Adverse Forest Practices

Following recovery from centuries of impact, some forests today are over-utilized or otherwise mismanaged.

The Threat

Timber management problems range from over-use to under-use. While many woodlands fall well below their potential for wood production, in other woodlands:

• short-term economic pressures lead to extensive high-grading and clearcutting,
• erosion from badly constructed forest access roads contributes tons of sediment to streams,
• regulations on "liquidation" harvesting are ignored: parcels are purchased, stripped for timber, and split into subdivisions 

The Solution

Increased communication between policymakers, foresters, forest landowners, and wood producers about the public benefits of long-term forest management on private lands can lead to policies that benefit both sellers and buyers of local wood products.

Our Role

The Wildlands and Woodlands Partnership has brought together foresters, wood producers, and other professionals in southern New England to share their experiences and work toward best practices in the rapidly urbanizing environment.  Do you have ideas for northern New England? Let us know.