Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
The annual Massachusetts Town Forest Conference, which fosters collaboration and conversation among a range of professionals and volunteers who contribute to community forest management, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 17, at West Elementary School in Andover.
The free, full-day conference recognizes local efforts to support the climate resilience of community forests, and underscores the critical functions that town forests play in local ecosystems.
The conference features exhibits, presentations, networking opportunities, and field tours. The audience includes foresters, planners, arborists, conservation commission members, land trusts, nonprofit organizations, forest landowners, and more.
This year’s theme is “Stewardship: The Preservation, Health, and Growth of New England Town Forests in the 21st Century.”
The event will include a keynote discussion on caring for forests with ecological forestry, as well as speakers from the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the town of Andover, the city of Haverhill, the Andover Village Improvement Society, Essex County Greenbelt, and Mass Audubon.
Attendees may sign up for one of three field tours: Deer Jump Reservation; Wood Hill/Bald Hill Reservation; or the Retelle Reservation.
Licensed foresters and timber harvesters are eligible to receive continuing education credits for their attendance.
Registration and coffee, and a chance to meet with exhibitors, will begin at 9 a.m.
Lunch and refreshments are included with registration for the event, which will conclude at 4:30 p.m. Online preregistration is required.
Questions may be directed to Mike Downey at [email protected].