NORTHEAST KINGDOM, VT. — The Vermont agency of natural resources has completed an updated plan for the Kingdom Heritage Lands, which includes changes to the management plan for West mountain wildlife management area and the public access plan for the Plum Creek Timberlands.
The updated plan includes management methods for rare species that are just beginning to recolonize the area, such as American marten and Canada lynx, along with methods for adapting to climate change and improving flood resilience. The plan describes new methods to maintain and increase public access in the West mountain area, while honoring the ecological vision of a core special treatment area to complement widespread active habitat management in the surrounding lands.
The plan also directs new active habitat management to benefit a large variety of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse and American woodcock.
The Kingdom Heritage Lands comprise a huge network of bogs and forests in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, encompassing West mountain wildlife management Area, Plum Creek Timberlands, and the Silvio O. Conte national Fish & wildlife Refuge. They host special wildlife such as moose, bobcat and spruce grouse, and are well-known known for their diverse recreational opportunities and rugged character.
First purchased in 1998, the Kingdom Heritage Lands represent maybe the most ambitious conservation project in the state’s history.
“These lands are a true conservation success story,” said Louis Porter, Commissioner for Vermont Fish & Wildlife. “Our partners and all of the people of Vermont have something to celebrate today. We’ve strengthened our management method for these lands through the useful input supplied by all of those who care about these lands and used their opinions during this process.”
Public input has been substantial throughout the 18-month collaborative process of updating the 10-year management strategy. Camiseta Sport Club Internacional The plans are now available online at www.vtfpr.org/lands/kingdomheritage.cfm.
West mountain wildlife management Area, at 22,000 acres, is the largest Camiseta Selección de fútbol de Costa Rica wildlife management area in Vermont. It is managed for public use and conservation through a partnership that includes the departments of Fish & wildlife and Forests, Parks, & Recreation, along with the Vermont chapter of The Nature Conservancy, the Vermont housing and Conservation Board, and many stakeholder groups.
This partnership, in Camiseta Paris Saint-Germain collaboration with the Vermont Land Trust, also manages a public access easement on the 84,000 acres of surrounding land owned by Plum Creek lumber Company.