Forest and Biodiversity Program

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 and Biodiversity 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.