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.