1. Vermont Forest Assessment for the 2010-2015 Forest Resources Plan Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation

2. Purpose of Presentation Show development of Vermonts method of conducting three distinct forest assessments based on landscape characteristics How and why to identify Urban, Rural and Transition lands

3. Landscape Characteristics and Values in Vermont Forest covers 78% of state, 80%+ privately owned Average parcel size county foresters help manage is 40 acres (relatively small) Tendency to place higher value on much larger forest blocks 200-2500 acres+

4. Spatial Analyses of Other Programs Previous assessments revealed limitations of using only Rural and Urban in Vermont Forest Legacy Area valuing larger block sizes eliminated one biophysical region, despite those forests being highly threatened

5. Spatial Analyses of Other Programs Landowners with 10-25 acres are not served by VTs Use Value Appraisal Program, administered by county foresters Looked at WUI analysis w/ its identification of ex-urban areas

6. Defining the Problem Resolving High Value of Large Forest Blocks with High Threat of Smaller Blocks (not urban areas) WUI Analysis offered a useful perspective Determined that housing density could be a more useful tool for our use Used housing density as surrogate for fragmentation

7. Methodology Initial stratification of housing density using E911 housing sites Display areas of housing in units per sq km (250 ac) Averages: 10 houses per average parcel size of 25 ac., 50 houses per average parcel size 5 ac. >128 houses correlates to <2 acres 50-128 houses correlates to 2-5 acres 9-49 houses correlates to 5-27 acres 0-8 houses correlates to >27 acres

8. Methodology Final stratification of housing density using E911 housing sites for state assessments >128 houses correlates to <2 acresUrban 9-128 houses correlates to 2-27 acres Transition 0-8 houses correlates to >27 acresRural Move any agricultural lands (crop and pasture from NLCD) with 0-8 houses into Transition area

9. E-911 Housing Density Classes Legend Red = Urban Yellow = Transition Dk Grn = Rural Shaded Yellow = Ag lands Lt Grn = Conserved lands

10. Properties of Housing Density Classes Rural Contains many conserved lands and Larger forest blocks Transition Lands most threatened with development Similar threats to water quality Impacts to wildlife at road crossings, fragmentation

11. Adjusted Map Transition Lands 1.5 km search radius conducted Result 3 distinct areas for assessment

12. Next Steps After thematic maps are developed, overlay them for Rural, and then for Transition lands Forest Site Productivity Wildlife Habitat Water Quality Carbon Sequestration Forest Pests Development Risk Fire Risk Urban & Community Forestry--pop. density, growth +CARS

13. Use Spatial Results and Key Issues to Help Create Strategies in the Context of C&I Climate change-How will management decisions need to change within a changing world? Global/Local economies--Can our forest products economy separate itself within a global market? Sustainability--What is it and how can we convey to the public on the state of our forest resources. Recreation--How do we balance the many demands on the land and landowners? Forest health--The foundation of our forest system must be sustained.

14. Key Issues, continued Keeping forests forested--The impacts of land use change, parcelization and forest fragmentation. Biomass--Addressing issues concerning sustainability. Public land management--Identify proper role and capacity. Water quality--Forest role in influencing water quality in a positive way. Wildlife--How do we sustain wildlife habitat? TaxationAre there opportunities to make owning land more viable? Exotic/Invasives--Problematic implications for the future.

15. Key Issues, continued Demographics--How do the graying and greening of society affect forests? Certification--Role in Vermont. Organizational Capacity--How will we adapt to reduced resources? Urbanization--Can we maintain forest functions in a built environment? Environmental Advocacy--Are we training/teaching the next generation to become forest stewards?

16. Vermont Plan Contacts Information Linda Henzellinda.henzel@state.vt.us802-241-3688linda.henzel@state.vt.us Planning Bill Moultonbill.moulton@state.vt.us802-476-0171bill.moulton@state.vt.us Planning Danielle Fitzkodanielle.fitzko@state.vt.us802-241-3673danielle.fitzko@state.vt.us U&CF State Coordinator Barbara Burnsbarbara.burns@state.vt.us802-885-8821barbara.burns@state.vt.us Forest Resource Protection Steve Sinclairsteve.sinclair@state.vt.us802-241-3680steve.sinclair@state.vt.us State Forester