The Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry
at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies

Yale Forest Forum: Evaluating Connecticut's Tax Incentive Programs for Forestland Preservation

April 28-29, 2008 Bowers Auditorium, Sage Hall 205 Prospect St. New Haven, CT Day 1 Forum is open to all. Day 2 Workshop: registration required. Click here to register on-line or contact Deborah Spalding: deborah.spalding@yale.edu or 203 432-5134 Note to Connecticut Certified Commercial Forest Practitioners - worth 2 CEU'S Per Day

State forestland tax incentives are often seen as a key legislative mechanism for preserving forests and ensuring the economic viability of forested landscapes.

APRIL 28 OPEN FORUM AGENDA: (download a copy of the agenda: Word; PDF)
1:00 - 6:00 p.m.

1:00 pm Welcome Remarks and Program Review
Dr. Chadwick Oliver, Pinchot Professor of Forestry and Environmental Studies and Director of Yale’s Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry

1:15 pm Review of Current Trends in Connecticut Forestland Ownership
Deborah Spalding, Yale School Forests

1:30 pm A View from the Legislature: Priorities, Mechanisms and Challenges
CT State Representative

2:00 pm Panel Discussion: Stakeholder Perspectives on Tax Incentive Program

• William Bentley, Principal, Salmon Brook Associates
• Frank Chiaramonte, First Selectman, Town of Harwinton, CT
• Melissa Spear, State Director, The Trust for Public Land

3:15 pm Break

An examination of programs in other states that have been successful, with a goal to establish some best practices for CT.

• William Horvath, Wisconsin Council on Forestry
• Robert O’Connor, Director of Land and Conservation Services, Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• Donald Van Hassent, Associate Director, Maryland DNR - Forest Service

4:30 pm Beyond Taxes -- Other Market Mechanisms

A review of other mechanisms for preserving forestland and encouraging sustainable management

• Community Forest Bonds: Tom Tuchmann, President, US Forest Capital LLC
• Biomass Energy Incentives: Konstantine Drakonakis, PE, Manager, New Technology Investments and Infrastructure Development, Connecticut Clean Energy Fund
• Ecosystem Services Markets: Dan Spethmann, Manager of Investment Programs, New Forests, Inc.

5:30 pm Concluding Remarks

5:45 pm Reception in Sage Hall

APRIL 29: WORKSHOP
9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

The second day will be a closed workshop that allows participants to debated issues raised in the public forum and to develop a set of recommendations for advancing forestlad preservation in Connecticut.

If you would like to attend the workshop, click here to register on-line
or contact Deborah Spalding: deborah.spalding@yale.edu or 203 432-5134