About Our Forests
The Northern Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts are culturally and ecologically rich communities. The Deerfield and Hoosic Rivers flow through expanses of spruce-fir, northern hardwood, and transition oak-hickory forests among scenic mountains and foothills with farms and homes scattered along the rural routes of Western Franklin and Northern Berkshire Counties. This landscape provides a beautiful backdrop for homes and farms while visitors enjoy scenic touring, rafting on the rivers, hiking the wooded trails and shopping and dining at downtown attractions.
Today, many people, whether farmers or small business owners, make their living from the region’s woodlands by running recreation-based businesses, selling firewood from their woodlots, making and selling fine crafts and woodland products (e.g., maple syrup, harvesting timber for furniture, flooring, and housing), or working as foresters and loggers. The area’s forests also offer food, medicine, and cultural sustenance to our communities.
The region’s forested landscape provides environmental functions and health benefits. Forests in the region provide Massachusetts, and more broadly, New England, with critical ecological functions that include water supply recharge, flood mitigation, wildlife habitat, oxygen production, water and air purification, and carbon storage and sequestration—all of which are crucial to sustain life in this era of rapid climate change.
Forest Stewardship Funding
No matter what goals you might have for your forest, there are a number of programs that can provide financial support and assistance.