"As foresters we are the most well-trained group of citizens on the wise management of forest resources, yet our input has not sufficiently been sought or heard during the vision process."
----- Original Message -----From: Heather ClishSent: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 9:39 AMSubject: FW: Action AlertFYI - seems we're getting the attention of NESAF...Heather
From: Dave Publicover
Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 8:13 AM
To: Heather Clish; Mike Gildesgame
Subject: FW: Action AlertFYIDave
From: New England SAF [deb...@nesaf.ccsend.com] On Behalf Of New England SAF [pol...@nesaf.org]
Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 5:10 AM
To: Dave Publicover
Subject: Action Alert
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ New England Society of American Foresters Action Alert
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Issue:
Beginning February 4th, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation began seeking public comment about proposed recommendations for stewardship of 308,000 acres of DCR parks and forests and private forests. The public comment period ends February 22nd.
What has been proposed?
· Stricter Forest Cutting Practices Act regulations and the requirement of a licensed forester's signature on all Forest Cutting Plans;
· Prohibition of whole tree harvesting and requiring tops/branches be left in the woods and consideration of restricting all biomass harvesting;
· Decreasing active forest management on DCR lands from 240,000 acres to between 100,000-150,000 acres and an increase in permanent forest reserves and parklands;
· Restriction of even-aged management on DCR lands to limited openings created for wildlife habitat or ecological restoration;
· Creation of a Commissioner of Forest Stewardship overseeing programs protecting forests from conversion, promoting sustainable forestry on private lands, and overseeing management of publicly owned forests;
Top Concerns:
While this issue is local to MA, the process, decisions, and results could spread to other NE State Agencies in the near future. As foresters we are the most well-trained group of citizens on the wise management of forest resources, yet our input has not sufficiently been sought or heard during the vision process.
How you can take part:
The public comment period closes on February 22. It is crucial that we, as foresters, provide comments, feedback and suggestions for improvement. The draft recommendations of the Technical Steering Committee (TSC) of the Forest Futures Visioning Process have been released at: http://www.mass.gov/dcr/news/publicmeetings/tsc_draft_recommendations.htmProvide input:1) A simple online survey is available through a link at: http://www.mass.gov/dcr/news/publicmeetings/tsc_draft_recommendations.htm
2) Written comments may be submitted via email to: MODRD...@umb.edu.
NESAF Action Alerts
NESAF Action Alerts communicate opportunities for our members to engage in critical policy initiatives within the New England region. For more information please contact our policy staff at pol...@nesaf.org. In no way do NESAF Action Alerts constitute a position on the issue; view our position statements on www.nesaf.org. If you would like to be removed from our Action Alert mailing list, please unsubscribe at the SafeUnsubscribe link below.
This email was sent to dpubl...@outdoors.org by pol...@nesaf.org.
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As I recall, being seated on the TSC or AGS was by invitation only – and I don’t recall anyone “bothering”, as you say, to send a specific invitation to MA SAF, YD SAF, or NESAF. And Joe, who’s keeping attendance records? I don’t sense a particular claim to a public resource, but merely hope that science and sound management gets a voice.
Bill
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