Vermont FPR outlines forest management, state parks pressures and a roadmap for the sector

Danielle Fitsko, commissioner of the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, told the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development on Jan. 23 that forests cover about 76% of Vermont and that the department is working across forestry, parks and recreation to keep forests healthy and sustain a growing outdoor economy.

Fitsko said the department manages 55 developed state parks, welcomed more than 1,000,000 visitors during the last operating season and recorded a roughly 40% increase in state-park visitation over the past six years. "State parks is really a business," she told the committee, noting the department handles thousands of invoices, reservations and refunds and holds roughly $280 million in infrastructure assets.

The department described forestry programs that work on forest health monitoring, a small wildland fire team and partnerships for mutual aid. Fitsko said FPR now has 24 staff who are "red-carded" to national wildland-fire credentials so they can be deployed under the Incident Command System, and the agency also brings in logistical staff to support large events.

FPR staff outlined a multi-pronged Vermont Forest Future Strategic Roadmap, developed after a General Assembly request…