|
Quick Links
|
2009 Forest Re-Certification Efforts
Public Comment Requested
Background: In May of 2004, all MassWildlife lands under the
agency's management control were first certified under the international
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) criteria for sustainable forestry and
the FSC Northeast Standard. This initial five-year certification (also
known as Green Certification) expired in April of 2009 and MassWildlife
lands and management practices went through a comprehensive re-certification
audit that began in March 2009 and was completed in August 2009. (2009
Audit Report 
)
The 2009 re-certification audit report established two major conditions or Corrective Action Requests (CAR) that MassWildlife must comply with before any state wildlife lands can be re-certified.
Corrective Actions Taken By MassWildlife
The first CAR MassWildlife will address is to make publicly available a summary of the results of monitoring indicators, including those listed under FSC Principle 8 (Monitoring and Assessment), Criterion 8.2 (Indicators). To comply with this CAR, MassWildlife is updating and expanding its existing Biological Monitoring web page to address all indicators under FSC Criterion 8.2.
The second CAR addressed is for the agency to make publicly available a complete listing of MassWildlife lands to be included in the scope of the FSC certificate, and lands to be excluded from the scope of the certificate, with an explanation of the reasons for exclusions. Public notification and stakeholder consultation about the change in the scope of the certificate must also be completed and documented.
To comply with the second CAR, MassWildlife has identified:
- Properties currently being considered for Forest Certification (Tables 1 and 2),
- Properties that will be considered for Forest Certification in the future (Tables 1 and 3), and
- Properties to be excluded from Forest Certification (Table 1 and Table 4).
********************************
November 20--MassWildlife posted this information for a public comment period, October 30, 2009 - November 30, 2009. The comment period was extended to December 20, 2009. The Division is specifically seeking public comments relative to the properties that will be included vs. excluded from the FSC certification process.
Public comments can be emailed to Mass.Wildlife@state.ma.us, or sent via postal service mail to: "Forest Certification Comment", MassWildlife, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581. DFW will post a summary of all comments received, and describe any action to be taken in response to comments received.
Correction on Land Tables--One error in the DFW property tables has been found. The DFW English Salt Marsh was mistakenly included in Table 3 as a property that would be considered for FSC certification once a publicly reviewed management plan is completed, but it should have been included in Table 4 as a DFW property that will not be considered for certification because it is a non-forested salt marsh. The correction has been made in the tables below.
********************************
January 2010--DFW posted a summary of public comments and the agency's response received from the above request.
Properties Currently Considered for Recertification
Table 1- Summary of DFW Lands for Recertification
| Status As of April 2009 | Acres |
|---|---|
| Fee properties covered by a publicly reviewed FMZ plan and eligible for re-certification in 2009 |
44,085
|
| Fee properties not presently covered by a publicly reviewed FMZ plan and eligible for re-certification after 2009 |
83,920
|
| Fee properties that will not be submitted for re-certification |
16,306
|
|
Total
|
144,311
|
Table 2- Properties with Publicly Reviewed FMZ Plans
Only MassWildlife lands that are presently covered by a publicly reviewed Forest Management Zone (FMZ) plan are being considered for re-certification. These lands include more than 44,000 acres in the Berkshire Highlands and Taconic Mountains FMZ's (Table 2). For maps of these individual properties, go to the Wildlife Management Area Maps.
