Incorporating Social Equity in Conservation Programs in the Northeastern U.S.

Abstract

"A new model to combine social equity goals with perpetual conservation of forest land has been developed under the Ford Foundations Community-Based Forestry Demonstration Project. Forest land is acquired by a conservation organization or the town and some of the rights -- the rights to enjoy and manage and profit from the forest as a forest -- are sold to a group of community members who own and manage the land in common. The anticipated income from careful management of the land is the basis of the sales price; with stewardship, the community members expect a modest return on their investment. The model is designed to use the existing conservation programs, policies and organizations to the extent possible, yet experience suggests ways in which these can be revamped to better incorporate lower- income community members. A pilot project undertaken in Vermont illustrates potential benefits and issues."