FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK
CHAIR Bill Tucker, Goffstown
VICE CHAIR Drew Kellner, Brookline
SECRETARY Karen Moran, Webster
TREASURER Andrew Smith, Twin Mountain
PRESIDENT Jack Savage, Middleton
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Charlie Bridges, New Durham Deb Buxton, Greenfield Bill Crangle, Plymouth George Epstein, Silver Lake Elizabeth Salas Evans, Weare Peter Fauver, North Conway Don Floyd, Concord Allyson Hicks, Concord Jason Hicks, Meredith Deanna Howard, Etna Patricia Losik, Rye Nancy Martland, Sugar Hill Michael Morison, Peterborough Tom Wagner, Campton Janet Zeller, Concord
STAFF Will Abbott, Project Manager, The Rocks Frank Allen, Building and Grounds Assistant Dave Anderson, Senior Director of Education Anna Berry, Digital Outreach Manager Nik Berube, Maintenance Assistant Naomi Brattlof, Director of Easement Stewardship Rita Carroll, Tree Farm Administrator Tony Cheek, Vice President for Finance Connie Colton, Land Protection and Stewardship Coordinator Andy Crowley, Stewardship Projects Manager Linda Dammann, Development Assistant Carrie Deegan, Reservation Stewardship and Engagement Director Maria Finnegan, Manager of Individual Giving Leah Hart, Land Protection Specialist Stacie Hernandez, Easement Steward Laura Holske, Finance Specialist Brian Hotz, Vice President for Land Conservation Steve Junkin, Field Forester Sarah Kern, Creek Farm Education Program Coordinator Susanne Kibler-Hacker, Senior Philanthropy Advisor Allan Krygeris, Senior Technology Specialist Sara Krzyzaniak, Data Processor Rebecca Lapitino, Policy & Reservation Stewardship Coordinator Matt Leahy, Public Policy Director Margaret Liszka, Membership Director Peter Maciaszek, Easement Steward Nigel Manley, Director, North Country Properties Ann McCoy, Development Manager Jack Minich, Easement Steward Michelle Morse, Human Resource Director Carl Murphy, Facilities Manager Meredith Reed O’Donnell, Foundation Relations Manager Tina Ripley, Administrative Assistant Gabe Roxby, Field Forester Jack Savage, President Matt Scaccia, Recreation and Community Relations Manager Ryan Smith, Communications Manager Maria Stewart, Senior Executive Assistant Anne Truslow, Vice President for Development Brooke Vigliotta, Data Processor Wendy Weisiger, Managing Forester Harriette Yazzie-Whitcomb, Receptionist
Protecting Forests For Our Future
W
e are fortunate here in New Hampshire that we benefit from over a century of forest conservation and stewardship efforts— many of which were spearheaded by the Forest Society. But we take it for granted at our own peril. Our mission of protecting, managing, and advocating for forests is more urgent than ever. Not only do forests help cool a warming planet, take up and store carbon, and support clean and plentiful water systems, but studies also show that spending time in them measurably lowers our blood pressure, improves health and wellness, and provides us with spiritual relief in troubled times. Engaging people remains essential to accomplishing our mission. This issue of Forest Notes highlights the many ways that we are welcoming people to enjoy, learn, and get out there to experience New Hampshire, from the woods to the water. You will read about the hundreds of visitors who flocked to our forest reservations again this fall as part of our Five Hikes Challenge. Many of those hikers were exploring our trails for the first time as new members of the Forest Society. Through the first-ever Merrimack Paddle Challenge, offered in partnership with other organizations working in the Merrimack River watershed, we met new friends who came to appreciate the benefits forests provide to the health and beauty of this mighty river. Anna Berry writes about using technology, through our new mobile trails app, to
enable her young family to explore trails on our forests. Dave Anderson writes about sharing the woods during hunting season and makes the point that in New Hampshire, thanks to hunter education, our collective safety record is such that hikers and hunters can share the woods in the fall. And Eric Aldrich tells the story of the Due family, too long forgotten, who farmed the land we now know as the Welch Family Farm and Forest in Hancock. We hope that telling a more complete human story of our lands helps more people to see and feel their own heritage, and their own future, in the landscape. In conservation work, we work today with the faith that future generations will step forward to take up our mission, just as we stand on the shoulders of conservationists who came before us. By welcoming all to enjoy our forest reservations, we hope more people will make the deep connections with nature, place, and history that will inspire and activate them to keep forests as forests.
Jack Savage is the president of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. He can be reached by email at jsavage @forestsociety.org.
