Wildlands and Woodlands: A Vision for the New England Landscape

A new conservation vision released May 19 by the Harvard Forest reports that, following almost 200 years of natural reforestation, forest cover is declining in all six New England states. The 20 authors of the Wildlands and Woodlands report—including 8 scientists from the Harvard Forest—call for conserving 70 percent of New England as forestland over the next 50 years, a target that is critical to protecting vital natural benefits that would be costly, and in some cases impossible, to replace.

• 90% of forests would be "Woodlands," conserved by willing landowners and sustainably managed for multiple uses, from recreation to wood products.
• 10% of forests would be "Wildland" reserves, identified by local communities and shaped only by the natural environment.

Read more, ask questions, and download the full report on the Wildlands and Woodlands website.

The vision is being officially released May 19 at an evening event at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, with presentations by David Foster, Theodore Roosevelt IV, Jim Levitt, and Henry Lee.