Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC) announces the release of the Stewardship Guide for Vermont Forestland Owners, a comprehensive, free resource designed to help new and experienced private forestland owners understand, manage, and protect their land. The guide is available in both online and PDF format at https://vnrc.org/forestlandowners/.
Vermont’s forests cover approximately 4.6 million acres — about 75% of the state — and nearly 85% of that forestland is privately owned. Private landowners are therefore central to the health, connectivity, and long-term viability of Vermont’s forests. Until now, no single resource has served as a comprehensive owner’s guide for this critical stewardship role.
“We're excited to share this resource with you! Whether you're just getting started with your forest stewardship or you're ready to dive deeper, this guide can help you explore the management and conservation strategies that will work for you.” —Tara Miller, Forest and Wildlife Program Director, VNRC
The guide, authored by Michael Snyder, Greenfire Enterprises, with contributions from Jamey Fidel, VNRC, and tanamá varas of Dawn Land Farm, covers a wide range of topics relevant to Vermont forestland owners, including forest ecology basics, the history of forests and land stewardship in Vermont, strategies for protecting forest health, options for legal land conservation, tax incentive programs, timber management, wildlife habitat, and how to work with professional foresters. The publication also includes real-world case studies from Vermont landowners and an extensive directory of state, federal, and nonprofit resources.
"In writing this guide, I kept coming back to a simple idea: most Vermont forests are cared for by people making thoughtful and sometimes difficult decisions over time and we owe them so much. What I hope the Guide offers is a clear, credible way to meet landowners where they are and help translate their values into action—because that’s where the real work of stewardship — and hope for the future — begins.” —Mike Snyder, Forester, Founder of Greenfire Enterprises and former Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation at the State of Vermont
The guide was developed as part of the Forest Landowner Outreach Project, a grant-funded initiative to reach approximately 5,000 new forestland owners across Vermont. The project is being carried out in partnership with the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR), Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, Vermont Woodlands Association (VWA), Vermont Coverts: Woodlands for Wildlife, Vermont Audubon and others and is made possible with funding from the U.S. Forest Service, State and Private Forestry, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, The Daybreak Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation, and The Adelard A. and Valeda Lea Roy Foundation.
“This guide is an incredible resource to help landowners make informed decisions about their forests. It's a choose-your-own-adventure for both new and long-standing woodland owners. I'm excited to see landowners use it to steward and conserve our cherished forests in Vermont.” —Jamey Fidel, Vice President, Audubon Vermont
Supporting Events Coming This Spring
The release of the guide is just the beginning. VNRC and partners including Vermont Woodlands Association and Vermont Coverts will be offering a range of supporting events this spring including webinars, workshops, and other community and landowner engagement opportunities to help Vermont forestland owners connect with the guide’s content and access hands-on guidance. Details on specific events, dates, and how to register will be publicized at www.vnrc.org/forestlandowners, on our social media platforms, in our newsletters and through partner organizations in the coming weeks.
How to Access the Guide
The Stewardship Guide for Vermont Forestland Owners is available as a free digital download at www.vnrc.org/forestlandowners. Landowners may request printed copies by contacting VNRC at forests@vnrc.org.
This guide provides an overview of the suite of management and conservation options that exist to promote healthy forests and sound stewardship. Topics covered include a brief history of our forests, the ethics of forestland ownership, conservation strategies, planning for long-term stewardship, developing a forest management plan, managing for wildlife, carbon, water quality, forest products, recreation, and sensitive ecological features and many others. Appendix 3 includes a list of publications, programs and partners for landowners to pursue to continue their journey of stewardship.
Click here to access Stewardship Roadmap for Vermont Forest Landowners (coming soon). This resource offers a condensed version of the Stewardship Guide for Vermont Forestland Owners and helps landowners define their interest and values and put together the first action steps on their journey to responsible stewardship.
Through a technical assistance provider, we are able to provide direct stewardship and conservation assistance to a select number of landowners through this project. If you are interested in receiving assistance, please fill out this Google Form or reach out to the contact below.
About VNRC
VNRC’s mission is to protect and restore Vermont’s natural resources and environment for present and future generations through research, education, collaboration, and advocacy. Learn more at www.vnrc.org.
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