Coalition sets forum on forests

Tuesday, 09 February 2010 04:20

A coalition of conservation groups, including Highstead of Redding, is hosting a “Forest Resource Roundtable” on Wednesday, Feb. 17. It is designed to create a vision for what Connecticut’s forests might become in the future. The group will meet at the Fairfield County Extension Center, 67 Stony Hill Road, Bethel, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The results of the roundtable will lay the foundation for a state forest planning process now underway. This forest resource “assessment” and plan, under the direction of the Connecticut Division of Forestry, will directly impact the amount of federal funding Connecticut receives for future forest management and conservation.

The moderated discussions will center on a series of draft vision statements about the future of our forests, and what concrete steps must be taken to make these future visions reality. The end results will be available online and on request.

“The session will only work if it includes the full spectrum of people who care about forests: Those who own forests, who work in them, who use the woods to hike and recreate, even those who never go in the woods but appreciate that they are there. The visioning also includes the urban forest — the trees in our cities and towns. The goal is to be inclusive— the strength of the process will be in the variety of voices participating,” organizers said in a release.

Register for the program online at www.ctwoodlands.org. There is a $21.50 registration fee per person (parking, breaks, lunch and handouts are included).

For additional information, call Highstead at 203-938-8809.

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