Joe Short

The article responds to Zack Porter's critique of Vermont's Agency of Natural Resources (ANR), arguing that Porter overlooks the economic role of state forests for loggers, truckers, and manufacturers. It highlights that Porter's organization, Standing Trees, has incurred costs for ANR through lawsuits against forest management, questioning whether Vermonters would prioritize park affordability over these expenses. The author defends ANR's mandate to balance conservation, economic, and social interests.