Massachusetts: State con & rec uses FSC shield to illegally strip public forest to bare ground
It’s what is known by some as the “Massachusetts Chainsaw Massacre. It’s heartbreaking. These are our forests. It’s land that should be protected and it’s being devastated and really, there’s no excuse for it,” said Chris Matera of Massachusetts Forest Watch, a citizens group that has formed in response to a groundswell of outrage over logging and clear-cutting in state forests.
Get full text; support writer, producer of the words:
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/investigative/18863203/detail.html
Team 5 Investigates found threats of prosecution for tree cutting ignored. In a historical cemetery near Savoy State Forest, tombstones were knocked over by the weight of falling timber and healthy trees were slashed into thousands of debris-covered acres. All of the damage has been allowed to occur by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, an agency that claims its forestry management practices are among the best in the nation. Forester Dave Gafney said the only benefit that came from clear-cutting Savoy State Forest went to the loggers themselves. “How is this protecting the forest?” asked Kelly. “It’s not. They’ll tell you that, but it’s not,” said Gafney. Clear-cutting is allowed by the Forest Stewardship Council. FSC is an international organization that claims to promote the responsible management of forests.
Taxpayers paid more than $2 million to qualify for that certification. But in the past two years, the Department of Conservation and Recreation has only made $1.2 million selling the wood. “I think it’s a waste of money. If you calculate the costs and subtract it from the revenues, I’d say it’s break even at best,” said Mike Leonard, a licensed forester from Petersham. “It’s proving to be basically a green washing program, a marketing tool that is a timber
production program,” said Matera. Matera detailed his findings in a report for Massachusetts Forest Watch. “Basically, it’s a program full of conflicts of interest. The certifiers only get paid if they certify the land, so they’re not going to decertify anybody for breaking any rules,” said Matera. James McCaffrey at the Massachusetts chapter of the Sierra Club said it’s clear that some of those rules have been broken. “It does not look good. It looks like there are some problematic cuts and it looks like DCR has a lot of work to do if they’re going to set an example,” said McCaffrey. McCaffrey said the Forest Stewardship Council also has a lot of work to do if it wants to set an example. However, despite those concerns, the Sierra Club has not called for a halt on the cutting.
“Why haven’t environmental groups thrown up a big red flag to what’s been happening?” asked Kelly. “Because us having declared our support for FSC at this time makes it difficult for us to turn around and say you know we don’t support it anymore,” answered McCaffrey. DCR Commissioner Richard Sullivan told Team 5 Investigates the cutting is necessary to keep the forests healthy and the public safe. “Would you now agree that some of the cutting was overdone?” asked Kelly. “I don’t know that it was overdone, but some of the procedures that were undertaken need to be more closely monitored and corrected,” answered Sullivan.
Get full text; support writer, producer of the words:
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/investigative/18863203/detail.html
I am following up my previous e-mail yesterday regarding the heavy logging occurring on Massachusetts public forests as a result of the Patrick’s administration’s energy and forestry policies. I sincerely hope you will take the time to inform yourself and report to the public about this important matter. Below is our press release and report. I am available at 413-341-3878 to answer any questions. Thank you, Chris Matera, P.E. Speak up for the trees! http://www.maforests.org
http://www.heraldnews.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/x1683629815/LETTER-Stop-clear-cutting-state-parks-03-19-09
The Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Forest Stewardship Council have been getting attention for their approach to logging in Massachusetts. A recent report highlighted the ineffectiveness of the oversight of this department, and the bad logging practices taking place in state parks.
The DCR is supposed to protect 450,000 acres across the state. One of its responsibilities is to make sure that logging takes place in a sustainable manner. It’s an admirable goal, but it is clear the department is falling short.
Forests are being cut down in areas that are supposed to be protected by the DCR. Logging and clear-cutting is taking place in state forests and threats of prosecution for tree-cutting are being ignored.
Forestry management is a complicated science. More research is needed if we are going to continue logging in a sustainable way. The DCR and Forest Stewardship Council have lofty goals ahead of them, and with budget cuts over the past years, they simply cannot complete the task ahead of them on their own. Until it is possible for logging to be done in a sustainable manner, they must be stopped.
Our forests and wetlands are important resources that must be protected. More research and regulation is needed before logging is allowed to continue.
Susan Torres
Environment Massachusetts
Glad to see EM is defending our forests, now how about defending Nantucket sound from the Cape Wind corporados looking to make a fat profit off our PUBLIC waters!
d.o.’s last blog post..The Too Many Humans Enviro Show
http://www.wickedlocal.com/winchester/news/business/x2087806130/LETTER-Bad-logging-equals-bad-Bay-State-business
Winchester, MA – The Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Forest Stewardship Council, has been getting a lot of attention recently for their approach to logging in Massachusetts. A recent Channel 5 report highlighted the ineffectiveness of the oversight of this department, and the bad logging practices taking place in state parks.
The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is supposed to protect 450,000 acres across the state — making it one of the largest state park systems in the country. One of its responsibilities is to make sure that logging takes place in a sustainable manner. It’s an admirable goal, but it is clear the department is falling short of the mark.
Forests are being cut down in areas that are supposed to be protected by the DCR. Logging and clear-cutting is taking place in state forests and threats of prosecution for tree cutting are being ignored.
Forestry management is a complicated science. More research is needed if we are going to continue logging in a sustainable way. The DCR and Forest Stewardship Council have lofty goals ahead of them, and with budget cuts over the past years, they simply cannot complete the task ahead of them on their own. Until it is possible for logging to be done in a sustainable manner, they must be stopped.
Our forests and wetlands are an important resource that must be protected. More research and regulation is needed before logging is allowed to continue.