Vermont Land Trust - Atlas Timberlands Project

Atlas Timberlands Project

In 1997, the Vermont Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy created the Atlas Timberlands Partnership (ATP) to purchase 26,789 acres of timber-producing forestland, now the second largest timber holding in Vermont. The ATP’s multiple parcels are located primarily in the northern Green Mountains and its management reflects the overlapping missions of the two conservation organizations. ATP is committed to actively managing its timber holdings, protecting and enhancing the biological resources, maintaining traditional public uses, and contributing to the local economy and culture. ATP lands are FSC-certified through Smartwood.

Atlas Timberlands Partnership - Vermont Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy

For more information about the Atlas Timberland Partnership (ATP),
please contact Carl Powden, VLT Forest Projects Director

History of the ATP Project

Press Release: December 30, 1997

MONTPELIER; The Nature Conservancy of Vermont and the Vermont Land Trust recently completed one of the largest private conservation projects ever in the eastern United States. Both organizations are pleased to announce the purchase of the third largest private forest holding in Vermont from the Atlas Timberland Company for $5,572,000 ($208/acre). On December 29, the partnership, known as the Atlas Timberlands Partnership (ATP), acquired 26,789 acres of undeveloped working forest land located primarily in Vermont's northern Green Mountains.

Funding for the purchase came entirely from private sources. The organizations received a $5,000,000 grant from the Freeman Foundation and a $572,000 loan from The Conservancy's Land Acquisition Fund. The Partners are launching a fundraising campaign to repay the loan.

The acquisition includes 23 parcels, ranging in size from 10 to 2,636 acres, spread across 16 towns. The parcels are located in the towns of Bakersfield, Belvidere, Craftsbury, Eden, Elmore, Groton, Hardwick, Jay, Lowell, Montgomery, Orange, Plainfield, Richford, Westfield, Westmore, and Wolcott in Vermont, as well as one in Altona, New York. More than half of the holdings are concentrated in two parcel groups—12,500 acres in Bakersfield, Belvidere, Eden Lowell, and Montgomery, and 4,421 acres in Jay and Richford. Wagner Forest Management, Ltd. of Lyme, NH and Newport, VT managed the land for Atlas Timberland Company.

Governor Howard Dean comments, "I was delighted to learn about The Nature Conservancy's and Vermont Land Trust's purchase of the Atlas timber holdings in northern Vermont. In a period where a great deal of forest land is going on the block, this is a tremendous achievement. These 26,000 acres are important for wildlife and public recreation, and are an integral part of Vermont's working forest. I am especially pleased that timber harvesting will continue. The forest products industry is a vital component of Vermont's economy. Landowners who manage their lands with an eye for the health of the forest and the long term needs of the communities in their region are essential to the State of Vermont."

The Partnership ensures the Atlas lands will remain intact and part of Vermont's working forest. ATP will continue to both carefully manage the lands for a stable supply of high quality timber and protect the biological integrity of the forest. The two groups believe timber production can be compatible with environmental protection, scenic quality, and recreation. ATP will retain Wagner through an interim contract to manage timber harvesting this winter (1997-98). Traditional public use of the land for hunting, fishing, hiking, and snowmobiling will continue and the Partnership will pay all local and State property taxes.

Bob Klein, Director of the Vermont chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC), explains how the Partnership combines key aspects of each organization's mission. "This project protects those portions of the forested landscape where the missions of the Vermont Land Trust and TNC overlap. TNC focused historically on the protection of biological resources without a great deal of thought to timber production, while VLT emphasized the economic use of the forest. We realize these are not separate directions if we are to maintain the integrity of Vermont's ecosystems and forests in the future. Vermont's history showed a balance between ecology and economics long before the term sustainability was in vogue. ATP will help us understand how to maintain this balance in the future, so that the natural world Vermonters enjoy will thrive."

ATP's commitment to actively manage its timber holdings, protect and enhance biological resources, and maintain traditional public uses establishes a new precedent and model for future land agreements. ATP plans to use the parcels as "working capital" to protect other lands in Vermont. For example, ATP may trade standing timber or conserved forest land for conservation easements on other properties that mix important biological and forest resources. This innovative approach will test the practicality of using timber as a "renewable conservation currency".

Darby Bradley, president of Vermont Land Trust and Chair of Vermont's Forest Resources Advisory Council (FRAC), notes that the forest products industry is critical to the economy of rural Vermont. Referring to FRAC's final report, issued last September, Bradley cites the fact that the forest industry is Vermont's largest employer in the manufacturing sector.

"This industry provides more than 8,000 jobs to Vermonters, including 6,000 jobs in furniture-making and other finished wood products," says Bradley. "With the ownership of so much of Vermont's woodlands in a state of flux, we must find ways to maintain large blocks of woodland to provide the raw material for the industry, protect our environment, and preserve a way of life for Vermonters".

The Partners pursued this opportunity for a variety of reasons including parcel size, location and the quality of management performed by Wagner Forest Management, LTD (WFM). Carl Szych, a Newport resident and WFM vice-president, has been involved with the Atlas lands for the past eighteen years. In his words, "The Atlas properties should remain forest land to provide timber products and jobs while protecting the environment for future generations. This purchase goes a long way to ensuring that future."

In the weeks ahead, ATP project managers plan to meet with local communities, forest products industry representatives, public officials, environmental groups, and others to explain their plans and listen to ideas and concerns. ATP will evaluate the timber resources, ecology, recreational uses, and other qualities of each parcel as it develops future management plans for the properties.

This exciting initiative demonstrates The Nature Conservancy of Vermont and Vermont Land Trust's vision and commitment to actively manage Vermont's private forest lands for sustained economic benefit, while protecting the biological resources and public uses. The project's success will help create a new model for other conservation organizations, the forest industry, and timber investors in the future. Compatible forest uses enable community residents to realize their shared aspirations—for the benefit of families, the local and State economy, and a way of life—as they protect natural resources. Most important, the Atlas Timberlands Partnership will help ensure that future generations of Vermonters inherit economically sustainable and ecologically healthy land.

The Vermont chapter of The Nature Conservancy was founded in 1960. The organization's mission is to preserve plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. For more information call 802-229-4425 or visit www.nature.org .