A new federal study shows while there may be more trees in Connecticut, the state is losing its prime forest land at a rate of 6,000 acres a year. The figures are in a study by the U.S. Forest Service scheduled for release next month. Connecticut's timberland, or land capable of supporting a small commercial harvest, shrank 5 percent or 88,000 acres between 1984 and 1998, according to preliminary data in the federal survey. But the survey also shows there was an increase in total forest land in Connecticut during the 15-year period, mostly because the amount of urban forest grew from 39,000 acres to 112,000 acres. The increase nearly offset the loss in timberland.
Urban forest is classified as wooded land surrounded by development.
In all, the state saw a net gain of 9,000 acres of forest over the 15-year period, bringing the total to 1,859,300 acres, representing 60 percent of the state. It's troubling to foresters. It would be troubling to wildlife managers. It's troubling to people who recreate in the forest,'' said Donald Smith, the director of the division of forestry for the state Department of Environmental Protection. Alerich said, referring to Smith's comments about wildlife.