NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Nearly a dozen residents attended Monday's Conservation Commission meeting to express opposition to a forest management plan that will include logging and the use of herbicides near Notch Reservoir. 

 

"The forest that's in there now is a healthy habitat. I walk through there every day, and the trees marked to be cut down are healthy native trees," said Julie Richard. "Yes, some of them are sick and some of them die, but they're like people, they die. That doesn't mean it's not a healthy forest. ...

 

"Who is profiting from this?"

 

The Conservation Commission indicated agreement with most of the arguments, unanimously voting to recommend the city research nonchemical alternatives to removing invasive plants on nearly 21 acres of forest. 

 

"Can we go to the city and ask them to look into another option that would exclude any chemical application?" asked Commissioner Jason Canales. "I'm not going to push the project through just to get the project done."

 

Commissioners had expressed concern about the use of chemicals two weeks ago during the management plan presentation, prompting Monday's more detailed presentation by New England Forestry Consultants.

 

The initiative is part of Mass Audubon's Forest Climate Resilience Program in conjunction with the Woodlands Partnership of Northwest Massachusetts, of which the city is a member.