Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Outlines Implementation for ‘Forests as Climate Solutions’ Initiative

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today unveiled a comprehensive work plan outlining strategies to protect and manage forest lands while prioritizing efforts to address climate change impacts. This plan represents a significant milestone in the "Forests as Climate Solutions" Initiative and presents a detailed timeline for putting into action the recommendations made by the Climate Forestry Committee to the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA). The new climate-oriented policies will focus on expanding forest conservation statewide, increasing transparency in agency practices, investing in scientific data to track and guide progress, and implementing specific forest management techniques. The administration also detailed its plans for paused forest management projects and the process for selecting, planning, and monitoring new projects in the future.

“We have carefully reviewed input from the public and stakeholders – now it’s time to take concrete steps to make our plans a reality. This strategy guides us in protecting our forests for future generations,” said EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “We are proud to have the tremendous expertise of our forestry teams to execute this plan and safeguard our forests against the ever-present threats of climate change. Science shows that forests help fight climate change, and we're committed to following the science in our actions.”

“The science leaves no doubt that human health and well-being is dependent on the health and well-being of the natural world,” said Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer. “The Healey-Driscoll Administration's commitment to integrating the best climate science into every aspect of our forest and land use management policies protects our vitally important forests, biodiversity, and our communities. Forests in the Eastern U.S. contribute 2-3.5 degrees F of cooling, working like giant natural air conditioners to keep us safer, especially during periods of peak summer heat. Following the Committee’s guidance, we’re taking action now to protect our natural heritage today and for future generations.”

The Healey-Driscoll Administration launched the "Forests as Climate Solutions" Initiative to focus on forests and climate. This includes investing in forest conservation, enhancing forest reserves, and developing climate-centered forest management guidelines. The Climate Forestry Committee's report provided guidelines to optimize carbon sequestration and storage and resilience of state forests in alignment with the 2050 Clean Energy and Climate Plan (CECP). The Committee of scientific experts emphasized the importance of enlarging forest reserves, increasing permanent conservation efforts, reducing the conversion of forests to other uses, and managing state land to mitigate climate change and enhance resilience.

Policies within EEA’s workplan include:

• Greatly expanding forest reserves, including a target of 10 percent of forested land across all ownerships as reserves. This will be achieved through new state acquisitions and partnerships for reserve designations with private, non-profit, and municipal landowners; 
• Issuing a list of priority projects, cutting plans, and other information critical to enhance transparency and communication about forest management goals;
• Updating existing incentives, regulations and land conservation programs to optimize carbon sequestration and storage;
• Managing state lands utilizing techniques suggested by the Climate Forestry Committee to optimize carbon sequestration and storage and increase resilience to climate change;
• Developing a dashboard to track metrics that provide more data on forests to better inform land conservation and management decisions as well as expanding monitoring across all state-owned forests; and,
• Gathering data on harvested wood processing and utilization to help sequester more carbon in long-lived wood products.

EEA and its agencies have finished reviewing forest management projects that were paused during the first part of the Initiative and will resume the selection and vetting process for new projects. The divisions are applying the new guidelines centered around accounting for climate factors. 

EEA previously announced a $50 million investment in forest conservation, using capital and federal funding. The administration will also pursue additional federal and other funding to achieve the state’s conservation goals. 

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