| QUOTE |
| Department of Conservation and Recreation begins “Berkshire Ecoregional Assessment” The Department of Conservation and Recreation is inviting the public to participate in the Berkshire Ecoregional Assessment effort. The public can participate by attending a public meeting on November 22nd at the DCR, Division of State Parks and Recreation, Regional 5 Headquarters, 740 South Street, Pittsfield, MA from 6:30 PM - 9:00 pm. The assessment will provide information on the condition of our forest including: rare species and natural communities, wildlife, water, land uses, cultural resources, forest reserves, invasive species, forest health, and natural resource conditions; identify public issues, concerns, and opportunity for the management of the natural resources; and recommend actions that may act as guidelines, in the planning process and management of state properties, and by individual private landowners in their self determined planning process and management. The public meeting will accomplish a number of important objectives. The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Bureau of Forestry, Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, and The Nature Conservancy staff will provide information on: the purpose and need for Ecoregional planning, rare species and natural communities found in the Berkshire Ecoregions, data on the conditions of our forests in the Berkshires, and the purpose and need for forest reserves. Chief Forester, Jim DiMaio said “This is the public’s opportunity to participate in and shape the future of our precious natural resource in the Berkshires.” Citizens will be able to participate at the meetings by providing preliminary comments, concerns, and ideas on the Berkshire’s natural resources. Written comments will also be accepted by writing Mike Fleming, project coordinator, DCR / Bureau of Forestry, 180 Beaman Street, West Boylston, MA 01583. Massachusetts needs modern, systematic natural resource and forest management planning. State law requires management planning on all forestland owned by state agencies and departments. In addition, the Commonwealth recently received Green Certification for all of the state’s forests and wildlife lands. This certification requires that wood and wood products from state forests must be grown and harvested in a sustainable way which benefits both the ecology and the economy of the region. Maintaining Green Certification requires the development of management plans that will explore and catalog resources and direct their wise and sustainable use over time. The Berkshire Ecoregional Assessment will assist in guiding agency planning by looking at, considering, and using information from the bigger landscape picture-The Berkshires. To view an example of an Ecoregional assessment please view the Lower Worcester Plateau Ecoregional assessment found at the following web site: http://www.mass.gov/envir/forest/default.htm On or about November 4th there will also be information posted at the same web site on the “Berkshire Ecoregional Assessment” (maps, figures, tables, and other data) for review prior to the November 22nd meeting. There are many good reasons to wisely manage private and state lands. The public can contribute to the assessment process in a number of important ways. Participants will have a chance to ask general and specific questions about the planning process, learn more about ecoregions, natural resources, forest conditions, forest reserves, and working forests. Participants will be able to voice their issues, concerns, and opportunities. In particular, DCR welcomes input from the citizens of the commonwealth on: establishment of reserves; protection and management of rare species and natural communities; forest management; forest health; and non-native, invasive species. For more information, contact Mike Fleming, Bureau of Forestry (508) 792-7423 Ext. 502 |