Plans to create a town forest are taking shape

WHITEFIELD — Plans to create a town forest are taking shape. The Conservation Commission on Aug. 14 recommended establishing a town forest next to the Industrial Park. It would be done by combining two town-owned parcels into one 100-acre lot. According to a Conservation Commission memo, town forests are distinct from town parks in that they are contiguous tracts of preserved wooded land that contain diverse wildlife and plantlife. They are multi-use forests that are managed to Provide people with outdoor recreational opportunities (hiking, birding, photography, cross-country skiing), protect watersheds, wildlife and vegetation, educate users about nature, and allow for selective timber harvesting.