Forest Program Overview

Forests cover almost eighty percent of Vermont, the majority of which is privately owned. Much of the remaining publicly owned forested land is slated to go through a long term management planning process. Promoting the sound stewardship of these forest ecosystems - wild and working, public and private, large and small - is the primary purpose of VNRC's Forest Program.

VNRC believes that a functional, interconnected system of protected wildlife habitat and sustainably managed working forests is essential to Vermont's ecological, economic and social well-being. Forests filter our water and air, provide habitats for wildlife; provide opportunities for backcountry recreation and spiritual renewal; and provide a renewable supply of wood for lumber, paper and fuel. Part of what keeps Vermont's traditional settlement pattern intact is a vibrant working landscape that includes a viable forest-based economy.

The Forest Program at VNRC focuses on:

• Protecting biological diversity, ecologically important natural communities, and rare, threatened, and endangered species.
• Encouraging and promoting sound stewardship and sustainable forest management practices.
• Creating opportunities for dialogue with landowners and managers, state agencies, and elected officials in order to work together on sound management of sustainable working forests.
• Promoting wise stewardship and management of the Green Mountain National Forest and other state owned lands that include a diversity of appropriately protected areas in conjunction with well managed forests.
• Ensuring the economic viability of sustainable forest practices by promoting a value-added wood products industry and long term management objectives.