Stop Cutting in Hartford Town Forest

WE THE UNDERSIGNED ask the Hartford Selectboard to stop the plan to log the Hartford Town Forest. Because:

- CUTTING 2300+ TREES IN THE TOWN FOREST CONFLICTS WITH THE VERMONT CLIMATE ACTION PLAN WHICH REQUIRES THAT VERMONT INCREASE ITS OLD GROWTH FORESTS BY 9%.

-IT ALSO CONFLICTS WITH THE HARTFORD SELECTBOARD APPROVED CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, WHICH REQUIRES THAT HARTFORD INCREASE ITS TREE CANOPY BY 90 ACRES. - THE UNITED NATIONS INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE REPORTS THAT TREES ARE ESSENTIAL FOR STORING CARBON AND REMEDIATING CLIMATE CRISIS.

-THE CUTTING PLAN IN THE HARTFORD TOWN FOREST WILL RELEASE TONS OF CARBON  WHEN THE TREES ARE CUT AND THE SOIL IS DISTURBED.

-INTERIOR WOODS HABITAT IS NEEDED FOR SPECIES LIKE THE NORTHEREN LONG EARED BAT (WHICH IS ABOUT TO BECOME EXTINCT), WOOD THRUSH, AND MARTEN.

-WE NEED TO LEAVE THE FOREST ALONE TO BECOME OLD GROWTH FOREST.

-THE LOGGING WILL DISTURB THE FOREST LEAVING ROADS 12-14 FT WIDE. THE MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT WILL CAUSE RUTS THAT WILL TAKE DECADES TO RECOVER AND IT WILL IMPACT RECREATIONAL ENJOYMENT OF THE LOGGED AREA.

For these reasons we the undersigned ask the Town of Hartford to stop the plan to log the Town Forest.