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News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
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For Release: |
November 8, 2004 |
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Contact: |
Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402
Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418 |
DEM ANNOUNCES THAT DRAFT RI FOREST RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN HAS BEEN DEVELOPED AS PART OF STATE GUIDE PLAN
Its Goals will be Reflected in Updates of Local Comprehensive Plans
PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management announces that it has forwarded a final draft RI Forest Resources Management Plan to the RI Statewide Planning Program for review and adoption as part of the state guide plan.
Developed by DEM's Division of Forest Environment in cooperation with the RI Statewide Planning Program, the 70-plus page RI Forest Resources Management Plan establishes a vision, goals, and policies, and provides many recommendations for managing the state's forest resources effectively. As an element of the state guide plan, by law its goals and policies must be reflected in future updates of local comprehensive plans.
The RI Forest Resources Management Plan carries forward many of the relevant policies and themes of its predecessor, last revised in 1984, and adds new policies or emphases to reflect current issues in forest management. The Plan addresses forest resource management, information and education, forest health, commercial forest products, and water resources. Three new issues - sustainability, recreation and tourism, and fragmentation - are also addressed.
In forwarding the new RI Forest Resources Management Plan, DEM Acting Director noted that "management of forest resources affects so many factors in the environment that its proper management is critical to the wellbeing of all Rhode Islanders. Forests cover nearly 60 percent of Rhode Island's landscape, contributing over $530 million each year to the state's economy as well as providing clean air and water, habitat for wildlife, and aesthetic benefits."
The RI Forest Resources Management Plan has eight goals, and includes a number of specific suggestions on how to reach them. The goals are:
- To manage state-owned forestlands in order to provide a safe environment and reduce conflicts between users while maintaining the health, vigor and sustainability of the forest resources.
- To create, conserve, and maintain sustainable forest resources.
- To educate public officials and the general public to gain an understanding and appreciation of the forest resources, so they might better utilize, conserve and protect these resources for future generations.
- To protect and improve the health of Rhode Island's forests by monitoring and responding to forest health threats and by maintaining a forest fire defense plan. The major threat to forest health continues to come from introduced or exotic pests from imported goods in today's global economy, and as Rhode Island's role as a potential seaport increases, it is important to keep this in mind as the state expands to meet the needs of a global economy.
- To maintain a viable forest products industry in Rhode Island by optimizing the economic values of such products from Rhode Island forestlands.
- To ensure that forestlands provide for the needs of all Rhode Islanders, including plentiful and healthy water resources. Good water quality is one of the many benefits derived from forestland. The benefits of protecting forested riparian areas along rivers and streams include improved water quality, greater wildlife diversity, enhanced aesthetics, and reduced flooding.
- To provide statewide recreational activities and promote tourism in forested recreation areas. The importance of forests to Rhode Island's quality of life is increasing as development continues. According to the Plan, in Rhode Island, between 1988 and 1995, Rhode Islanders developed farm and forestland acreage that almost equaled the total land area of the City of Providence (12,029 acres.) As a result of sprawl, the Plan continues, an additional 24,000 acres of forestland could be converted to developed land by 2020. The Plan notes that as more land is developed, forested state management areas and other forested protected open space properties will become increasingly important in providing recreational opportunities that provide social, healthful, environmental, and economic benefits.
- To conserve and restore Rhode Island's forests in un-fragmented conditions through innovative land conservation and management techniques. The most common threats to managed forests are from direct development or through fragmentation of ownership of large forested parcels into smaller parcels, reducing the likelihood of proper forest stewardship. More than half the state is considered significantly fragmented forestland, primarily in the form of small privately owned parcels.
The staff of DEM's Division of Forest Environment, under Chief Thomas Dupree, together with DEM's Office of Sustainable Watersheds and the Forest Resources Management Plan Advisory Committee, prepared the draft plan for DEM's submittal to the Statewide Planning Program. The Advisory Committee, appointed by the State Planning Council, represents 30 individuals with ties to or concerns about forest resources within the state.
The 15-month preparation and development process included: soliciting opinions and concerns of small forest landowners via a 50-question survey questionnaire mailed to more than 2,800 people in 13 rural communities; holding five focus group discussions with forest landowners, environmental groups, forest resource professionals, commercial forest users, and forest recreation users; and holding a general public information session to gather additional information. Funding for the project was provided through a U.S. Forest Service grant of $35,000.
The draft RI Forest Resources Management Plan can be found on DEM's website, www.dem.ri.gov, by clicking on "Forest Environment" under "Programs". The file is large, and may take some time to download.
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