PROCESS COMPONENTS AND DESIGN
THE INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE IS AVAILABLE FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES AND
MAY INCLUDE INFORMATON THAT IS OUTDATED
Please visit www.mass.gov/dcr/ld/landscapedesignations.htm
for up-to-date information about the landscape designation process that has resulted from the Forest Futures Visioning Process.
The process design was shaped by 20 interviews MODR conducted with a cross-section of the stakeholder community. These surfaced a number of issues, concerns, and hopes for the process, including that it needs to:
- Bring clarity to the mandates and values reflected in DCR forest management
- Be informed by science from a variety of disciplines to establish criteria for forest management and cutting that will address on-the-ground issues for the context and implementation of forest management, including the larger context of the full range of public priorities and values
- Be transparent to the participants and the public.
The process design includes means of incorporating broad public input, creating dialogue among organized stakeholder groups, and bringing scientific information into any recommendations for a DCR vision going forward. It has a number of interconnected components:
Opportunities for general public input through site visits at several representative forests and/or parks, involving technical experts familiar with the on-the-ground issues; and MODR-facilitated open public forums to elicit feedback about public values, goals, and concerns, including at least one forum to review proposed recommendations. Public input is encouraged concerning the values and priorities that should be promoted and protected in DCR state forests. When they become available, thoughts on the draft recommendations of the Technical Steering Committee will also be welcome.
If you would like to submit a comment or suggestion for consideration, please email to
MODRDCRFFVP@umb.edu. NOTE: As part of the Landscape Designation Process public comments on the draft designations and management guidelines are welcome until August 26, 2011, at designation.comments@state.ma.us
A Technical Steering Committee composed of individuals having a range of expertise related to the public benefits and values of forestlands. This committee, with input from an advisory group of stakeholders and the general public, will ultimately formulate recommendations on forest stewardship practices and strategies to be presented to DCR.
An Advisory Group of Stakeholders composed of representatives from the organized stakeholder community. This group will engage in a dialogue to surface and discuss issues, develop ideas and suggestions for the Technical Steering Committee, and provide feedback to the Committee on draft recommendations.
Several types of meetings will occur in addition to the public forums mentioned above. The Technical Steering Committee and the Advisory Group of Stakeholders will meet both together and separately. The MODR team will provide support and facilitation services in connection with these meetings, as well as draft ground rules and outline roles and responsibilities for these meetings and public forums. |
