Gov. Peter Shumlin announced today that for the first time in Vermont history, the State House Christmas tree will come from federally managed land within the 400,000-acre Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF). The 32 foot balsam fir will be harvested tomorrow on public land in Hancock, Vermont from a wildlife habitat management area.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for the state of Vermont to partner with the U.S. Forest Service, which works incredibly hard to promote and provide diverse recreational opportunities to Vermonters and those visiting our great state," said Shumlin. The GMNF is one of the most heavily recreated national forests in the nation, attracting 3 -- 4 million visitors annually. "This is a special time of year and we are very proud of our ongoing relationship with the employees of the Green Mountain National Forest. I find it quite fitting that this year, the public's tree has come from public land," Shumlin concluded.