I am writing in support of Bruce Spencer’s Dec. 10 guest column regarding the ”People’s Pines” [“Are these the ‘King’s Pines’ or the ‘People’s Pines’?” His article questioned the current plans of state Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to cut down and remove the largest, tallest and healthiest pines in the commonwealth’s watershed forests. As a Quabbin Reservoir abutter for the last 50 years, I have never objected to DCR’s forestry practices. Until now.

In the past, to bring needed light into the forest, the department’s forestry operations protected these majestic trees while selectively removing other trees that were too crowded or less healthy. In his compelling piece, Spencer, the former chief forester of the Quabbin Reservoir for 40-plus years, stated that it is vital to the overarching goal of watershed forestry — that of maintaining water quality — to preserve these magnificent, healthy pines. While Massachusetts works to reduce the quantity of carbon we add each year to the atmosphere, DCR’s policy should not be beholden to short-term revenue gains by removing these wonderful pines, each of which stores and absorbs the most carbon of all forest trees.

Let us remember who these pines belong to: we, the people. For the sake of future generations, please help protect our watershed forests and our water quality.

Donald Fletcher

Shutesbury