| Fee properties with publicly reviewed FMZ plans and assigned to a Site Plan Unit |
Site Plan Unit Acres
|
Forest Management Zone (FMZ)
|
|---|---|---|
| Catamount WMA |
462
|
Berkshire Highlands
|
| Chalet, Stafford Hill, Eugene Moran, and Savoy WMA |
11,321
|
Berkshire Highlands
|
| Cummington WMA, Lilly Pond WMA, Westfield River Access, and Fisk Meadows WMA |
1,319
|
Berkshire Highlands
|
| Day Mountain WMA and Housatonic River Access |
398
|
Berkshire Highlands
|
| Farmington River WMA, Becket WMA, and Otis WMA |
2,121
|
Berkshire Highlands
|
| Fox Den WMA and Westfield River Access (Worthington & Chester) |
4,773
|
Berkshire Highlands
|
| Hawley NHA |
282
|
Berkshire Highlands
|
| Hinsdale Flats WMA |
1,555
|
Berkshire Highlands
|
| Hiram H Fox WMA |
3,492
|
Berkshire Highlands
|
| Peru WMA |
5,075
|
Berkshire Highlands
|
| Poland Brook WMA |
724
|
Berkshire Highlands
|
| Rowe NHA |
36
|
Berkshire Highlands
|
| Satan's Kingdom WMA |
1,724
|
Berkshire Highlands
|
| Shattuck Brook WMA, Leyden WMA, Green River WMA, and Green River Access |
997
|
Berkshire Highlands
|
| Tekoa Mountain WMA and Grace A Robson Sanctuary |
1,482
|
Berkshire Highlands
|
| Walnut Hill WMA, John J Kelly WMA, and Westfield River Access |
1,314
|
Berkshire Highlands
|
| Whately WMA and Mt Esther WMA |
514
|
Berkshire Highlands
|
| Berkshire Highlands FMZ Sub-total |
37,591
|
|
| Agawam Lake WMA, Kampoosa Fen NHA, and Hop Brook WMA |
947
|
Taconic Mountains & Marble Valleys
|
| George L. Darey Housatonic Valley WMA |
809
|
Taconic Mountains & Marble Valleys
|
| Green River WMA, Bullock Ledge NHA and Hoosac River Access |
514
|
Taconic Mountains & Marble Valleys
|
| Jug End State Reservation & WMA, Jug End Fen NHA, and Dolomite Ledges NHA |
1,452
|
Taconic Mountains & Marble Valleys
|
| Lanesboro NHA |
89
|
Taconic Mountains & Marble Valleys
|
| Maple Hill WMA, Fairfield Brook NHA, and Nordeen Marsh NHA 573 |
462
|
Taconic Mountains & Marble Valleys
|
| Taconic Mountain WMA and E Howe Forbush Sanctuary |
921
|
Taconic Mountains & Marble Valleys
|
| Three Mile Pond WMA, Housatonic River Access, and Konkapot River Access |
1,171
|
Taconic Mountains & Marble Valleys
|
| Taconic Mountains & Marble Valleys FMZ Sub-total |
6,476
|
|
| Sub-total for fee properties with publicly reviewed FMZ plans and assigned to a Site Plan Unit |
44,067
|
|
| Fee properties with publicly reviewed FMZ plans and not assigned to a Site Plan Unit | ||
| Deerfield River Access |
18
|
Berkshire Highlands
|
| Total Certificate Acres for consideration in 2009 pending completion of Major CAR's |
44,085
|
Properties To Be Considered for Future Recertification
Nearly 84,000 additional DFW acres below will be considered for certification in the future once publicly reviewed FMZ plans are completed. Wildlife Management Area Maps
Table 3
| Fee properties within a site plan unit that can become eligible for re-certification pending public review of FMZ plans | Site Plan Unit Acres | Forest Management Zone (FMZ) |
|---|---|---|
| E Kent Swift WMA, Blackstone River Access, Quisset WMA, and Chockalog Swamp NHA |
692
|
Blackstone Complex
|
| Merrill Pond WMA, Mine Brook WMA, and Lackey Pond WMA |
1,993
|
Blackstone Complex
|
| Blackstone Complex Sub-total |
2,686
|
|
| East Mountain WMA, Southampton WMA, and Mt Tom NHA |
611
|
Connecticut River Valley
|
| Honey Pot NHA and Westfield River Access |
518
|
Connecticut River Valley
|
| Lake Warner WMA |
95
|
Connecticut River Valley
|
| Montague Plains WMA and Bitzer Fish Hatchery |
1,673
|
Connecticut River Valley
|
| Mt Toby WMA and Mt Toby Highalnds NHA |
449
|
Connecticut River Valley
|
| Pauchaug Brook WMA |
159
|
Connecticut River Valley
|
| Southwick WMA |
