Conserving the Northern Forest: A report card on state and federal implementation of recommendations of the Northern Forest Lands Council

Abstract

In 1994, the Northern Forest Lands Council published 37 recommendations designed to maintain traditional patterns of land ownership in the Northern Forest. During the past six years, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont each substantially or partially implemented more than 75 percent of the recommendations. State implementation was remarkably consistent and included most of the recommendations for protecting exceptional resources. The federal government implemented half of the council's recommendations, almost all of which were related to strengthening rural economies, suggesting a low national concern with most of the underlying issues.