Forest Management Projects

If you would like any additional information concerning a proposed management project or other Bureau of Forestry issue please contact the DCR Regional Office Management Forester listed on each Summary or click on the District Name to see all the projects within the corresponding district.

Watch the 2025 DCR Forest Management Program Projects Presentation:

The Commonwealth undertook a Forests as Climate Solutions Initiative. Forests as Climate Solutions will expand existing state programs, invest in forest conservation, enhance a network of forest reserves, and develop forest management guidelines based on the latest climate science. As part, all land management divisions within the Commonwealth have undertaken a process to review all existing projects and make changes where necessary. As projects are reviewed, a summary as they relate to the FACS process shall be posted on the website on the specific project page. 

Pursuant to the process outlined in the Public Outreach and Consultation for Forest Cutting Plans policy, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) provided public notice regarding seven Forest Management Projects proposed June 30, 2021 and will receive comments until August 31, 2021.  Please note the original close date of August 14, 2021 has been extended until August 31, 2021 to allow interested parties to hear the virtual presentations prior to providing comments.  

*Please note that site visits may be held either in person or as pre-harvest videos which would become available for viewing on the project page along with each silviculture prescription.

Pursuant to the process outlined in the Public Outreach and Consultation for Forest Cutting Plans policy, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) provided public notice regarding seven Forest Management Projects proposed March 4, 2020 and will receive comments for 45 days.

*Please note that all site visits are on hold starting April 2020.  Pre-harvest videos are available for viewing and can be found on the project page along with each silviculture prescription.

Pursuant to the process outlined in the Public Outreach and Consultation for Forest Cutting Plans policy, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) provided public notice regarding seven Forest Management Projects proposed March 15, 2019 and will receive comments for 45 days until April 29, 2019.

*Please note that all site visits are on hold starting April 2020.  Pre-harvest videos are available for viewing and can be found on the project page along with each silviculture prescription.

Pursuant to the process outlined in the Public Outreach and Consultation for Forest Cutting Plans policy, the Forest Management Projects proposed February2018, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will receive comments for 45 days until March 26, 2018 with one exception:

The Shawme Crowell – Barnstable Red Pine project in the Southeast District is an Emergency Proposal and will have a 14 day comment period until February 23, 2018.  A public meeting is scheduled for February 22, 2018, 6:00 PM at the Sandwich Public Library to present information and address comments about the project.

For the Myles Standish State Forest Management Plan proposal, the public comment period will begin Thursday, December 6, 2018 and stay open for 45 days.

Pursuant to the process outlined in the Public Outreach and Consultation for Forest Cutting Plans policy, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) provided public notice regarding eight proposed forest management projects. Four public meetings were held in March 2017 to present information and address comments about the proposed projects. The meetings were held on at the Athol Town Hall (3/15), DCR’s West Regional Headquarters in Pittsfield (3/16), the Trustees Doyle Center in Leominster and Borderland State Park in Sharon/Easton (3/21).

Open comment period was between February 16, 2017 and April 2, 2017. All comments DCR received can be found below.

Per the policy, the DCR’s Bureau of Forest Fire Control and Forestry (The Bureau) reviewed the comments and prepared written responses. The Bureau responses addressed those comments that were pertinent and specific to the eight proposed forest management projects. Additionally, the Bureau addressed comments regarding forestry on state lands where the Bureau has forest management responsibilities. In some cases, similar comments were consolidated and provided appropriate responses.  The document which contains the categorized comments and responses to the project proposals can be obtained below.

If you would like any additional information concerning a proposed management project or other Bureau of Forestry issue please contact the DCR Regional Office Management Forester listed on each Summary.