DCR Forest Futures Implementation Public Workshops

[C.P.]

As some of you may recall, the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) recently undertook a year-long public process, the Forest Futures Visioning process, to develop a renewed vision and long-term strategy for managing the 308,000 acres of land within DCR’s State and Urban Parks system. The Forest Futures Technical Steering Committee’s final report and the Patrick Administration’s forest policy direction are available on the DCR website (please see www.mass.gov/dcr).

Since adopting the Forest Futures Visioning Process (FFVP) final recommendations in April 2010, the Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) has been working on the implementation of the core recommendations provided by the FFVP Technical Steering Committee (http://www.mass.gov/dcr/news/publicm...mendations.htm).

An Internal Working Group of DCR staff representing a wide range of expertise has developed a framework for designation of DCR State and Urban Parks as Reserves, Parklands, and Woodlands, and developed a draft set of selection criteria and management guidelines. In November and December of 2010, a series of six public workshops are planned to solicit public input on the draft selection criteria for each of the three landscape designations that will be utilized in the process: DCR will also be seeking input on the draft management guidelines that are being developed for each of these three designations.

The public workshops are scheduled for:
Monday, November 15, 2010, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission, Union Hall in Union Station, Worcester

Tuesday, November 16, 2010, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
North Middle School, 350 Southampton Rd., Westfield

Thursday, November 18, 2010, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Berkshire Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield

Monday, November 22, 2010, 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
100 Cambridge St, Boston

Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Bristol County Agricultural High School, 135 Center St, Dighton

Thursday, December 2, 2010, 6:30- 8:30p.m.
Essex Agricultural & Technical High School, 562 Maple St, Danvers

The selection criteria and the management guidelines for each zone will be fine tuned based upon all input received through these meetings, and the criteria will be used to map the three zones using available GIS data. A second round of public meetings is planned for Spring 2011, at which time DCR will present the application of the selection criteria and the draft landscape designations for each DCR State and Urban Park properties for public review and input before finalizing the new system of land use management.

For more information on these workshops or the landscape designation process, please feel free to contact Jessica Rowcroft at either jessica.rowcroft@state.ma.us or at 617-626-1380.

Visit Forest Futures Visioning Process on DCR