Forest and parks commissioners outline recreation economy, forest health and wildfire readiness

Danielle Fitsko, commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation, told the committee that Vermont is about 76% forested and that the state’s forests are growing biomass at roughly a 3-to-1 ratio compared with removals and mortality.

Fitsko said the agency manages or supports forest health programs, private-landowner assistance, urban and community forestry, and grant programs that support outdoor recreation. She said Vermont State Parks welcomed more than 1,000,000 visitors last year and that parks contributed an estimated $100,000,000 in economic activity.

On wildfire preparedness, Fitsko said the department has increased wildland-fire capacity and now maintains three full‑time wildland fire staff, in addition to training local fire departments and participating in a regional mutual‑aid compact with New England states and Quebec. She said staff monitors fire danger during the active season and that the department helped municipal responders on nine fires in the prior year; the agency issued a temporary statewide ban on open-burning permits during an elevated-risk period.

Fitsko asked the committee to consider follow-up briefings with technical staff, and members signaled interest in receiving more detailed presentations about forest management, recreation grants managed through VOREC (the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative) and wildfire response planning.

Committee members thanked the commissioner and asked for additional materials and potential future testimony on forest inventories and planning.