“A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.”  - Henry David Thoreau

Protecting our forests in this time of climate crisis and biodiversity collapse is recognized as an important way to protect our environment and our future health and well-being. Two bills have been submitted to the Massachusetts Legislature this session. One would permanently protect 412,000 acres under the care and control of the Division of Conservation and Recreation. The other would permanently protect 30% of the land owned by Fish and Wildlife, about 51,000 acres,  by 2030. These state agencies already have land in reserves where intact ecosystems are influenced primarily by natural processes. These bills request more reserves than we now have, and give them legal protection that they do not currently have. Together these actions would help Massachusetts to do its part to help mitigate climate change and protect our native natural heritage. 

                                    Help to support our efforts! Donate today.

                          Save Massachusetts Forests is a project of  RESTORE: The North Woods. 

                                                                           https://www.restore.org/donate

                                                   ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE 

Preserve October State Forest 

Protect Myles Standish State Forest and the Southeast Pine Barrens Wildlife Management Area

Protect the Montague Plains Wildlife Management Area

Support Sierra Club's effort to Protect the Quabbin Reservoir—Forests are essential

Sign this letter to end logging of public land of the Quabbin, Wachusett and Ware watersheds 

                                                     MUST SEE VIDEO

"Why Do We Undermine Natural Forest Development and Climate Mitigation to Perpetuate the Cultural Legacy of European Colonization" - David Foster, Ph.D is director emeritis of the Harvard Forest and its Long Term Ecological Research Program and coordinates Wildlands, Woddlands, Farmlands and Communities. 

October 4, 2025 Presentation in Plymouth MA- "Forest Fires in Massachusetts: Myths and Reality" 

11.21.David Foster Presentation - SD 480p.mov

11.21.David Foster Presentation.mp4

                                 LEGISTLATIVE UPDATES 

                  Stay Tuned!  We will submit bills to the Massachusetts Legislature in January 2027 to:

• Fight climate change by allowing forests to grow back and keeping them standing

• Protect native biodiversity by preserving about 9% of the state’s land base — an important

   step toward the goal of protecting 30% of our nation’s lands and waters by 2030.

• Mitigate climate change impacts for all Massachusetts residents, including environmental

   justice communities which are especially vulnerable to climate change impacts,

• Provide direct benefits to people, including clean air and water, scenic beauty, recreational

    opportunities, and potential for economic diversification.

• Prevent harmful uses, such as land sales or exchanges; new gas pipelines; commercial solar

   or wind facilities; pesticide and herbicide spraying; or promotion of woody biomass energy.

• Safeguard sacred and historic sites by prohibiting destructive resource extraction and

   industrial development.

• Take immediate action to fulfill the commitment by the Governor to  employ forest ecosystems to

  mitigate global warming by increasing reserves on public and private land.

  Help to prevent  large scale solar, wind, biomass, batteries, transmission lines or other energy infrastructure on state land.

                                    Join our e-mail list by writing to savemassforests@gmail.com 

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                 Prescribed burning in the Montague Plains Wildlife Management Area. Is this okay with you? 

        In the news - Carbon Forestry Committee Report released-

Report of the Climate Forestry Committee: Recommendations for Climate-Oriented Forest Management Guidelines     https://www.mass.gov/doc/forest-as-climate-solutions-climate-forestry-committee-report-final/download

“Unsurprisingly, disturbing the forests of Massachusetts as little as possible and allowing forests to grow and age through passive management is generally the best approach for maximizing carbon, ecological integrity, and soil health.” (page 4)

More information about this report is here:     https://www.mass.gov/info-details/forests-as-climate-solutions

       In the news- Massachusetts state land logging moratorium petition                                                     delivered to Governor Charlie Baker  

                      https://www.recorder.com/Petition-seeks-to-stop-logging-on-state-owned-land-46824885

                  Pre-eminent Biologist E.O. Wilson Supported Our Bills

                              to Protect State- Owned Land 

"I strongly support this bill, which would permanently protect 13 percent of the Massachusetts land area, reaching from the Berkshires to the Atlantic Coast. This is the single most important action the people of thestate can take to preserve our natural heritage. As it has many times in the past, Massachusetts can provide leadership on this issue, inspiring other states across the country to take similar bold  action." 

With best wishes,     

Edward O. Wilson

                                                                                                        July 6, 2019

         Sign up for Action Alerts - e-mail us at savemassforests@gmail.com 

                                                                 Contact us at savemassforests@gmail.com