DEM clashes with advocates over plan to thin 32 acres of trees

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) — Some advocates are speaking out against the R.I. Department of Environmental Management's (DEM) plan to thin out 32 acres of land in the Great Swamp Management Area in South Kingstown.

The DEM said the upcoming work is part of a restoration project to bring back habitat for the New England cottontail, a native species of rabbit whose populations have greatly declined due to habitat loss. The rabbits need dense brushy areas to thrive.

"DEM foresters will use selective thinning to create young forest habitat, while preserving a mature tree canopy, critical for species like the New England cottontail," the agency told 12 News in a statement. "DEM foresters take a careful, science-driven approach when identifying trees for removal."

Nathan Cornell, president o