The Vermont town forest census is a project to develop a comprehensive assessment of all municipally-managed forests in the Green Mountain State.
The first study of its type in Vermont, the Town Forest Census is an opportunity to provide towns and other stakeholders with the information they need to effectively, sustainably manage their lands. Our project will incorporate research into governance, land usage, ecological threats, recreation, economic value, and other topics to provide an extensive picture of the value of these resources.
We also hope to increase community engagement by making information more readily available to the public, providing key contacts for municipally-managed forests, increasing equitable access to public resources for all Vermonters, and removing barriers to cooperation between communities. The project’s key outcome will be to create a replicable census for forest managers that can be used in future years to help inform decision-makers concerned with conservation management and public resources.
Our team is committed to making equity and inclusivity both a process and outcome of our project. We strongly believe in diversity –of people, identities, and ideas– as a feature of healthy communities and strive to include marginalized perspectives in our decision-making.
Click here to sign up for our project email updates!
Discover more
Our project will encompass several focus areas intended to better inform decision-makers and members of the public
Our research will provide new insight into forest management and conservation issues previously unstudied in Vermont
Our team includes working professionals, business owners, researchers, and key private organizations and state agencies
Indigenous Land Acknowledgment
Our research takes place on land traditionally owned and stewarded by the Western Abenaki. We recognize the past, present, and continued existence of their tribes on the land as well as the deep significance it holds to their culture. As well, we recognize the harm inflicted on their people by European settlers. We hope that acknowledging crimes committed in the past and celebrating the lives of those in the present leads to a future that is just, equitable, and inclusive for all who call this land home.