and clean water. Forests, primarily in private ownership,
truly define the unique character of Vermont's landscape and our culture.
While generations of private forest landowners have been stewards of the
land, the length of tenure and quality of stewardship may vary greatly.
Economic factors often create obstacles to long-term stewardship, but
it is in the public interest that private property owners hold a high
stewardship ethic and practice long-term forest management.
Public forest lands are important to Vermont. They contribute many of
the same benefits as private lands, but they also provide amenities and
resources not readily available on private land. In large blocks of contiguous
forest, public lands protect unique habitats, maintain stable natural
communities and biodiversity, provide primitive recreational and wilderness
experiences, preserve scenic landscapes, and showcase sustainable forest
management. Smaller public land holdings contribute to the mix of ownership
patterns, providing public access to forest land throughout the state.
Expanding uses of public land place pressures on both the resource and
the managers' abilities to find a balance between resource use and protection.
Calls for acquisition of more public land are sometimes matched by concerns
over reductions in municipal tax base, loss of working forests, inadequate
public funding, and the inability of the public sector to effectively
manage more land with less staff and less resources.
As we enter the 21st century, our forests have the ability and resiliency
to meet future demands while providing us with an opportunity to shape
a vision for the future of Vermont's forests.
A. Vision
In the future, the forests of Vermont will consist of healthy and sustainable
ecosystems, a prosperous and sustainable forest products industry, abundant
recreational opportunities, and a combination of ownership patterns supporting
a working forest landscape and large, unbroken forest tracts. Citizens,
government, and businesses understand their proper roles, responsibilities,
and rights, and work together to support the values of forest land for
this and future generations.
We believe this vision can be realized when the following elements are
in place:
 A
society that values forests as contributing to the quality of life. Policies
and programs reflect landowner rights and responsibilities, and provide
support for the well-being of forest owners, residents, and visitors for
this and future generations.
A healthy forest ecosystem, supporting the biodiversity of the
state's existing native plant and animal species and their habitats, and
the ecological processes that sustain them.
A forest land ownership and conservation ethic that respects the
contributions and complementary roles and varieties of private and public
forests in the state.
A forest stewardship ethic built upon management principles that
maintain forest health and productivity, wildlife and their habitats,
and the natural systems of air, water, and soil.
A forest that provides a stable income for forest owners and provides
a variety of resources which contribute to economic prosperity and healthy
local communities now and in the future.
Forests that serves the recreational need of Vermonters and provide
recreational opportunities and the outstanding scenic quality that attracts
businesses and visitors to Vermont.
A planning and policy strategy built upon respect, and a cooperative
spirit among forest owners, users, interest groups and all levels of government.
Educational programs which strengthen Vermont residents' awareness
and appreciation of the benefits forests contribute to the landscape and
society.
Research and the long-term monitoring projects which are essential
to learning more about Vermont's forests and our relationship with them
as stewards.
Taken as a whole, these elements represent the important ecological,
economic and social benefits and values we place on Vermont's forests.
B. Desired Future Conditions
Desired future conditions describe those conditions that would exist if
the vision for the future were realized. These eight statements therefore
are the basis for the long-term goals and actions needed to achieve them.
They recognize the benefits of Vermont's forests and the rights and responsibilities
of all forest owners, public and private, to manage and use their lands
for forest resources while protecting values such as water quality, critical
habitats, and soil productivity. These desired conditions should be viewed
as a whole. They are not mutually exclusive, nor is each one intended to
apply to every forest landowner.
I. Forest Ecosystem Health
Vermont's forests as a whole contain healthy and sustainable populations
of existing native plants and animals, along with different types and
ages of vegetation exhibiting biological diversity and properly functioning
ecosystems. Stresses are monitored, evaluated, and reported regularly
to effectively manage both private and public forest land.
II. Land Ownership and Conservation
Vermonters value all types of forest land‹including working forests,
large unbroken forest tracts, and urban and community forest‹and the
uses they support. Large forest tracts are encouraged through programs
and policies that foster responsible, long-term private ownership, and
assist forest landowners in realizing their forest management goals.
Public forest lands are managed to provide sustainable ecosystems, protect
unique and fragile areas, showcase sound forest management, and provide
recreational opportunities for all citizens to enjoy. Urban and community
forests are managed to enhance the quality of life in Vermont communities.
III. Forest Stewardship
Forest management is practiced on private forest land, exemplifying
a stewardship ethic and providing air, soil, water, forest products,
and biological resources essential to maintaining our quality of life.
Forest owners' rights are protected as is the public's interest in water
quality, scenic beauty, soil productivity, biodiversity, and protection
of critical habitats, through the appropriate use of education, technical
assistance, financial incentives or compensation, tax policies, and,
when necessary, regulation.
IV. Forest-Based Economy/ Sustained Economic Prosperity
Vermont has a sustainable and increasingly diverse forest resource
which serves the individual landowner, state, region, and the country,
providing quality forest products and supporting tourism and recreation.
The forest-based economy supports employment and provides forest landowners
with solid financial returns through planned timber harvesting. A forest-based
economy promotes value-added manufacturing and tourism, leading to long-term
prosperity.
V. Recreation
Vermont's forests serve the needs of Vermonters and visitors for recreation,
while conserving natural resources and other land uses. Opportunities
include traditional forms such as hiking, hunting, fishing, camping,
skiing, scenery viewing, and motorized activities, as well as emerging
activities such as ecotourism and wildlife watching. Recreational opportunities
recognize the diverse personal needs and expectations for exercise,
connection to nature, spiritual renewal, solitude, and social interactions.
