Hinesburg Town Forest Management Plan

Vision Statement
The Hinesburg Town Forest, in a rural residential context on Hayden Hill, has an extensive hill farm history and diverse and functioning natural communities and wildlife habitat. It is used by the public as a place for recreation, quiet solitude, demonstration of sustainable forestry, water quality protection, carbon storage, and public education.

Management Philosophy
The Hinesburg Town Forest will be managed for the benefit of the local community, using a triad approach that designates zones of (1) intensive use, (2) intermediate use, and (3) light duty use and/or reserves. Zones will be formed by matching opportunities present in specific forest sites with potential uses; every site will not support every use. All uses and management must be compatible with sustaining water quality, wildlife habitat, and general ecosystem function and health over the long term. Permitted uses and management will be reviewed and modified as needed based on experience and the best available information.

Management Goals
The following are the goals of the town of Hinesburg, and its residents for the sustainable management of the Hinesburg Town Forest (HTF). All of the goals are of equal importance, and therefore, do not represent any priority in the order they are presented:

  • Use the forest as a model and example of the value of forests to the community, including promotion of educational and community uses that are compatible with other management goals.
  • Maintain and enhance ecological connections between the HTF and the larger landscape.
  • Allow natural processes to govern the HTF ecosystems and model any active management on these processes to the extent possible.
  • Demonstrate sustainable forestry practices that protect and enhance the ecosystem function and health.
  • Protect and/or enhance habitat for native species, including game and non-game wildlife.
  • Protect and promote the natural and human made elements of historic and environmental significance for educational and cultural purposes.
  • Manage non-commercial, recreational opportunities that are not incompatible with the other management plan goals.
  • Manage the allowed uses of the forest in such a way that they do not adversely affect the rural residential nature of the neighborhood.
  • Protect water quality.
  • Monitor and respond to changes.
  • Maintain the forest in at least its present parcel size and configuration.