Opportunities Illustrated in Massachusetts
The Wildlands and Woodlands proposal calls for permanent forest protection of one half of Massachusetts. But this would not mean a uniform 50% across the state - some areas would have more forest, some less.
This map shows four "forest zones" within which different minimum levels of protection are achievable, given the amount of forest we have today. The forest zones would provide different, but equally important environmental and social benefits.
Communities in:
|
Urban Forest Zones could have 10% of their total land mass in protected forests. |
|
Suburban Forest Zones could have 25% of their total land mass in protected forests. |
|
Rural Woodlands & Farmlands could have 50% of their total land mass in protected forests. |
|
Woodlands and Wildlands could have 75% of their total land mass in protected forests. |
Taken together, these zones add up to half of Massachusetts in protected forest (1 million acres of forest already protected + 1.5 million acres of additional forests protected = 2.5 million acres of protected forests, or 1/2 of the land mass in Massachusetts (5 million acres).
Urban Forest Zone - (10% protected forest)
City parks, trees along streets, and threads of forests along urban streams yield enormous benefits. Urban forests improve air quality, cool temperatures, protect streams, provide wildlife habitat, and add beauty to our cities. Their acreage may be small, but urban forests touch many people.
Suburban Forest Zone - (25% protected forest)
Suburban town forests, conservation lands and land trust properties protect water quality, support wildlife, and provide recreational opportunities for walking, riding and biking. Although limited in acreage, suburban forests are easily accessible to most residents of Massachusetts and provide environmental education and demonstrations in sustainable forest stewardship to our children.
Rural Woodlands & Farmlands - (50% protected forest)
Rural woodlands are composed of farm woodlots protected by easements and a wide variety of private, public and non-profit forests. These woodlands are part of an attractive pastoral landscape and are extensive enough to provide connected habitat for most forest species and the base for a viable forest economy.
Woodlands & Wildlands - (75% protected forest)
These extensive forests lie mostly in the Western part of the state. They include both public lands such as state forests and privately-owned woodlands. They provide very large areas of roadless forests that support almost the full range of forest species, the foundation of a thriving forest products economy, the wellspring of pure water for the state's inhabitants, and the location for large wild reserves.
These four zones would all include wild reserves of various sizes, but in all of them most of the forest would be available for productive management for different products and services. These protection goals also retain plenty of room for needed commercial and residential development. The idea is not to "lock up" the forest. The idea is to protect the forest as the essential foundation for an economically and environmentally healthy way of life. Every city and town in Massachusetts can contribute to this goal, and all will benefit by it.