Educational and technical assistance is available to municipal commissions and volunteer groups that manage town forests. To develop and provide resources to these groups, foundational questions arise about what governance models exist, what skills are required of these volunteers to best serve in their roles, and what major challenges face these committees and commissions on an operational level.

In 2021, the Northern Forest Center used interviews, surveys, and feedback from forestry professionals to better understand the opportunities and challenges of town forest governance. The following resources were funded by a USDA Forest Service Landscape Scale Restoration Grant and developed through a partnership with the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation, and the University of Vermont Extension.

Governance of Town Forests for Practitioners (Summary Report)

Governance of Town forests (Full Report)

Watch the Report Webinar

Town Forest Assistance

All Vermont communities have the potential to own a town forest. Strong and active organizations are standing by ready to provide technical assistance in the creation, protection, and management of town forests. See what your community can grow!

• County Foresters
• Northern Forest Center
• Trust for Public Land
• Vermont Land Trust