252
|
Connecticut River Valley
|
| Whately Great Swamp WMA and Whately Ponds Fish and Wildlife Area |
628
|
Connecticut River Valley
|
| Williamsburg WMA and Brewer Brook WMA |
307
|
Connecticut River Valley
|
| Connecticut River Valley FMZ Sub-total |
4,693
|
|
| Ashby WMA and Trapfall Brook Access |
1,228
|
Northeast Coastal Plain
|
| Bolton Flats WMA, Clinton Bluff NHA and Mossy Pond Access |
1,239
|
Northeast Coastal Plain
|
| Boxboro Station NHA and Acton Whittier Forest Area |
158
|
Northeast Coastal Plain
|
| Elbow Meadow NHA, Dunstable Brook WMA, and Hauk Swamp NHA |
452
|
Northeast Coastal Plain
|
| JC Phillips Sanctuary |
408
|
Northeast Coastal Plain
|
| Martha Deering WMA and Quinsigamond Marsh |
334
|
Northeast Coastal Plain
|
| Nissitissit River WMA and Nashua River Access |
409
|
Northeast Coastal Plain
|
| Northboro Forest Area, Westboro WMA, & Sudbury River Access |
1,005
|
Northeast Coastal Plain
|
| Pantry Brook WMA and Bay Circuit Trail |
481
|
Northeast Coastal Plain
|
| Squannacook River WMA and Townsend Forest Area |
234
|
Northeast Coastal Plain
|
| Squannacook River WMA, Hunting Hills WMA, Mulpus Brook WMA, Ayer Game Farm, and Nashua River Access |
1,596
|
Northeast Coastal Plain
|
| Northeast Coastal Plain FMZ Sub-total |
7,545
|
|
| Crane Pond WMA, Martin H Burns WMA, and North Shore Salt Marsh |
6,242
|
North Shore
|
| North Shore Sub-total |
6,242
|
|
| Black Brook WMA |
297
|
Southeast Coast & Islands
|
| Burrage Pond WMA and Peterson Swamp WMA |
2,110
|
Southeast Coast & Islands
|
| Dartmoor Farm WMA |
472
|
Southeast Coast & Islands
|
| Frances A Crane WMA |
1,790
|
Southeast Coast & Islands
|
| Grassy Pond NHA (Plymouth) |
32
|
Southeast Coast & Islands
|
| Haskell Swamp WMA, Mattapoisett River WMA, & Rochester WMA |
3,122
|
Southeast Coast & Islands
|
| Hockomock Swamp WMA & West Meadows WMA |
5,585
|
Southeast Coast & Islands
|
| Hyannis Ponds WMA |
357
|
Southeast Coast & Islands
|
| Mashpee River Access, Quashnet Woods State Reservation, and Mashpee Pine Barrens NHA |
754
|
Southeast Coast & Islands
|
| Red Brook WMA |
458
|
Southeast Coast & Islands
|
| Rocky Gutter WMA |
3,315
|
Southeast Coast & Islands
|
| SE Mass Bioreserve, Noquochoke WMA, Copicut WMA, & Freetown Swamp WMA |
4,528
|
Southeast Coast & Islands
|
| Sly Pond NHA, Harlow Cooks Pond NHA, & South Triangle Pond NHA |
258
|
Southeast Coast & Islands
|
| Spring Hill, Lawrence Pond & Hog Pond Lots, Triangle Pond Access, & Wakeby Pond Access |
244
|
Southeast Coast & Islands
|
| Taunton River Access, Purchade Brook WMA, Meetinghouse Swamp WMA, & Muddy Pond |
523
|
Southeast Coast & Islands
|
| Southeast Coast & Islands FMZ Sub-total |
24,279
|
|
| Bennett Meadows WMA & Four Chimneys WMA |
504
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Birch Hill WMA |
3,735
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Facing Rock WMA |
1,366
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Five Mile RiverAccess, Seven Mile River Access & Podunk Marsh |
284
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Herman Covey WMA |
1,450
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| High Ridge WMA & Quag Pond Bog NHA |
2,350
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Lawrence Brook WMA |
267
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Leadmine WMA & Breakneck Brook WMA |
1,392
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| McKinstry Brook WMA |
292
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Millers River WMA (Phillipston, Athol, Royalston) |
3,375
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Millers River WMA (Winchendon) |
232
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Montague WMA |
