The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Division of Forest Management will oversee a timber harvesting project this fall in the Hillsdale Preserve Management Area. The project includes thinning out the tree canopy and removing dead trees, aiming to salvage oak species impacted by repeated defoliations from forest tent and gypsy moth caterpillars. The effort will improve the overall health of the forest and wildlife habitat, reduce fire risk, and protect water quality.
DEM is developing an outreach effort on timber harvesting projects to inform community members and local officials of planned cutting operations on state-owned management areas and to improve the public’s understanding of the benefits of forest stewardship.
