Despite a record number of public comments, the Green Mountain National Forest is pressing forward with an 11,000-acre logging proposal that jeopardizes downstream communities, rare old-growth forests, and endangered species

On Saturday, January 11th, one hundred protesters from across New England gathered at the Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF) headquarters in Mendon, VT to protest the destructive Telephone Gap Integrated Resource Project, which the Forest Service initially approved on December 3rd, 2024. The project is in its final public comment phase, called an “objection period,” through January 17th. Standing Trees, 350 VT, Third Act VT, Vermonters for A Clean Environment, Stop Vermont Biomass, Atowi Project, and Protect Ancient Forests sponsored the rally.

Speakers at the rally included Rep Amy Sheldon, Chair of the VT House Committee on the Environment (whose speech was read by Sarah Stott of Bristol, VT in her absence); Earl Hatley, indigenous leader and member of the Vermont Climate Council Subcommittee on Agriculture and Ecosystems; Telos Whitfield, Unitarian Universalist minister; Justin Lindholm, field investigator for Vermonters for a Clean Environment and local resident; Chris Gish, Vermont farmworker and climate activist; and Zack Porter, Executive Director of Standing Trees and former US Forest Service employee. The rally called on the US Forest Service, Vermont's congressional delegation, and the Biden Administration in its final days to cancel the Telephone Gap project.
Despite receiving a record number of public comments, the vast majority of which opposed the Telephone Gap project, the US Forest Service plans to log 11,000-acres of healthy forests (an area larger than the City of Burlington, VT), including 817 stand acres of exceptionally rare old-growth forests (the Forest Service estimates that just 2,000-acres, or 0.5% of the Green Mountain National Forest, is old-growth ). According to the Forest Service, the project will release 254,000 metric tons of carbon, as much as the annual emissions from 60,000-gas powered passenger vehicles, or 12% of all light duty gas-powered vehicles registered in Vermont. The enormous logging project threatens endangered species like the Northern Long-eared Bat and the elusive Canada lynx, one of which was seen wandering through the GMNF headquarters parking lot on September 3rd, 2024.
More than 40,000-acres of logging has been approved in the GMNF in the last decade, spanning 10% of the National Forest. Nevertheless, logging in the GMNF supplies only 1% of Vermont's annual timber harvest volume. Private lands provide an adequate supply of timber at a significantly lower cost to taxpayers; the Forest Service estimates that thousands of acres of logging have recently occurred or will soon occur in adjacent private lands.
In the past year, Senator Sanders and Representative Balint signed letters requesting that the US Forest Service protect mature and old-growth forests like those at Telephone Gap. With a final decision expected soon, time is running short for Vermont’s congressional delegation to increase its pressure on the US Forest Service to cancel the Telephone Gap project.

"The Abenaki Nation Coalition, which includes some Abenaki bands, traditional families and other tribal allies in Vermont are calling for a halt to logging on public lands in the state,” said Earl Hatley, Abenaki Nation Coalition member and President of Ottauquechee Water Protectors Association. “Only 6.5% of the state is federal land, therefore, we do not see why these lands can't be protected from extractive industries for the protection of our sacred sites, promotion of old growth, and mitigation of climate change."
“Vermonters have spoken time and time again: the Telephone Gap project is anything but ‘wise’ or ‘balanced’ management in the face of climate chaos and extinctions,” said Zack Porter, Executive Director of Standing Trees. “Our public forests are worth more standing, and we’re counting on our federal elected officials to intervene.”
“The Forest Service has produced an Environmental Assessment that inadequately evaluates the total project area and instead serves special interests, opening up thousands of acres to invasive species and herbicide use while degrading water quality,” said Annette Smith of Vermonters for a Clean Environment. “This project is in an area the Forest Service has described as a ‘biodiversity hotspot.’ It is time to prioritize respecting and protecting nature.”
“Meaningful and lasting protections for mature and old-growth forests on federal public lands has widespread support around New England and all across the country,” said Michael O’Brien of Protect Ancient Forests. “Those protesting the Telephone Gap project represent not only concerned Vermonters — but also the impassioned voices of renowned forest and climate scientists, key members of Congress, and over one million citizens who have submitted comments to the Forest Service in support of safeguarding our nation’s irreplaceable ancient forest ecosystems.”
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