To date, Julie has helped 17 communities acquire and manage almost 40,000 acres of forestland for community benefit. In the webinar, she spoke about the many reasons towns are motivated to own land and how community members can be a part of managing the land. “We believe that community forests are a valuable asset for rural communities.” she said. “It’s an update of an old model that has significant relevance today.,”
The panel included three local Community Forest leaders from towns with varied management structures and forest priorities. From the Randolph Community Forest in New Hampshire, John Scarinza highlighted how the town’s large forest is managed for timber, recreation, wildlife, and water protection with annual community involvement. Ted Siegler, from the West Windsor Community Forest in Vermont, focused on the town’s recreation partnerships and role in an important regional wildlife corridor. And finally, Gabe Perkins from the Bethel Community Forest in Maine, spoke about the unique partnership between the nonprofit Inland Woods + Trails and the town to advance their goals for an interconnected trail network.
Each panelist described the process of acquiring the land, as well as planning to manage the forest for the long-term, and engaging the community in the project.
Panelists also spoke about their sources of funding for both acquisition and management of the management of the forest. Each town has its own approach, but many apply for grants or philanthropic support or use revenue from sustainably managed timber to earn an income from the forest.
Important takeaways from the discussion include the importance of community vision and involvement, as well as cooperation between different user groups that may interact in the forest. “The Community Forest model gives residents direct involvement in how their forest lands are used,” said Julie. “Community forests are an excellent tool for fostering community involvement while creating an asset for future generations.”
We hope you enjoy the recording. Please share it with others who are interested in creating Community Forests.
