The Lost Art of Mapmaking

By John Plummer

Wh e n m o n i t o r i n g p r o p e r t i e s p r o t e c t e d t h r o u g h a F o r e s t

S o c i e t y c o n s e r v a t i o n e a s ement, I regularly meet with owners to discuss the latest happenings on their land, usually referencing a map as we talk Sometimes I carry a field folder with deeds, surveys, and satellite imagery that I can refer to, but I often forego this printed material and opt to use a phone instead

Having access to accurate maps in a navigation app allows me to determine my location within the boundaries of any of the conserved properties that I monitor As convenient as this can be, it makes me feel detached from what is taking place on the ground in front of me A phone connects me to the land, but it also disconnects me from experiencing nature. Fortunately, the more I visit a property, the less I need to rely on a phone to guide me. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve come to know many forests like the back of my hand And while I have a good sense of direction, it is easy and scary to get lost, even in the places I know best. Knowing how to use a map and compass can make walking in the woods more satisfying and safer From a stewardship perspective, generating a map can be useful for planning new projects for forest management, trail building, or agriculture. For example, I recently made a small map of the gardens in my yard This has made it easier for me to plot what will grow where and maximize as much of the scarce sunlight cast on the yard as possible.

While making your own map may seem unnecessary or tedious at first, it can be a profound way to connect with a place and a tool to notice things that were previously unnoticed. A handmade map is a way to remember the location of a wildlife sighting, an outing with a loved one, or changes in the landscape over time. Note where the boulder stands next to the brook that flows into the beaver pond, the vernal pool lies at the top of the hill, or the craggy, old apple tree still stands What time of year was it? What was the temperature? How did this experience make you feel?

Making a map can be a great way for kids to connect with a place that they care about all while incorporating a sense of adventure into each outing. You can

Left: Drawing this map allowed the author to visualize where the maximum amount of light would hit his gardens A row of trees on the west side of the property shades part of his yard in the afternoon, so he situated plants that like sun and heat on the eastern side of the garden.

Right: The Forest Society’s OuterSpatial mobile app provides hikers with an interactive way to explore nearly 20 Forest Society properties and learn how to navigate using GPS software. The Tree ID Outing at Creek Farm guides hikers on a tour of this waterfront property where many kinds of trees are waiting to be found and learned about For more information about the app, visit forestsociety org/app designate certain sites along a route that have historic significance. The first stop could be the cellar hole in the middle of the forest! How do they think it got there? Did it fall from the sky? Or did someone make it? Next stop: the wetland down the hill where they’ll learn about how some a n i m a l s c a n m o d i f y e n t i r e l a n d s c a p e s to suit their needs Beavers, insects, and w o o d p e c k e r s a l l c r e a t e h a b i t a t s w h e r e they can thrive, which subsequently benefit a lot of other organisms through their work Last stop: the forest canopy, where they can use their eyes and ears to identify some common birds. Whether it’s your local neighborhood park or deep in the forest, I encourage you to find a place that you love and use a map to get your kids to engage with these cool places

In New Hampshire, there are many tools available to learn more about the natural resources around us At the top of the list is the state’s GIS clearinghouse, NH GRANIT (granitview unh edu), a web mapping app that provides access to key data layers (e.g., administrative and political boundaries, elevation, inland water resources, and geophysical features) about your backyard, your town, and beyond If you want to dive deeper into your research, you can reach out to your town or regional conservation commission or historic society to learn about a location’s background.

B y m a k i n g y o u r o w n m a p , y o u c a n move beyond using it just for navigation and include it as a resource for understanding more about a locale It can be an enjoyable project for kids and adults to take on to get oriented with the world around them and connect with a place they love. A map is also a great way to connect future generations with a place that you find special Having a map that c a p t u r e s y o u r s e n s e o f p l a c e c a n h e l p make land handed down through generations that much more special In my role as an easement steward, I have come across a handful of family maps that have been passed down through generations. In them, I see the rich history of stewardship and connection with the land Over the years, parents, their children, and their children’s children have added their notations to the maps, adding their respective c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o t h e p l a c e a n d n a t u r a l changes that have occurred over the years: a clearcut now dense with regeneration, a hay field turned to wetland, or a logging trail turned back to forest all tell the storied past of a place