Low-Impact Forestry
What is the Low-Impact Forestry Program?
The Low-Impact Forestry (LIF) program at MOFGA is a group of loggers, foresters, landowners, farmers and interested persons educating about, practicing and advocating for ecologically-based and economically-sound forest practices. We practice and endorse forestry that seeks to reduce the known harmful impacts of logging, and promote the social and ecological benefits. The LIF program hosts workshops year-round covering all sorts of forestry related topics from logging with draft animals to home firewood production. The LIF staff also participates in collaborative logging projects that explore creative forest management and contracts that benefit both landowner and logger.
The 9 Principles of Low-Impact Forestry
1. LIF recognizes that forest ecosystems are more complex than we currently understand, and therefore operates thoughtfully with caution and humility as first principles
2. LIF believes that wood products can be grown and harvested in a way that maintains the other ecosystem services that fully functioning forests provide
3. LIF requires that harvesting operations minimize damage to unharvested trees, soils, and water quality
4. LIF promotes growing and harvesting durable, long-lasting and high-value forest products
5. LIF recognizes the value of forests as a climate change mitigation tool and promotes carbon sequestration and storage as an important goal of forest management
6. LIF incorporates climate change adaptation and resilience strategies in forest management plans, forest roads and trails, recreational and other activities, and harvests
7. LIF considers forest management on a multi-generational timescale
8. LIF believes that managed multi-aged forests with late-successional characteristics, large-diameter trees, and high stocking should be more common on the landscape
9. LIF promotes payment structures that allow land managers and forest practitioners to do careful work while making a sustainable living
Workshops and Events
The LIF program hosts workshops year round covering all sorts of forestry-related topics from logging with draft animals to home firewood production. The LIF staff also participate in collaborative logging projects that explore creative forest management and contracts that benefit both landowner and logger. Learn more about our chainsaw safety courses.
Stewarding Your Land to Support Forest Pollinators
February 11 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pmGardening in Climate Change: Native Plants, Trees, & Ornamentals
April 24 @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pmIntro to Sugarbush Management
May 9 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
