Massachusetts' forests are special places. From the globally-rare pine barrens on Cape Cod to the vast forests of the Berkshires that harbor black bear and bobcat, these areas provide scenic beauty and opportunities for recreation and renewal sought by residents and visitors alike.
Our forests also filter and store clean drinking water, and provide wood products for local mills. For a state better known for its world-class universities and hospitals, Massachusetts retains a surprising amount of forested land.
The Place
Massachusetts' forests and parks include beaches, salt and fresh water marshes, vernal pools, mountains, highlands, and coastal plains. These public lands provide home to a great diversity of trees, wildflowers, birds, reptiles, mammals, insects, and even small patches of old-growth forest.
Approximately ten percent of Massachusetts is owned and managed by the state government as parks, forests and wildlife management areas. The State Executive Office of Environmental Affairs recently committed to doing state-of-the-art certified forestry on the lands where logging takes place. The state applied for and received Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) green certification for all state owned lands where forestry is practiced. FSC certification is modeled after organic certification for farming and is considered the gold standard for sustainable forestry.
As part of the FSC certification process, the State is required to set aside lands to protect habitat for native plant and animal species that tend to disappear from more developed areas. They worked with The Nature Conservancy and other scientists to identify approximately 50,000 acres in nine large forest reserves that would be managed predominantly to protect biodiversity and for low-impact recreation such as hiking, camping, biking, hunting and fishing. Click here for a map showing where the reserves are located.
They also plan to set aside approximately 50,000 acres of state owned land in small reserves to protect specific places such as wetlands, old growth forest fragments, and other rare habitats.
They are asking for public comment from local communities, the general public and organizations interested in Massachusetts' forests. This is an excellent opportunity to protect some of the wildest, least developed places left in Massachusetts for their conservation values and for future generations to enjoy.
The Proposed Large Forest Reserves
Below is a list of the eight large forest reserves that the State of Massachusetts is proposing to create on existing state-owned lands. These areas would be managed for biodiversity and low-impact recreation. Existing recreational activities would continue, but logging and all-terrain vehicles would not be allowed. Note: All of the following the proposed reserves will require final approval by relevant state agencies.
Chalet
This reserve is comprised of the Chalet, Eugene Moran, and Stafford Wildlife Management Areas. It is located in Cheshire, Lanesboro, Dalton and Windsor and is managed by the State Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.
Cunningham Ponds
This reserve covers part of the Ware River Watershed in Hubbardston. This protected area contributes to the water supply for metropolitan Boston.
Greylock
This forest reserve covers the Mt. Greylock State Reservation in North Adams, Adams, Williamstown, and New Ashford. At 3,491 feet, Mount Greylock is the highest peak in Massachusetts. Acquired by the Commonwealth in 1898, it is also Massachusetts' first state park.
Middlefield/Peru
This reserve is comprised of the Middlefield State Forest, the Walnut Hill Wildlife Management Area (WMA), and a small portion of the Peru WMA, located in Middlefield, Peru and Becket.
Mohawk/Monroe/Savoy
This reserve includes Mohawk Trail, Savoy, and Monroe State Forests, and covers land in the towns of Florida, Hawley, Savoy, Charlemont, and Monroe.
Mt. Washington
This reserve includes Mt. Washington State Forest, Jug End State Reservation and WMA, and Mt. Everett State Reservation. Mount Washington State Forest offers 30 miles of trails and a full range of outdoor recreation, including backcountry camping, amidst its rugged, mountainous terrain.
Otis
The reserve in Otis covers the Otis State Forest and a portion of the Farmington River Wildlife Management Area.
Plymouth
The Plymouth Forest Reserve encompasses Myles Standish State Forest in Plymouth and Carver. Myles Standish is the largest publicly owned recreation area in southeastern Massachusetts.
Westfield River
The Westfield River forest reserves include parts of the Gilbert Bliss State Forest and the Hiram Fox Wildlife Management Area in Chesterfield and Huntington.
Public Meetings
The State held a series of public meetings to hear feedback on the proposed large and small ecological reserves.
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