Municipal Forests

V.S.A. tit. 10, ch. 83, subch. 5

in effect

10 V.S.A. § 2651 Municipal forest; definition

2651. Municipal forest; definition As used in this subchapter, “municipal forest” means a tract of land primarily devoted to producing wood products, maintaining wildlife habitat, protecting water supplies, providing forest recreation and conservation education. A municipal forest shall not be construed to include landscaped grounds and plantings around residential, industrial, institutional, municipal buildings or municipal areas devoted to off-street recreation. Added 1977, No. 253 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.

10 V.S.A. § 2652 Municipal forests, State aid

2652. Municipal forests, State aid At any legal meeting, a municipality may vote sums of money for the purchase, management, and improvement of a municipal forest within or without the municipality. Any appropriation so voted shall qualify the municipality for such matching State and federal funds as may be available, provided that the suitability of such lands is approved by the Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation. Any portion of such appropriated and matching funds not required for the purchase of land may be expended by the municipality, under the direction of the Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation, in establishing multiple use and implementing a management program for such municipal forest. Added 1977, No. 253 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.

10 V.S.A. § 2653 Designation of municipal forest

2653. Designation of municipal forest A town owning a tract of land may have the same examined without cost by the Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation for the purpose of determining whether the same is suitable for a municipal forest. If, upon such examination, he or she decides that it is suitable for such purposes, it shall be designated as municipal forest and he or she shall give advice as to the subsequent management thereof. Added 1977, No. 253 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.

10 V.S.A. § 2654 Management

2654. Management Municipal forests shall be managed under the direction of the Commissioner. The protection of such forests shall be under the town forest fire warden who shall be paid for his or her services in connection therewith by the town at the same rate as he or she is paid for fighting forest fires upon the approval of his or her account by the Commissioner. Added 1977, No. 253 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.

10 V.S.A. § 2655 Receipts

2655. Receipts All monies received for the sale of lumber, wood, or other products from a municipal forest shall be paid into the treasury of the municipality. In the event any of the lands held by a municipality for municipal forest purposes are sold, advances made by the State or federal government in the purchase thereof shall be repaid to the State by the municipality. Added 1977, No. 253 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.

Source: Vermont General Assembly (legislature.vermont.gov)URL: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/10/083Fetched: 10/21/2026