1,784
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Moose Brook WMA & Raccoon Hill WMA |
1,176
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Moose Hill WMA |
571
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Muddy Brook WMA |
1,400
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Natty Brook Access |
95
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Oakham WMA |
740
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Palmer WMA & Reed Fish Hatchery |
2,489
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Phillipston, Popple Camp & Prince River WMA |
5,564
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Poutwater Pond WMA & Quinapoxet River Access |
432
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Quaboag WMA & Richardson WMA |
2,213
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Quacumquasit WMA, Wolf Swamp WMA, & Hamilton Forest Area |
1,226
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Savage Hill WMA & Thayer Pond WMA |
1,009
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Sputtermill Pond Access |
65
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Susan B Minns Sanctuary |
148
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Wales WMA |
205
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Warwick WMA & Orange WMA |
1,911
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Wendell WMA & Sibley Brook Access |
592
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Winimusset WMA, Moose Brook Access & Ware River Access |
1,110
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Worcester Plateau Sub-total |
37,979
|
|
| Sub-total of fee properties within a site plan unit that can become eligible pending public review of FMZ plans |
83,424
|
|
| Fee properties not included in a site plan unit that can become eligible for certification pending public review of FMZ plans |
Acres
|
Forest Management Zone (FMZ)
|
| Connecticut River Access |
11
|
Connecticut River Valley
|
| Deerfield River Access |
5
|
Connecticut River Valley
|
| Rainbow Beach NHA |
34
|
Connecticut River Valley
|
| Sunderland Islands |
18
|
Connecticut River Valley
|
| Ipswich River Access |
2
|
North Shore
|
| Salisbury Salt Marsh, Eagle Island, Carr Island, Ram Island, & N Shore Salt Marsh |
220
|
North Shore
|
| Shepard's Island |
15
|
North Shore
|
| Concord River Access |
4
|
Northeast Coastal Plain
|
| Knops Pond Access |
1
|
Northeast Coastal Plain
|
| Clapps Pond Access |
73
|
Southeast Coast & Islands
|
| Head of the Plains NHA |
2
|
Southeast Coast & Islands
|
| Olivers Pond NHA |
12.2
|
Southeast Coast & Islands
|
| Southeast District H.Q. |
22
|
Southeast Coast & Islands
|
| Weymouth Back River Access |
1
|
Southeast Coast & Islands
|
| Weymouth Back River Access |
15
|
Southeast Coast & Islands
|
| Fisherville Pond Access |
3
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Mill River Access |
59
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| Packard Pond Access |
1
|
Worcester Plateau
|
| TOTAL |
496
|
|
| Total fee properties that can become eligible pending public review of FMZ plans |
83,920
|
Properties Excluded from Forest Certification
Properties listed below will be excluded from forest recertification for various reasons, including: facility development (boat launch sites, offices and hatcheries), non-forested lands (salt marshes, roadside corridors, sand dunes), and lands not completely under MassWildlife's management control.Table 4
| Fee Properties to be Excluded from Re-Certification | Acres | Reason for Exclusion |
|---|---|---|
| Agawam Mill Pond Access |
1.6
|
Developed for boat ramp
|
| Attitash Public Access |
0.4
|
Developed for boat ramp
