Caring for Your Municipal Forests
Those who care for municipal forestland face challenges in addressing forest health and climate change impacts on forests —including limitations on their time, funding, and access to expertise. The Forest Climate Resilience Program (FCRP) provides support to communities to help them overcome these challenges and meet their forest stewardship goals. This support includes technical assistance, community outreach, and identifying funding sources. In its current phase, the FCRP focuses on communities within the Woodlands Partnership of Northwest Massachusetts Region but works to support all communities in sustainable forest stewardship.
The FCRP is a multi-partner initiative that is led by Mass Audubon. Visit the About page to learn more about the initiative’s partners.
Climate Smart Forest Stewardship
Healthy, resilient forests are key to helping us address the threats that climate change and loss of biodiversity pose to our communities. Climate smart forestry uses science-based management practices to help forests keep or improve the amount of carbon they have locked away while promoting healthy, resilient forests. The FCRP can help your community promote forest resilience in a manner that also supports outdoor recreation, wildlife habitat, economic well being, and the social and cultural benefits that forests provide.
Caring for Municipal Forest Land
Forestlands are essential for the ecological, social, and cultural wellbeing of our communities. Many communities make the decision to reach out to the Forest Climate Resilience Program for guidance on caring for their woods. Climate smart forest stewardship planning can support your community in:
- Understanding the steps you need to take to keep your community’s forests healthy;
- Reaching climate resilience and carbon or net-zero goals;
- Fulfilling forest-related objectives identified in your Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Plan, Open Space and Recreation Plan, or other municipal planning document; and
- Educating private landowners in how they can support natural climate solutions.
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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.