Helene Flounders, Connecticut DEP Forester and Planning Coordinator for the Connecticut Statewide Forest Resource Plan, called to remind us of the upcoming meeting of the Connecticut Forest Forum on November 30th at the University of Connecticut Greater Hartford Campus in West Hartford. This program is newly developed and released and includes the State DEP as a partner. The primary focus of the program is to identify issues as perceived by the various stakeholder groups, and possible action steps to remedy those issues. With this information, the plan tries to “foster statewide cooperation and synergy between the various organizations dependent on Forest Resources” to implement these action steps.
We believe our mission to be very complementary to the the goals of the program. We have a very clear strategic approach and a well defined scope that has little or no overlap with the missions of other organization, while providing clear synergies with virtually all involved organizations.
Volunteers Needed
I'd encourage you to attend this meeting as a representative of CT-TACF. I'd also encourage you to contact me if you have interest in representing CT-TACF on one of the Organization's Committees. Our status provides us with a unique opportunity to interact at the most intimate levels and I would encourage volunteers to talk to me about becoming the representative of CT-TACF. There are limited opportunities (2) and the meetings are coming up very soon – so don't wait to call!
If you care to read more about the November 30th meeting, please download the brochure here.
Bill Adamsen
CT-TACF Director
Below is a description of “Mapping the Future of Connecticut's Forests: The Connecticut Statewide Forest Resource Plan”
Connecticut is one of the most heavily forested states in America. Our forests clean our air and water, shelter our wildlife, contribute tens of millions of dollars annually to our economy, and keep our state a beautiful and desirable place to live.
But the green cloak we see enveloping our state as we fly over or drive through it belies a growing set of problems beneath the tree canopy. Connecticut is the 5th most densely populated state in America, and the pressures resulting from so many people living among so much forest are taking a toll, right now, that have rarely if ever been seen in our history. Conserving a healthy forest for the next generation will require action: getting these issues into the public's mind, identifying solutions, and finding a collective will to follow through.
The completion this year of Connecticut's first Statewide Forest Resource Plan is a major step in that direction. Hundreds of stakeholders and interested citizens contributed to this blueprint for a diverse and productive Connecticut forest. Join us as we step off from this guidebook to discuss the challenges and opportunities we face, and plan the strategies we need to ensure healthy forests for future generations.
