Lessons on how to preserve Vermont’s natural resources

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) - At a meeting last week hosted by the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, foresters and loggers received an update from state leaders on how to work with landowners. It’s part of efforts to keep Vermont landowners in the loop on how to preserve Vermont’s natural resources.

About 80% of Vermont’s forest land is privately owned so state officials try to educate people on how to be good stewards of the land. They say owners are passionate about their land and care about wildlife, water quality and aesthetics. But they say misinformation about forest management is a problem.

“In some cases, there is misinformation that suggests good forest management and stewardship practices may be against those goals. And the fact is, they’re not,” said Keith Thompson, the private lands program manager for the Vt. Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.

Thompson says they will ramp up outreach to Vermonters to understand landowners’ concerns about land management.

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