DCR Presents New Forestry Plans in Berkshire County

By Joe DurwinPittsfield Correspondent
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DCR officials presented six project proposals for logging in state forests for the first time in four years. Left, the Sherlock lot in October Mountain Forest is among those selected.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Conservation officials have unveiled the first local projects going forward with a new model of forest management unveiled by the Patrick-Murray administration earlier this year. They will reintroduce commercial logging in select parts of state forests for the first time since it was suspended in 2008.

The third of three scheduled public hearings throughout the commonwealth on six proposed forestry projects was held by the Department of Conservation & Recreation at the Pittsfield headquarters Thursday evening, allowing interested parties to comment on those which impact the western region.
 
These include two plans for timber harvesting in Berkshire County, for a block called the Egg Shell Lot in Sandisfield State Forest, and the Sherlock Lot in October Mountain State Forest. The DCR is looking to open areas of 165 acres in Sandisfield, and 166 on the Washington side of October Mountain for this purpose, in calculated initiatives the department says will help to encourage a more healthy forest.
 
Forestry experts for the DCR outlined the specific forestry plans, which they say will use silviculture practices to make strategic gaps to encourage more resilient, age-diverse woodlands, while helping to winnow down some trees of concern such as diseased Beech.
 
"The goal is to continue what we've done before," said Management Forester Conrad Ohman. "We want to demonstrate how an in-depth creation of gaps, expanding existing gaps, can result in a complex forest."
 
William Hill, supervisor of management forestry for the DCR, said the guidelines for these new site plans were crafted out of an earlier "Forest Futures Vision" process of public hearings and internal vetting that lead to the new statewide plan for forest management released last year. The plan, he said, focuses on two main directions of forest management: Diversity and Structure, and Rehabilition and Improvement.
 
"Our stepping back into forestry here was to achieve these goals for our woodlands," said Hill, "using these two broad directions, and looking to use innovative silviculture to do that."
 
The plan was well received by most of the approximately 25 members of the public that attended the hearing, including representatives of the timber industry as well as environmental groups such as the Berkshire Natural Resources Council.
 
One Brattleboro, Vt., activist, however, staunchly opposed the plans. Richard Stafursky, president of the World Species List forest organization, said he objected to the very theory behind the six new forestry site plans.
 
"To say that silviculture is a good thing for the forest is just ridiculous," Stafursky told the DCR officials, "It alters, it tortures the forest. If you have to do it, because the state wants to do it, fine, but it's not good for the forest. To say silviculture is some of the best ecological forest management is totally ridiculous."
 
Representatives of the Massachusetts Forest Alliance praised the initiative, saying it additionally would help redress some of the gap in Massachusetts wood product production. MFA Executive Director Jeffrey Hutchins said that only about 2 percent of wood products consumed by residents were produced in the state.
 
"We're in support of you, and we're committed to promoting that message of conservation through responsible management," said Hutchins.
 
"I'm glad to see that you're managing for forest health, but also it's a wonderful thing for our local economy," said Jeff Poirier, owner of Berkshire Hardwoods.
 
The public comment period for these proposals ends Jan. 3, after which the department will begin marking areas for harvesting. Some organized pre-harvesting walks will be scheduled for the late winter or early spring, as bidding for contracts takes place.  
 
Comments from the public may be directed to DCR forestry officials online here, or by emailing Timber.Comments@state.ma.us.


Cb Sherlock Lot
Sb Egg Shell Lot


Tags: forestry,   logging,   state forest,   

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Simon's Rock Awarded Freedom to Read Grant

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Bard College at Simon's Rock was awarded a Freedom to Read Grant by the Newburger Schwartz Family Foundation. 
 
The grant was awarded to support the Alumni Library and Bard Queer Leadership Project in building a more robust collection of queer scholarship, starting a Queer Book Club, and hosting Drag Story Time events in partnership with Drag Story Hour of the Berkshires.
 
According to a press release:
 
In response to current educational threats with book bans affecting schools and libraries across the country and further proposed legislation against LGBTQ+ people's access to basic rights and education, Simon's Rock is actively seeking to create inclusive and equitable spaces for queer individuals. 
 
The Bard Queer Leadership Project and Alumni Library will utilize the grant funding to expand the library's current collection of queer books in order to fully enable the longevity of the Queer Book Club and the Bard Queer Leadership Project. The Queer Book Club will be an intergenerational space, open to local middle school students through rainbow seniors and will partner with local community organizations, to discuss queer books and learn about LGBTQ+ issues and experiences. Bard Queer Leadership Project students will eventually help lead this initiative as part of their leadership project training. 
 
The Queer Book Club will host their first meeting on April 6 at 3:00 p.m. at the Alumni Library, with following meetings on April 27 and May 11. This semester, the selected books are "Obie is Man Enough" and "He/She/They," both by Schuyler Bailar, inspirational speaker and first openly transgender NCAA Division swimmer, who was a guest speaker in the inaugural Queer Leaders Vision Forum in fall 2023 at Simon's Rock. Schuyler Bailar will return to campus for a book signing and pool party at the Kilpatrick Athletic Center on April 19 at 7:00 p.m. Participants in the Queer Book Club will receive a free copy of either book of their choice. 
 
The first Drag Story Time will be on Saturday, March 30 at 2:00 p.m. at the Simon's Rock Alumni Library and is open to all LGBTQ+ affirming individuals. The event is in partnership with Drag Story Hour of the Berkshires with local drag queens JV and Poppy DaBubbly. The second Drag Story Time will be Saturday, April 27 with drag queen Poppy DaBubbly and drag king Sativo Green.
 
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