IMPORTANT UPDATE ON “FOREST FUTURES VISION” PUBLIC FORUMS
The state has moved the location for the Amherst public meeting (Tuesday, February 9, 2010 5 pm – 6:45 pm)
from the library to the Amherst Regional Middle School Cafeteria, at 170 Chestnut Street. They have also added an
additional public forum immediately following the Amherst forum from 7p.m. to 8:30p.m. where citizens will have
the best opportunity to give direct feedback on the management of state public forests. For important background
information regarding the "Vision" process and recommendations, please see: www.maforests.org/Handout.pdf
All meeting locations and times can be seen at:
www.mass.gov/dcr/news/publicmeetings/forestryfvpupcoming.htm
Please be sure to also submit written comments regarding protecting public forests, watersheds and parks by
February 22, 2010 by sending an email to: MODRDCRFFVP@umb.edu
Written comments are essential to ensure your comments are included in the record.
Important Note: There has been an attempt by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to stack
these "public" forums with timber interests including offering continuing education credits to DCR forestry employees
(credits required to maintain their licenses) to attend multiple forums.
These hearings are purportedly intended to obtain the public's opinion on the management of their public lands, so this
attempt by DCR to distort the public process through implicit coercion of its employees is inappropriate. (See DCR
e-mail message below)
Please attend a meeting to speak up for protecting our public forests, watersheds and park from commercial logging.
By fully protecting state public forests, watersheds and parks from commercial logging, we can protect 11% of
Massachusetts land area in parks and reserves and simultaneously prevent biomass plants from using state public
forests as a source of fuel.
For a reminder of why your voice is needed see:
www.maforests.org/QUABBIN.pdf and www.maforests.org/
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DCR e-mail message
----- Original Message -----
From: Ryan, Tom (DCR)
Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 2:14 PM
Greetings Foresters,
A continuing forester education opportunity for your information. See attached announcement and certificate. The draft recommendations have just been made available at the following website:
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/news/publicmeetings/tsc_draft_recommendations.htm
Forest management recommendations have been made for both public and private forestlands.
Credit will be given for attendance at more than one meeting.
If you attend a meeting and desire CFE credit please have the attached certificate signed and include with your next license renewal application.
Tom Ryan, Service Forester
Secretary, MA Forester Licensing Board
Department of Conservation and Recreation
PO Box 1433; Pittsfield MA 01201
phone: 413-784-1828 ext. 123
fax: 413-442-5860
Tom.Ryan@state.ma.us
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Thanks