Protecting our forests in this time of climate crisis and biodiversity collapse is recognized as an important way to protect our environment and our future health and well-being. There is strong public support for more forest protection.

Ask your legislator to co-sponsor these two Massachusetts state-land forest protection bills.

• H.4150 would permanently protect 412,000 acres of land administered by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).

• H.904 would permanently protect 30% of the land administered by the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife), about 51,000 acres, by 2030.

The state agencies already have land in reserves where intact ecosystems are influenced primarily by natural processes. These bills would add more reserves and give all reserves permanent legal protection, which they do not currently have. Together these actions would help Massachusetts to do its part to help mitigate climate change and protect our native natural heritage.

Designating more state lands as permanent reserves would help Massachusetts to do its part for the international goal of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity to ensure strong, permanent protection of 30% of land and water worldwide by 2030. Our state-owned lands would gain a similar level of protection to America’s National Parks.

Thank you for helping to protect Massachusetts' state-owned forests!