A community forest is land owned, managed, and cared for by a community.

When a community owns forestland, it can earn income from timber harvests, support the local outdoor recreation economy, guarantee space for educational opportunities, and permanently conserve scenic views and wildlife habitat through conservation easements. Pioneering projects have shown that Community Forests are an excellent strategy for economic and community development, delivering both social and economic benefits.

Community Forests

• Are owned by a town or on by a non-profit on behalf of a town
• Rely on community participation for management planning and decisions
• Ensure that communities receive value and benefits from the land that can support community priorities
• Are permanently protected from future development, usually through a conservation easement

Benefits of Community Forests

Productive forests

• Healthy and productive forest through sustainable management
• Timber and other forest products
• Jobs in the forest industry
• Revenue for town

Recreation

• Trail networks as a recreational asset for townspeople and visitors
• Traditional public uses including hiking, hunting, fishing, etc.
• Family friendly – a nice place to spend an afternoon

Education Opportunities

• Long-term outdoor classroom for schools
• Early and ongoing exposure to forest values for today’s children—tomorrow’s leaders, stewards, and land managers

Landscape conservation

• Protected ecologically sensitive areas and resources
• Links between existing conservation lands across a landscape
• Links among important habitats and wildlife corridors