|
| Baddacook Pond Access |
1.9
|
Developed for boat ramp
|
| Bakers Pond Access |
1.5
|
Developed for boat ramp
|
| Bearse Pond Access |
5.7
|
Developed for boat ramp
|
| Blish Point Boat Ramp |
3.6
|
Developed for boat ramp
|
| Brayton Point Salt Marsh |
1.9
|
Non-Forested Salt Marsh
|
| Chase Garden Creek Salt Marsh |
48.3
|
Non-Forested Salt Marsh
|
| Childs River Access |
0.2
|
Developed for boat ramp
|
| Connecticut River Access |
80.1
|
Primarily non-forest & developed for boat
ramp
|
| Cooks Pond Access |
7.3
|
Developed for boat ramp
|
| Darwin Scott Memorial NHA |
27.9
|
Primarily non-forested site
|
| Deerfield River Access |
0.7
|
Developed for boat ramp
|
| Dogfish Bar Beach Coastal Area |
2.1
|
Non-Forested Coastal Beach
|
| English Salt Marsh |
434
|
Non-Forested Salt Marsh
|
| Eastham Salt Marsh |
7.4
|
Non-Forested Salt Marsh
|
| Egg Rock Sanctuary |
2.6
|
Non-Forested Ocean Island
|
| Fox Island Salt Marsh |
71.3
|
Non-Forested Salt Marsh
|
| Glen Echo Lake Access |
1.0
|
Developed for boat ramp
|
| Gosnold WMA |
4.5
|
Non-Forested Ocean Island
|
| Grassy Pond NHA (Dennis) |
7.6
|
Non-Forested coastal area
|
| Great Herring Pond Boat Ramp 2.6 Developed for boat ramp |
Developed for boat ramp
|
|
| Katama Plains NHA |
23.1
|
Non-Forested Ocean Island Area
|
| Lake Lorraine Access |
1.1
|
Developed for boat ramp
|
| Lake Rohunta Access |
2.8
|
Developed for boat ramp
|
| Lake Snipatuit Access |
1.8
|
Developed for boat ramp
|
| Leland Beach |
120.4
|
Non-Forested Beach
|
| Little Alum Pond Access |
0.2
|
Developed for boat ramp
|
| Lobster Hatchery |
13.4
|
Primarily non-forested facility
|
| Long Sought For Pond Access |
1.2
|
Developed for boat ramp
|
| Massachusetts Military Reservation |
14343.5
|
Military retains lease for management purposes
|
| Masscuppic Lake Access |
0.2
|
Developed for boat ramp
|
| Miacomet Heath NHA |
4.3
|
Non-Forested coastal area
|
| Milk Island Sanctuary |
24.8
|
Non-Forested Ocean Island Area
|
| Nemasket River Access |
0.3
|
Developed for boat ramp
|
| North Attleboro Hatchery |
15.2
|
Primarily non-forested facility
|
| North Shore Salt Marsh |
243.0
|
Non-Forested Salt Marsh
|
| Northeast District Headquarters |
0.7
|
Primarily non-forested facility
|
| Penikese Island Sanctuary |
84.2
|
Developed for boat ramp
|
| Plymouth Harbor Boat Ramp |
2.3
|
Developed for boat ramp
|
| Popponesset Beach |
7.6
|
Non-Forested Coastal Beach
|
| Provincetown Route 6 Corridor |
53.2
|
Roadside corridor
|
| Ram Island Sanctuary |
1.6
|
Developed for boat ramp
|
| Robbins Pond Access |
0.4
|
Developed for boat ramp
|
| Salisbury Salt Marsh, Eagle Island, Carr Island, Ram Island, and N Shore Salt Marsh |
690.1
|
Non-Forested Salt Marsh and non-forested coastal
areas & islands
|
| Sandwich Fish Hatchery |
181.6
|
Primarily non-forested facility
|
| Sandy Point Coastal Access |
0.3
|
Developed for boat ramp
|
| Sawmill River Access |
57.0
|
Developed for boat ramp
|
| Scorton Creek Coastal Access |
5.6
|
Developed for boat ramp
|
| Shubael Pond Access |
2.5
|
Developed for boat ramp
|
| South Barrier Beach |
0.2
|
Non-Forested Coastal Beach
|
| South Shore Salt Marsh WMA |
19.4
|
Non-Forested Salt Marsh
|
| Southeast District H.Q. |
3.0
|
Developed Facility
|
| Spectacle Pond Access |
0.5
|
Developed for boat ramp
|
| Sunderland Fish Hatchery |
108.7
|
Developed Facility
|
| Tarpaulin Cove Sanctuary |
3.8
|
Non-Forested coastal area
|
| Thad Ellis NHA |
1.4
|
Non- Forested
|
| Webster Lake Boat Ramp |
1.1
|
Developed for boat ramp
|
| Western District Headquarters |
3.0
|
Developed Facility
|
| Total fee acres that will not be submitted for inclusion under the 2009-2014 Certificate |
16,306
|