The UMass Dartmouth campus is home to one of the largest contiguous forests in the area. At over 705 acres, the multi-aged habitat provides a tremendous opportunity for land conservation and a large Living Classroom for educational endeavors. The forest is located in northeast Dartmouth, MA, approximately 1.5 miles west of the New Bedford town line. The forest is comprised of three main blocks; The North Block, 50.5 acres; the South Block, 307.4 acres; and the Cedar Dell Block, 40.2 acres.

Charged with the responsibility to protect this valuable resource, the University strives to enhance the health of the forest, conserve the quality of timber products, preserve scenic beauty, protect water quality, promote the unique and cultural values of the forest, and develop educational resources for students and community members. The University believes its Living Classroom should be enhanced and maintained because of its value to wildlife and to promote long-term goals in forest management.

The Living Classroom project goes beyond natural habitats, however, to include studies of manmade structures on campus and how to make them more sustainable. Faculty in the natural and physical sciences, plus policy, business, and graphic design are involved in developing studies and signage that make the entire campus a place of learning about human interactions with land and energy.

• Cedar Dell Clearing
• Forest Paths
• FSC Certification
• Press Release
• Torch Article
• Maps
• Forest Management Plan

Schedule from our Forest Forum and Campus Opening Day on September 29, 2011

Landowners Activities Forestry/NR Professionals Activities (5 CAT-1 MA CFECs)
7:30 - 8:15 Stewardship Breakfast - Persy's Place 715 State Road Dartmouth. Breakfast and presentation/discussion lead by YDSAF & MA Forest Stewardship Program; including relevance and benefit of Forest Stewardship Program and other state programs to foresters and landowners.
8:30 Welcome coffee 8:30 - 10:50 Forest Harvest Visits - Walk #1 - Local Forester Phil Benjamin and landowner will show us a 5-acre improvement thin in S. Dartmouth. Walk#2 - Rupert Grantham local forester working with UMD campus forest will show upcoming single tree & group selection harvest on 70 acres of UMD campus forest. Discuss "management for old growth characteristics'.
9:00 - 9:50 The critical role of private landowners - Most open land in Massachusetts is private giving local landowners a critical role in shaping our landscapes and the benefits they provide. Paul Catanzaro, Forest Resource Specialist, UMass Amherst will touch on landowner demographics, landowner decisions, critical issues facing landowners (estate planning, Forest pests, land conversion), and ways in which landowners can make an informed decision about their land.
10:00 - 10:50 Forest Stewardship Program - Tools for landowners, including overview of Forest Stewardship Program, CH61/A/B programs, Green Certification and Buy Local Programs.
11:00 - 12:20 Forum: A discussion among landowners, amateur naturalists, keystone participants, local forestry, planning and natural resource professionals. The goal is to provide landowners with the information and resources they need to make informed decisions.   Hopefully answering questions such as what are their options for their land? Where can they find help and information locally? The role their land plays in the larger landscape. The role they can play in providing advice to other landowners.
12:30 - 2:00 Lunch (provided) & Forest Opening - Welcome by Chancellor McCormack & Words by Ed Lambert - Mass Dept. of Conservation & Recreation. Campus Forest & Living Classroom opening & Ribbon cutting ceremony.
2:00 - 2:50 Forest Management Walk - Rupert Grantham, forester for UMD and owner of Walden Forest Conservation will lead an introduction to the Campus Forest highlighting management goals & activities, land use history & forest ecology. Birding with Bill Gill, VP of Pasckamansett Bird Club, and owner of Blisscapes, environmentally minded landscaping and design. www.blisscapes.com Marketing for Forest Products & Service Businesses - Discussion on MA forest products markets, supply and demand. What are consumers looking for in local products & services.
3:00 - 3:50 Buy Local (Wood) - Introduction to Commonwealth Quality's forest products criteria. Discussion: how do we tap into growing buy local Ag movement.