Connecticut legislation · 2025 General Assembly
Connecticut HB6261: AN ACT CONCERNING OLD-GROWTH FORESTS IN THE STATE.
Status: Introduced, January 23, 2025
What the bill says
An act CONCERNING OLD-GROWTH FORESTS IN THE STATE. Assembly convened: That the general statutes be amended to: (1) Add mature and oldgrowth forests as priority areas for acquisition by the natural area preserves system and to expressly bring the definition, identification and management of mature and old-growth forests under the purview of the Natural Heritage, Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Review Board, (2) require that by February 15, 2026, such board shall submit a report to the General Assembly detailing the board's plan to define, identify and complete an inventory of old-grow.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT CONCERNING OLD-GROWTH FORESTS IN THE STATE. Assembly convened: That the general statutes be amended to: (1) Add mature and oldgrowth forests as priority areas for acquisition by the natural area preserves system and to expressly bring the definition, identification and management of mature and old-growth forests under the purview of the Natural Heritage, Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Review Board, (2) require that by February 15, 2026, such board shall submit a report to the General Assembly detailing the board's plan to define, identify and complete an inventory of old-growth and mature forests and to analyze any threats to mature and old-growth forests in the state, and (3) require that on or before February 15, 2027, and annually thereafter the board shall submit a report to the General Assembly detailing the board's efforts and progress on such plan and including recommendations for the development of policies for conservation strategies for the management and the maximization of protection of mature and old-growth forests and associated rare natural LCO No. 3002 1 of Proposed Bill No. 6261 resources. Statement of Purpose: To define "mature and old-growth forests" in the state so such forests can be inventoried for the purposes of being able to plan prospectively to protect this environmentally crucial component of the ecosystem. LCO No. 3002 2 of