There is an upcoming opportunity to provide comments about the way the Commonwealth’s public lands are managed.
The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is holding public listening sessions as it begins a 10-year update of the 2012 Landscape Designations and Management Guidelines. These guidelines classify state-owned lands as either Reserves, Parklands, or Woodlands. The full guidelines from 2012 are here.
This is the best opportunity for you to make your views known and to have an impact on the guidelines for the next decade. Public lands are crucial in the fight against climate change – even as they offer needed recreational opportunities.
Information from DCR on how to sign up to offer public comment is below.
In this series of public meetings, please join DCR to discuss the 2012 DCR Landscape Designations and Management Guidelines, to provide feedback on the review assessment, incorporate feedback on evolving climate concerns, and discuss designations for properties acquired since 2012. There will be 5 opportunities for the public to participate in live meetings, presenting the same material in each. These meetings include 3 online times and 2 in-person meetings. DCR will also host a public field walk, where staff will describe the impact these landscape designations and management guidelines have in setting. For the field walk, please register using the Zoom link before Thursday, September 8th and you will be emailed instructions on how to join the Monday, September 12th field walk on Friday, September 9th .
Tuesday, August 23rd 6:30pm-8:30pm
Register: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAldOChqTssHNWrviRTOZMezYEzjexAEiJS
Monday, August 29th 6:30pm-8:30pm
Register: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUvdOmsrDMuE9Xu1rhhD2K4Q2GpJ606_5oJ
Thursday, September 8th 6:30pm-8:30pm
MassWildlife Field Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581
Monday, September 12th Start time: 4pm
Field Walk at Otter River State Forest
Register (registration closes Thursday 9/8 and instructions to join will be emailed on 9/9): https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEtdO6upj4iGNTpRShv6Yrtof4Lh9btCOdw
Tuesday, September 13th 6:30pm-8:30pm
Pittsfield Athenaeum, One Wendell Avenue, Pittsfield, MA 01201
Wednesday, September 14th 6:30pm-8:30pm
Register: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUld-2spz4jE9wvc7vab41JeZkcHtXjJlsC
DCR encourages the public to share additional feedback, with a deadline for receipt of comments by September 28th, 2022. Comments may be submitted online at www.mass.gov/dcr/public-comment. Please note that the content of comments you submit to DCR, along with your name, town, and zip code, will be posted on DCR’s website. Additional contact information required when commenting, notably email address, will only be used for outreach on future updates on the subject project or property.
