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Massachusetts State Forests & Parks Stewardship
DCR Forestlands Management
The commonwealth of Massachusetts owns approximately 600,000 acres of land. These lands include extensive areas of forest interspersed with wetlands, waterways, fields, and other habitats. The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is the single largest forestland owner, with over 450,000 acres.
DCR uses two different management systems in their work with public lands. Resource Management Planning is a comprehensive model used to develop goals that reflect an area's environmental and recreational resources. Forestland Management, on the other hand, focuses specifically on the state's forests with programs that include invasive species removal and biodiversity monitoring. Learn about how you can get involved in shaping how your state park and recreation lands are managed:
Vision for State Forestlands
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is undertaking a public engagement process on Renewing a Commonwealth Vision for DCR Forests to review policies and practices for management of forestlands under its care and control. Mass Audubon has issued a position statement (PDF 124K) on DCR forestland management issues that should be addressed and resolved through this process.
FSC Green Certification
The commonwealth's publicly owned forestlands are certified for sustainable forestry practices by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The 5-year renewal review for this certification is presently underway, and Mass Audubon has
submitted comments (PDF 58K).
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