Dear Massachusetts forest protection advocates,
Over 60 percent of Massachusetts is covered by forests. If kept intact, these forests will continue to provide climate, habitat, cultural, recreational, and economic benefits. If they are cut, these values will be diminished or lost. None of the state’s public conservation lands have guaranteed protection from logging.
We have an opportunity to take action to move our campaign to expand and provide permanent statutory protection for reserves on state-owned lands – a level of protection similar to our National parks protection that now exists for only 1% of the state’s land base.
The Massachusetts Senate voted on the environmental bond bill, S.3050, “An Act to build resilience for Massachusetts communities,” also known as the “Mass Ready Act” on April 15th.
We opposed sections of this bill that would put into law language that does not provide for permanent protection for reserves on our state lands, and instead we supported their replacement through the adoption of Amendment 201, which was submitted by Senator Paul Mark. That amendment was rejected by the Senate.
Now the House of Representatives will put a bill forward that is likely to contain the same insufficient language.What we need to do now is to show support for the forest protection that we have been advocating for. If you have not already,
Please sign our online letter of support for our language or amendments to the bill, which would expand and strengthen reserves on our state lands. You can sign as an individual and/or organization. If you sign for an organization, please also sign for yourself as an individual.
This letter, the only one that we and our legislative sponsors will use for this effort, is to support the language that Representatives Sena and Gentile will submit to:
1) expand and provide permanent statutory protection for reserves on state-owned lands – a level of protection similar to our National parks protection that now exists for only 1% of the state’s land base;
2) create a professional and objective forest reserve science and technical advisory committee to oversee reserves; and
3) ensure full public involvement in reserve creation and management.
If you are interested in helping get people signed on to this letter, please forward this email.
Best regards,
Michael Kellett, RESTORE: The North Woods
Janet Sinclair, Save Massachusetts Forests
Climate Action NOW, Western Massachusetts
Community Land and Water Coalition
Concerned Citizens of Franklin County
Massachusetts Forest Watch
Massachusetts Sierra Club Forest Protection Team
Partnership for Policy Integrity
Preserve October Mountain State Forest
Wendell State Forest Alliance