Save Rhode Island’s Forests Campaign Aims to Protect State’s Biodiversity
September 30, 2024
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In Rhode Island, a Natural Heritage Area, consisting of a 36-acre native, mature forest, is currently under threat of being clear-cut for a solar project in North Kingstown.
There has been no state government entity identifying, monitoring, or protecting biodiversity, including the state’s Natural Heritage Areas, since the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management defunded the Rhode Island Natural Heritage Program in 2007.
Please join the Save Rhode Island’s Forests Campaign to pass the Old Growth Forest Protection Act and the Solar Forest/Biodiversity bill.
The Old Growth Forest Protection Act would end clear-cutting on state-owned land, prohibit logging in old-growth forests on state-owned and municipal-owned land, create a functional Natural Areas Preserve system to protect the state-owned Natural Heritage Areas, require environmental review before state logging operations, and bring back the Rhode Island Natural Heritage Program.
The Solar Forest/Biodiversity bill would prohibit solar in areas where there are old-growth forests or Natural Heritage Areas and require the Natural Heritage Program to conduct environmental review before any solar projects involving clear-cutting of forests more than 5 acres in size. This is in order to prevent rare forests or endangered species from being destroyed in a solar development.
We welcome all environmental organizations and environmentalists in Rhode Island to join the Save Rhode Island’s Forests Campaign, so Rhode Island no longer is the only state in New England where there are no protected state-owned forests or habitats with rare and endangered species.
If you want to join the Save Rhode Island’s Forests Campaign, please send an email to [email protected].
Nathan Cornell is president of the Old Growth Tree Society.
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Another example showing there is no such thing as “clean energy” – even solar has serious impacts. We;ve got to work on reducing demand!
Thank you Nathan for trying to protect nature in RI that seems always under siege – for another example read the current ecori story about the destruction of the Station Park gardens in Providence
If Nathan wants environmental organizations to work wityh him he has to learn how to work with them. So far he has demonstrated an unwillingness to work with his allies and goes all out to attack them even when they offer to help.
In my opinion it is up to the individual cities and towns to either create or modify their ordinances relative to solar development. I think that most people in the state are onboard with the idea of protecting and preserving forests and open space while allowing virtually unlimited use of roofs, parking lots and brownfields for solar installations.
And TURF FARMS!