Green Mountain National Forest
Encyclopedia
United States National Forest
National Forest is a classification of federal lands in the United States.National Forests are largely forest and woodland areas owned by the federal government and managed by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. Land management of these areas...
located in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
which supports a variety of wildlife, including beaver, moose, black bear, and white tailed deer. It also supports an abundant variety of bird species. The forest has been referred to as the 'granite backbone' of the state. The forest was established in 1932, as a result of uncontrolled overlogging, fire and flooding. It consists of more than 400,000 acres; and is the biggest contiguous land mass in the state. Split into the southwest and central areas, the forest has a total of eight wilderness areas. These were designated by Congress beginning with the Wilderness Act of 1964 to be areas off limits to mechanized gear down to and including bicycles. If Finger Lakes National Forest is included within it, GMNF is one of only two national forest northeast of the Pennsylvania-New Jersey barrier.
In descending order of land area it is located in parts of Bennington, Addison
Addison County, Vermont
Addison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. In 2010, the population was 36,821. Its shire town is Middlebury.-Geography:...
, Rutland, Windham
Windham County, Vermont
Windham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 44,513. Its shire town is Newfane.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, Windsor, and Washington
Washington County, Vermont
Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 59,534; Vermont's third-most populous county after Chittenden County and Rutland County. Its shire town is Montpelier, the state capital. The center of population of Vermont is located in Washington...
counties. Why the official forest map covers maybe half of Bennington county; and why Rand McNally maps have the forest covering all of aforesaid county is not presently clear. The forest headquarters are in Rutland, Vermont, alongside those of Finger Lakes National Forest
Finger Lakes National Forest
The Finger Lakes National Forest encompasses 16,032 acres of Seneca and Schuyler counties, nestled between Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State in the United States of America...
in New York.
The Forest benefitted from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA)of 2008. More typical forest revenue might come from Recreation fees (such as Mt Snow, Stratton and Bromley) and Timber sales. Some 429 acres were set for forest regeneration in 2009. The bulk of expenditures might go towards Road Construction, Recreation/Wilderness & Heritage, and Wildlife/Fish Management. Projects in the latter category might include: land/water modification in support of Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkeys, Bear; Trout and Salmon; Bicknell's Thrush; and the plant Jacob's Ladder. The Emerald Ash Borer and the Long Horned Beetle represent a vexing side result of the global economy and a close threat to Vermont's trees.