Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation

06/19/2026

How close do you live to your nearest state park? Let us know in the comments! And check out this recent episode of Across the Fence with FPR Commissioner Danielle Fitzko and Director of State Parks Nate McKeen.

How close is your nearest state park? Spoiler: probably closer than you think! Across the Fence sits down with Danny Fitzko and Nate McKeen to discuss what makes Vermont's 55 state parks so special!
Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_Da0FjPeRg

06/18/2026

Here’s your (literal) sign to learn about forest management at Little River State Park. This week, FPR staff installed new educational signs along the Dalley Loop Trail that explain the benefits of active forest management. Forest management involves making site‑specific, science‑based choices to help steward healthy and resilient woods. Sometimes that means removing introduced invasive species or selectively cutting trees, other times it means taking a more passive approach. These practices help boost climate and pest resilience, support biodiversity, and produce sustainable local products.

Like most of the state, the land in Little River State Park was cleared by settlers for pastureland. As a result, much of this forest is made up of trees of the same age, size, and stature. To boost species and age diversity, FPR is doing a crop tree release harvest—a technique that focuses on providing better conditions for ecologically desirable trees—and adding small gaps to the canopy. These practices will help increase resilience to pests, pathogens, and other disturbances while also improving habitat for wildlife.

Swipe through to see how different parts of Little River are being managed and why, and then come find the signs out on the trail!

06/17/2026

Want to see what can be done with grit, focus, and strategy? Poultney leveraged grants from several funders to build out their outdoor recreation infrastructure, turning a town that was centered around Green Mountain College into a regional outdoor recreation destination capable of supporting downtown businesses like bike shops, bookstores, and restaurants.

FPR staff and Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing Commissioner Heather Pelham toured the town earlier this month as part of Capital for a Day in Rutland County. Capital for a Day brings the Governor and his cabinet to counties across Vermont to connect with residents, municipal leaders, and businesses to discuss pressing issues and highlight community successes. Thanks to all the local leaders who helped lead this impressive tour!

06/15/2026

Do you own forestland in Vermont? Join a free FPR webinar to learn what the updated Use Value Appraisal (Current Use) Minimum Management and Plan Standards mean for your woods. Vermont’s Current Use standards were updated on May 31, 2026 to align with current law, modern forestry practices, and program needs.

Join a free webinar to learn:
✅ Why the standards were updated
✅ What changes were made
✅ What you need to know for your management plan
✅ How the updates support long-term forest stewardship and continued UVA enrollment

Pick a time that works for you:
📅 June 16, 2026 | 12:00–1:00 PM
📅 June 17, 2026 | 6:30–7:30 PM
📅 June 23, 2026 | 12:00–1:00 PM

The webinar is designed for landowners enrolled or interested in Vermont’s Current Use Program. To register for a webinar, scroll to the Learn More section of this webpage: fpr.vermont.gov/CurrentUseForestLandStandardsRevision

06/09/2026

It doesn’t get much more Vermont-y than the annual Maple Summit. Hosted by the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association, this event brings together experts from across the industry to share news and knowledge. This Tuesday, FPR Commissioner Danielle Fitzko, Private Lands Program Manager Keith Thompson, and County Forester Charlie Hancock joined sugar makers and other state partners to present updates on legislation, Current Use forest management standards, and conservation work that supports sugarbush management and the sugaring industry.

FPR is proud to work alongside the maple community, sharing policy and forestry expertise, and providing on‑the‑ground support to help sugar makers thrive and keep Vermont’s forests healthy. If you'd like to learn more about the revised Current Use Forestland Standards mentioned above, please visit https://fpr.vermont.gov/CurrentUseForestLandStandardsRevision

Thank you to VMSMA for organizing this important event.

06/08/2026

Help keep forests healthy by keeping firewood local! Click the post to learn more.

Camping season is here! Moving firewood might seem harmless, but it can spread invasive insects, diseases, and pests to new areas. Many invasive species spend part of their life cycle hidden beneath bark or inside wood, making them difficult to detect. Transporting firewood over long distances can introduce these species into forests that may not be prepared for them. This camping season: *Buy firewood where you burn it *Burn all firewood before you leave *Don't transport leftover wood to another location. Help keep forests healthy by keeping firewood local. PlayCleanGo

06/05/2026

What do trees and libraries have in common? They both grow the public good! This week, UVM forestry students in the Forest Ecosystem Analysis class teamed up with the Division of Forests’ Vermont Urban & Community Forestry Program to plant 16 new trees at the Castleton Free Library through our Check Out Forestry program.

Before shovels hit the dirt, Urban Forester Adz McCullough walked students through what to look for on a site and gave a quick planting demo. Then teams got to work, planting a mix of species around the library grounds. These trees will benefit the public for years to come, providing shade, aesthetic improvements, and educational opportunities.

Thank you to the forestry students at UVM Rubenstein School and the Castleton Free Library! You can learn more about the Check Out Forestry program, which connects Vermont public libraries with financial and technical assistance to plant trees, at vtcommunityforestry.org/projects/check-out-forestry.

📸: UVM forestry students move and plant young trees, and pose together beside the newly planted trees on the Castleton Free Library grounds.

05/21/2026

Pause for a moment to enjoy the iconic sound of spring peepers! These small frogs play an important role in maintaining forest balance by helping to control insect populations and being part of the food chain. Plus, they're a joy to listen to!

🎥: A video pans across a forest at dusk, capturing the sounds of spring peepers and other wildlife in the background.

05/14/2026

Have you ever wondered how fire can be a friend to wildlife habitats? This Tuesday, 10 different agencies from Vermont and New Hampshire seized a narrow weather window to light a prescribed burn that's been years in the making. The sandplain natural community in the Sandbar Wildlife Management Area is a rare haven to species that need fire to germinate and thrive. With much of Vermont's sandplains dwindling due to development, agricultural clearing, lack of fire disturbance, and forest succession, this burn is a key step in bringing them back to life.

Stay tuned for more videos about the burn, its benefits, and what comes next after the fire.

04/30/2026

We are always “looking up” and “taking notes” about new forest management ideas—are you? Using Forest Inventory and Analysis data from 32 stands across the northeastern U.S., including Vermont, UVM researchers modeled how different combinations of harvest frequency and post-harvest forest structure affect carbon storage over 160 years. They found that harvesting less frequently and retaining more structure after harvest were both independently associated with higher carbon storage, and that the mix of products produced from harvested wood also matters significantly for net carbon accounting. The study became a foundational reference for understanding the carbon consequences of forest management in the region, and is widely cited in subsequent Vermont-specific analyses including the Dugan et al. (2021) statewide carbon modeling study. For FPR, the practical takeaway is clear: the details of how, when, and how often timber is harvested on Vermont's state lands are not just silvicultural questions—they are climate decisions.

📸: an FPR Forest Health forester in a high-vis vest looks up at a tree and takes notes on a clipboard