In June, the Healey-Driscoll Administration launched “Forests as Climate Solutions” to increase the focus on forests and climate by investing in forest conservation, enhancing a network of forest reserves, and developing forest management guidelines based on the latest climate science. The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) convened the Climate Forestry Committee, a group of scientific experts, to bring their expertise and recommend a climate-centered approach for state lands.
The EEA recently released the Climate Forestry Committee’s report containing its recommendations regarding enhanced climate-oriented forest management practices for Massachusetts, based on the latest climate science.
Noting the critical role forests play in mitigating dangerous climate change, the Committee urged the state to sharpen its land management focus on climate change mitigation and adaptation. EEA is allocating $50 million to support the state’s mandated emissions reduction requirements, including, as set forth in the Clean Energy and Climate Plan, conserving 40 percent of the Commonwealth’s natural and working lands by 2050. EEA will invest this funding in forest conservation and incentives that encourage municipal and private landowners to adopt climate-oriented management approaches.
EEA is now seeking public input on the Committee’s recommendations to inform the state’s implementation of management guidelines for forest lands held by the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Divisions of State Parks and Recreation and Water Supply Protection, and the Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife). As planned, the six-month temporary pause on timber harvesting projects is over. During the public comment period, the State will review the paused projects and apply the Committee’s recommendations.
“Healthy forests and wetlands are our best defense against the increasingly dangerous impacts of climate change. Nature—our forests, wetlands, grasslands—sequester huge amounts of carbon. But our forests are in danger—each year we lose more and more as forests are cut for other land uses and the forests themselves are experiencing the effects of more extreme climate impacts, including droughts, fires, heat waves, invasive species, and more intense storms. The Healey-Driscoll Administration made it a top priority to ensure our forest management practices and state policies guiding our forestry programs integrate the best and most current science,” said Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer. “The policy choices and actions we take now will impact future generations.,
Climate Forestry Committee Recommendations
Over six months, the Committee of scientific experts deliberated on recent science about how forests can affect climate change and how they are best managed for carbon storage and sequestration. The Committee centered its recommendations around the idea that forest management ranges along a spectrum from the most passive, hands-off approach, where nature takes its course, to active management, where interventions are targeted to advance specific forest conditions. Its recommendations covered several areas, including carbon stocks and sequestration, soils, natural disturbances, and habitat management, offering climate-centered approaches for each.
In addition, the Committee discussed strategies for maximizing carbon storage. The Committee agreed that carbon storage is greatest in older forests, and the state should allow forests to grow old while balancing goals for active management. The Committee also recommended strategies for pursuing active forest management in a climate-focused manner, including updating Best Management Practices and encouraging EEA to implement its Healthy Soils Action Plan to preserve soil carbon.
The Committee also recommended a reduction in habitat goals for species dependent on young forests, shrublands, and grasslands on MassWildlife lands to increase carbon storage and sequestration. Separately, the Department of Fish and Game will evaluate and update habitat goals for 2030, 2040, and 2050 for Massachusetts.
Additionally, the Committee underscored the importance of natural disturbances for forests, and recommended, wherever possible, that dead trees be left on the ground for their biodiversity benefits – rather than removed.
Recognizing the impact pests, pathogens, and invasive plant species can have on natural and working lands, the Committee recommended that EEA evaluate each circumstance individually including the nature of the invasive pest or pathogen, the tree species impacted, the stage of the invasion, and the likelihood of successful intervention.
Overall, the Committee emphasized the importance of keeping forests intact by enlarging forest reserves, increasing permanent conservation efforts, and reducing the conversion of forests to other uses. It encouraged state agencies to be more specific about the rationale behind forest management projects and their carbon and climate implications, including for water supply protection and habitat management goals. It also called for more investment in data, science, and staffing resources for state forest lands.
Forest and Carbon Data
Understanding the essential role of forests and carbon, the administration has also developed an outline and framework for a publicly available dashboard that will launch this year, highlighting forest carbon metrics and trends. Projects planned for 2024 include engaging an external contractor to investigate where and how wood from Massachusetts forests is being utilized and the impact on carbon storage of use in long-lived wood products.
Landowner and Business Incentives
Working directly with private forest landowners who represent 60 percent of Massachusetts’ forests and forestry business owners representing the state’s $5.4 billion market sectors, EEA will expand its successful Working Forest Initiative program. In 2024, the administration will take actions to increase technical assistance, incentivize practices that protect or enhance forest soils and carbon stocks, and promote forest resilience across private and municipal lands in Massachusetts via technical assistance from licensed foresters to advance climate-oriented forestry practices. In addition, an annual climate forestry event will be launched for all forest landowners and related businesses to exchange ideas, best practices, and innovations.
For more information regarding the “Forests as Climate Solutions” initiative and the Climate Forestry Committee’s report, visit https://www.mass.gov/doc/forest-as-climate-solutions. The document is 70 pages long. EEA is seeking public comment on the Climate Forestry Committee’s recommendations through Wednesday, January 24. To formally submit a public comment, you can do so at the same address.
The importance of our forests is finally hitting home – our very existence depends upon them. So we better get it right. This scribe applauds the Healey-Driscoll Administration for being proactive and taking the initiative to address the climate change issues and proposing enhanced climate-oriented forest management practices for Massachusetts.
However; the Climate Forestry Committee made one recommendation that bothers me. It recommended a reduction in habitat goals for species dependent on young forests, shrublands, and grasslands on MassWildlife lands (WMAs) to increase carbon storage and sequestration.
Does that mean that MassWildlife’s program of clear cutting some sections of WMAs in order to encourage early successional growth, which provides food for wildlife, will be severely reduced or ended?
One would think that reducing this source of food for critters (deer, for example), will leave them no alternative but to browse heavily on young saplings which are generated from the mature trees in our forests. We have seen the effects of over browsing in the forests in the eastern part of our state and other areas. Over the years, as our forests grow older and trees fall or die off, there may not be any young trees to take their place, as they will have been previously chewed down. Such forests will eventually die off, which is contrary to the goal of enlarging our forest reserves.
In response to my concerns, the EEA’s office noted the following:
The Climate Forestry Committee recommended reducing the goal for early successional habitat, given the carbon implications associated with realizing it. Because MassWildlife’s current goals for early successional habitat types are cumulative and up to 25% of the Division’s land, the Committee recommended reducing them to closer to the recent management rate.
The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is currently reviewing existing biodiversity conservation and developing goals and strategies for Massachusetts in 2030, 2040, and 2050, as laid out in the Biodiversity Conservation in Massachusetts Executive Order. During this process, the Department will be reconsidering its goals for early successional habitat.
Sportsmen’s club elections
Most of the sportsmen’s clubs have elected their officers for the 2024 season.
Here are a couple: Berkshire Beagle Club officers reelected were: President – Al Costa of Westfield, MA, VP- Dick Kalisz of Adams, Treasurer – Kate Butler of East Chatham, NY and Secretary – Jeff St John of West Stockbridge.
BCLS 2024 Officer elections: The following officers were voted on and unanimously approved: Wayne McLain – President, Bob McCarthy – Vice President, Dan Kruszyna – Treasurer and Gene Chague – Secretary.