Bill > H0276

This bill establishes the Vermont Climate Resilience and State Wildlands Act, which creates a comprehensive framework for designating and managing state wildlands to support ecological conservation and climate resilience. The legislation identifies numerous specific state parks and forests (such as Camel's Hump State Park and Groton State Forest) to be designated as wildlands, which are areas permanently protected from conversion and managed to allow natural processes to prevail with minimal human interference. Key provisions include prohibiting timber harvesting, vegetation management, and alterations to surface waters, while still permitting trail-based recreation, hunting, fishing, and emergency safety measures. The bill is grounded in findings that highlight the importance of intact ecosystems for reducing flood risks, sequestering carbon, and supporting biodiversity, drawing on the Vermont Conservation Design framework that recommends preserving approximately nine percent of Vermont's forests as old-growth ecosystems. The legislation provides mechanisms for future wildlands designation, including the potential to manage newly acquired parcels as wildlands if they meet specific criteria, with provisions for public comment and scientific assessment. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and represents a significant step towards preserving Vermont's ecological landscape in the face of climate change.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.276