Forest Watch -- Saving and re-creating wild forests, advocating for wilderness in Vermont and the northeast, protecting imperiled species


Save and create wild forests \| Reform public land management Eco-Forestry \| Imperiled species \| Watch over the forests Settlers seeking shelter and heat, wood products, and agricultural land altered dramatically the seemingly endless wild forests of New England more than two hundred years ago. Although many forests are now in the process of re-wilding, the pressures persist and are growing--house and road construction, acid precipitation, global warming, clearcutting, herbicide and pesticide spraying, whole-tree harvesting, and more. Animals and plants that lived in the region's former deep woods were, and continue to be, pushed to the brink--some beyond. In Vermont, for example, animals that epitomize our wild spirit--the Common loon, Canada lynx, Eastern mountain lion, and Eastern timber wolf--are just a few names on a lengthy roster with more than 42 animals and 153 plants that are endangered or threatened according to federal and state laws. That list, and even the list of "special concern" species keeps growing. This is wrong and must change, and Forest Watch is committed to safeguarding imperiled species and making those changes happen. We believe humans have an ethical duty to respect and live in balance with all other living beings that inhabit this planet. Forest Watch advocates for the protection and recovery of imperiled species in the forests of New England by promoting the re-creation of large, connected tracts of wild forests and the practice of ecological forestry--forestry that mimics nature. Conservation biologists believe that a regional system of wild forests is the best way to protect and restore biodiversity--the variety of life and all of its processes. And, ecological forestry ensures that logging will be compatible with the very specific needs of forest-dependent animals like Black bears, Canada lynx, Indiana bats, and Blue-spotted salamanders. ACTION PLAN Forest Watch will use a combination of research, public education, advocacy, and citizen organizing and outreach to achieve five goals. Our program goals are to: Strengthen the laws, protections, and recovery planning for imperiled species in our region; Work with public land managers to respond to needs of imperiled species and develop model protection activities for public and private landowners; Collaborate with like-minded groups and public land managers on species protection and recovery initiatives; Establish with partners coherent, regional plans that save and create wild forests, promote ecological forestry, and protect imperiled species on a broad scale; and Develop public education activities, such as forums, workshops and hikes, to better inform people about the ecological requirements of forest residents.

Forest Watch • PO Box 188 • Richmond, Vermont 05477 tel. (802) 434-2388 \| www.forestwatch.org © 1999-2002 Forest Watch and artists/contributors • Privacy Policy • Contact Us