58 Beacon Street
Andover
MA
Town forests are more than protected acres on a map.
They are places where communities make thoughtful choices about forest health, wildlife habitat, climate resilience, recreation, and active forest stewardship. The choices we make today help shape the forest future generations will inherit.
The Department of Conservation & Recreation will hold the 2026 Massachusetts Town Forest Conference at the West Elementary School in Andover, MA on Saturday, October 17th, from 9 am to 4:30 pm
Whether you are a forester, planner, arborist, conservation commission member, land trust representative, nonprofit partner, woodland owner, municipal official, volunteer, or simply someone who cares about your community’s forests, the Town Forest Conference offers an opportunity to learn from one another.
Throughout the day, participants will have opportunities to:
- Learn about approaches to town forest stewardship and management
- Explore the role community forests play in healthy and resilient local ecosystems
- Hear about local forestry and conservation efforts
- Connect with foresters, municipalities, conservation organizations, landowners, and other forest stewards
- Take learning outdoors through field tours and on-the-ground examplesThe goal is not simply to talk about town forests, but to share ideas and experiences that communities can put into practice.Planning for the Field TourPart of the conference will take place outdoors.
Participants should be prepared for walking on sloped and uneven ground and are encouraged to bring:
- Sturdy footwear
- Comfortable outdoor clothing
- Rain gear, if neededPlease dress for the weather and field conditions.
- To attend this year’s Conference, register at https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=Fh2GPrdIDkqYBowE2Bt7Ksq04hkKnOpLlgWUQxiyDlxUREtOSjVVTUpEVUlIR05IS1I5SU1SWldaQi4u&route=shorturl