Op-Ed: Protect the Worcester Range in perpetuity

January 6, 2024 | By Bodo Carey

Even by Vermont's standards, the Worcester Range ecosystem is a rare ecological gem. The sheer volume of wild and unfragmented land, especially on the Worcester/Middlesex east side of the range, is unusual. I believe that this contiguous forest block should be protected in perpetuity. 

The state’s plan for these 18,772 acres should be driven by conscience and foresight, as well as science and Vermont law. The Worcester Range Management Plan offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to preserve an invaluable ecosystem and should be amended accordingly before approval.

The Agency of Natural Resources long-range management plan currently ignores Vermont law Act 59 passed last year, and guidance from ANR’s previous findings in Vermont Conservation Design for developing minimum-size forest blocks to maintain or restore old forests. Act 59 includes the goal of “prioritizing ecological reserve areas to protect highest priority natural communities and maintain or restore old forests.” Vt Conservation Design recommends a minimum of 4,000 acres to be managed for old-growth forest in the Northern Green Mountains.

The Worcester Range plan does designate more than 9,000 acres as Natural Areas or Highly Sensitive Management Areas where there will be no timber harvesting. But these designations provide no legal protection in perpetuity. The 9,650.8 acres are largely protected by default, with steep slopes, wet soils, ridgelines, and high elevations. The plan includes a caveat for the Highly Sensitive Management Areas, stating that “trees and other vegetation may be cut….”

An “ecological reserve area” by definition is an area having permanent protection from conversion. It is managed to maintain a natural state within which natural ecological processes and disturbance events are allowed to proceed with minimal interference. Opportunities abound in the Worcester Range for the creation of “ecological reserve areas” not only at the higher elevations but also within forest blocks at lower elevations. Much of Vermont’s biodiversity is found at low elevations, and the lowest elevations are

the least protected. Northern Hardwood Forests (natural community) in particular, as well as other forest types in the lower elevations, should be designated “ecological reserve areas” to promote the development of old forest and curtail significant “vegetation management” practices.

The Worcester Range Management Plan states:

“Northern hardwood forest forms the ‘matrix’ into which all other communities in the WRMU fit. This forest type is also the most common type in Vermont. Over 6,000 acres of Northern Hardwood Forest were mapped within the WRMU, all as part of a single occurrence of very high ecological quality (A-ranked). This example is of statewide significance.”

“It is recommended that state-significant natural communities be afforded a higher level of protection than other areas of the management unit.”

The plan’s commercial vegetation management schedule shows most sites of forest types containing; sugar maple, beech, and yellow birch -- components of Northern Hardwood Forests.

“Vegetation management” is one of the dominant uses of land assigned to the plan's General Management Areas. This area in the lower elevations in Middlesex and Worcester makes one large contiguous block of 3,431.4 acres -- 40% of this block’s total acreage and 1,370 acres are to be logged. With two recent land acquisitions, 875 acres of existing state land that had previously been inaccessible for timber management are now approachable. Of these 875 acres, 440 acres are scheduled for forest management activities. Thus previous forest blocks that were protected because of their locations are now scheduled for timber harvests.

On the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Public Scoping Survey for the plan, 85% of respondents placed the highest value on Resource Protection, as compared to 49% who listed Sustainable Forestry first. Public sentiment, science, and the law are quite clear about the need to protect Vermont’s forest ecosystem and call for conserving areas for old forests.

This is not an issue about environmentalists versus foresters and management, nor a political issue. The ecosystem needs both wild lands and working forests. Vermont currently has less than 1% old forests. With current land classifications (like National Forest Wilderness Areas), it would take us another century to get to 3% and Vermont Conservation Design calls for at least 9% old forests.

The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources should embrace the enormity of its decisions. It can guarantee the future of old forest land, thus creating its legacy. Current public sentiment, science, and Vermont law are telling us that now is the time. Rewilding and protecting the Worcester Range is an opportunity that we cannot afford to miss. 

The Agency of Natural Resources – Worcester Range Management Unit – Long Range Management Plan – should be amended and updated before approval to acknowledge the uniqueness of the area, align with current scientific thinking, and comply with Vermont law, Act 59. Failing to do so is an act of omission.

See this post on Waterbury Roundabout with more information about the draft plan and public comment process. ANR is accepting public comments at this link until Feb.2.

Bodo Carey lives in Worcester.