News  MassWildlife receives forestry awards

In late October, both MassWildlife and MassWildlife retiree John Scanlon were honored by the Massachusetts Forest Alliance (MFA) during its annual meeting. John Scanlon, former MassWildlife Habitat Program Manager, was the recipient of the MFA’s Lambert Award. This honor is periodically presented to individuals or organizations for their exemplary stewardship and conservation of forests in Massachusetts. MFA Board President Dicken Crane lauded Scanlon’s collaboration with MFA on grant projects which assists land trusts and other landowners to create wildlife habitat on private lands. Crane added, “During his 35-year career, John’s passionate advocacy for active forest management to increase habitat types that have been declining on both state-owned and private lands makes him a worthy recipient of the Lambert Award for forest stewardship.”

The MFA also honored MassWildlife with its Friends of Forestry Award recognizing the agency’s use of active forest management to create diversified habitats for rare and vulnerable wildlife, and for the agency’s efforts to defend and speak up for such management conducted by public and private landowners. MFA Board member and presenter of the award said, “During times of public criticism around forestry in climate discussions, MassWildlife has held fast in its commitment to forest management on public and private lands.”

Brian Hawthorne, Habitat Program Supervisor, accepted the award on behalf of the agency noting that MassWildlife relies on the efforts of important partners such as the Massachusetts Forest Alliance to provide habitat management for climate resilience on private lands. “MassWildlife continues its dedication to using forestry as a tool for active habitat management and restoration to conserve the full diversity of birds, mammals, fish, and other wildlife in Massachusetts.” He also noted that these efforts create forests that are more resilient to climate change and contribute to the Commonwealth’s commitment to net-zero carbon by 2050.