VI. 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.
VII. Education and Outreach
Educational opportunities enable forest landowners, forest industry
professionals, state residents, and visitors to understand and respect
Vermont's forests and their uses. Education in both school and public
settings promotes awareness and appreciation of Vermont's rural nature,
working landscape, forest industry, biological diversity, and the historical
and cultural values of the forest.
VIII. Research
An integrated approach, drawing from many disciplines, guides research
that addresses major issues and supports learning and dialogue about
Vermont's forests and our relationships with them. Results of research
are clearly and regularly disseminated and citizens are actively involved
in community-based monitoring.
C. Role of Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation
in Managing Vermont's Forest Land
The Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation has statutory authority
to carry out an assessment of the state's forest resources and to develop
a plan to guide the department in fulfilling program responsibilities.
The Forest Resource Plan is one source for reporting that assessment and
meets the intent of V.S.A.Title 10 Chapter 73, Section 2225, which authorized
the department to: "carry out a detailed inventory and analysis
of the forest resource,² which "thereafter shall be the basis for
planning programs and their administration by the department for the conservation,
management, and development of Vermont's forest resources.²
In 1951 the Vermont Legislature enacted into law a policy that states:
"the forests, timberlands, woodlands and soil and recreational
resources of the state are hereby declared to be in the public interest.²
(Title 10 Chapter 83, Section 2601). Continuing in Section 2601; "It
is the policy of the state to encourage economic management of its forests
and woodlands, to maintain, conserve and improve its soil resources and
to control forest pests to the end that forest benefits, including maple
sugar production, are preserved for its people, floods and soil erosion
are alleviated, hazards of forest fires are lessened, its natural beauty
is preserved, its wildlife protected, the development of its recreational
interest is encouraged, the fertility and productivity of its soil are
maintained, the impairment of its dams and reservoirs is prevented, its
tax base is protected and the health, safety, and general welfare of its
people are sustained and promoted.²
Sub-section (b) of Section 2601 charges the department to: "implement
the policies of this chapter by assisting forest landowners and lumber
operators in the cutting and marketing of forest growth, encouraging cooperation
between forest owners, lumber operators and the state of Vermont in the
practice of conservation and management of forest lands, managing, promoting
and protecting the multiple use of publicly owned forest and parks lands;
planning, constructing, developing, operating and maintaining a system
of state parks...²
During the development of this plan, some members of the Steering Committee
and members of the public voiced concerns about the perceived changing
role of government in forest management. The major issue was how to address
"public interest² on privately held forest land without violating
the constitutional rights of individual property owners. With the implementation
of this plan, the department will continue its long-standing programs
in providing technical assistance and advice to private landowners. Actions
outlined in this plan are not intended to lead to further regulation or
restrictions of private forest landowners.
1. Private Ownership
Over 83 percent of Vermont's forest land is in private ownership. The
goals of individual forest landowners are as varied and diverse as the
resource itself. Society enjoys the benefits provided by private forest
landowners, and a key role of government is to encourage private investment
in forest land and assist landowners in realizing their management goals.
The department accomplishes this by providing services to protect all
forest land from insects, disease, and fire; to provide technical and
financial assistance upon request in accordance with various state and
federal programs; to provide the forest products and recreational industries
with marketing, educational, and informational assistance; and to make
available to all parties the latest forestry research.
Specifically, the department will continue to support forest management
on private land largely through carefully designed incentives, through
education and technical assistance, and by encouraging equitable tax programs.
Policies, programs, and actions will promote heightened awareness and
consideration of the social, economic, and ecological importance of Vermont's
forest resources and the rights and responsibilities of private forest
landowners.
The department will promote forest stewardship through education and
demonstration of forest management on public lands, and by providing technical
assistance appropriate to landowner objectives. Assistance to land-owner
associations and other private organizations will be encouraged to promote
forest stewardship on a landscape level. The department will strive to
improve its ability to monitor forest ecosystem health and forest inventories
so that changing conditions and emerging problems are quickly identified,
and corrective recommendations are made in a timely manner.
2. Public Ownership
The role of public ownership has changed and continues to change greatly.
Increases in population, changes in recreational interests, and fragmentation
of forest land have placed a greater emphasis on the many values and uses
of public land. Vermonters and visitors alike look to public lands to
provide amenities unavailable to the public on private land. The department,
in cooperation with state agencies, will continue to manage over 300,000
acres of state-owned land. The purchase and conservation of forest land
will continue in accordance with the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR)
Lands Con- servation Plan adopted in 1999.
Guiding principles in public ownership are to protect, maintain, and
enhance the state's ecological resources and biological diversity; protect
and provide access to public waters and shore lands; provide outdoor recreation
opportunities; provide areas for resource-related research, education,
and demonstration sites; and demonstrate sustainable forest management
while providing raw materials for the wood products industry. The department
will maintain a variety of forest roads and trails for forestry and recreational
activities, for servicing developed parks and recreational sites, and
for other appropriate public recreational access. Large areas of remote
forest land will be managed for wilderness type values and back-country
conditions. Long-term planning for all state lands will be conducted in
collaboration with the public and the other appropriate public agencies.
to top of page
|
