Forest Notes, Spring 2024

With a view encompassing New Hampshire’s White Mount ains, The Rocks is a year-round destination with a visitor center and family-friendly activities across 1 , 4 0 0 acres.

Walking trails • Wildlife watching

Self- guided histor y tour • Gif t shop

Interpre tive exhibits • N H Maple Museum

Wildflower Walks • Maple Tours

Christmas tree farm • Educational programs

Vacation rent als • Wedding packages

Forest So cie ty Nor th at The Ro cks builds on a tradition of conser vation, education and innovation.

Help us mee t the challenge! The final phase of our $8 . 5 million capit al campaign is in full swing. There is still time to be par t of this award-winning project by making a gift or pledge today!

Dona te a t forestso cie t y.or g/fsn

1 1 3 Glessner Road Be thlehem, N H 0 3 5 74 forestso cie ty.or g/thero cks

F E AT U R E S

8 Lulu Fichter ’s “ Water Fired” River Pods

A Peterborough potter ’ s journey of learning how her ar tistic ability melds together with the natural environment

14 100 Landowners, 8,600 Acres: Connec ting a Community of Women in the Woods

The sold- out Womens Landowner Summit brought together 100 women with a goal of fostering relationships, community, and a love for the land

D E PA R T M E N T S

Visionar y Women

+ A New Cohor t of Stewards

+ Local Wood is Good

+ PSU Celebrates One of Their O wn

+ Ar t at The Rocks

Spring Events Are Here! 16

Beyond the Blight: I nnovations in Chestnut Tree

Breeding and Restoration

The Expansion of the Jennings Forest

Busy Beavers: Fellow Foresters and Farmers 22

CHAIR

Drew Kellner, Brookline

VI CE CHAIR

Peter Fauver, North Conway

SECRETARY

Allyson Hicks, Concord

TREASURER

Jason Hicks, Meredith

PRESID E NT

Jack Savage, Middleton

B OARD O F TRUSTEES

Susan Arnold, Strafford

Philip Bryce, Deering

Deb Buxton, Greenfield

George Epstein, Silver Lake

Don Floyd, Concord

Jameson French, Portsmouth

Patricia Losik, Rye

Nancy Martland, Sugar Hill

Michael Morison, Peterborough

Elizabeth Salas, Weare

Bill “ Tuck” Tucker, Goffstown

Tom Wagner, Campton

Janet Zeller, Concord

STAFF

Ben Aldrich, Field Forester

Frank Allen, Building and Grounds Assistant

Sarah AlSamaraee, Stewardship & Forestry Administrative Coordinator

Dave Anderson, Senior Director of Education

Brie Belisle, Regional Stewardship Manager

Anna Berry, Director of Communications and Digital Outreach

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

Linda Dammann, Development Assistant

Carrie Deegan, Reservation Stewardship and Engagement Director

Leah Hart, Land Conservation Project Manager

Stacie Hernandez, Land Conservation Project Manager

Brian Hotz, Vice President for Land Conservation

Steve Junkin, Field Forester

Susanne Kibler-Hacker, Senior Philanthropy Advisor

Allan Krygeris, Senior Technolog y Specialist

Matt Leahy, Public Policy Director

Cameron Larnerd, Christmas Tree Farm Manager, The Rocks

Margaret Liszka, Membership Director

Nigel Manley, Senior Outreach Manager, The Rocks

Ann McCoy, Development Manager

Stephanie Milender, Human Resource Director

Jack Minich, Regional Stewardship Manager

Scarlett Moberly, Program Director, The Rocks

Michelle Morse, Finance Specialist

Carl Murphy, Facilities Manager

Sophie Oehler, Communications Coordinator

Cara Pearson, Membership Specialist

John Plummer, Regional Stewardship Manager

Meredith Reed O’ Donnell, Foundation Relations Manager

Tina Ripley, Administrative Coordinator

Jack Savage, President

Matt Scaccia, Recreation and Community Relations Manager

Ryan Smith, Communications Manager

Maria Stewart, Senior Executive Assistant

Dylan Summers, Stewardship Projects Manager

Laurel Swope-Brush, Land Steward & Volunteer Programs Coordinator

Lauren Thomas, Administrative Assistant, The Rocks

Anne Truslow, Vice President for Development

Wendy Weisiger, Managing Forester

Harriette Yazzie-Whitcomb, Administrative Assistant

Visionary Women

My drive from home to the Forest Society’s Concord headquarters a t t h e C o n s e r v a t i o n C e n t e r takes me along a quiet dirt road. I spy wildlife often enough to drive slowly, with anticipation of catching another glimpse of black bear, moose or fisher, along with the frequent deer and turkey The road carries me by the Jennings Forest, protected decades ago through the generosity of Ellen Jennings Those 385 acres host Hayes Brook, headwaters of the Piscataqua River via the Cocheco feeding the Gulf of Maine beyond Portsmouth.

A s y o u c a n r e a d i n t h i s i s s u e , t h e p r o t e c t e d l a n d s o f t h e J e n n i n g s F o r e s t expanded by 314 acres in 2023 thanks to the extraordinary generosity of Elisabeth Maley, daughter of Ellen Jennings. That’s m o r e p r o t e c t e d b r o o k f r o n t a g e , m o r e wildlife habitat, and more productive forestland. There is no doubt that the women of the Jennings family have created an important legacy.

Wo m e n a r e o f t e n t h e d r i v i n g f o rc e behind forest protection among landowners. And women have been at the center of the Forest Society’s work since the beginning. Among those that gathered at the founding of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests in 1901 was Ellen McRoberts Mason of North Conway. S h e a n d h e r h u s b a n d r a n t h e S u n s e t Pavilion hotel on the site of what is now the Eastern Slope Inn Known as a forceful and convincing speaker, she was vice president of the Federation of Women’s Clubs and the chair of its Forestr y Committee

and, with those credentials, was a founder of the Forest Society.

In the 1920s, as a key leader of the Forest S o c i e t y ’s c a m p a i g n t

v e F r a n c

n

a Notch, it was the Federation of Women’s Clubs that rose to the challenge to raise a matching $100,000 to buy 6,000 acres The women’s clubs counted 12,000 members statewide in 151 towns; and their magazine declared of that campaign, “We of New Hampshire will not sell our birthright for a mess of pottage ” The oldest donor to that campaign was Mar y “Granny” Whitcher of Whitefield, aged 105. No surprise that it was the women who came to the rescue of the notch home to the Old Man of the Mountain

A c e n t u r y l a t e r, w o m e n l a n d o w ners (and aspiring landowners) are taking active roles in sustainably managing their forestland. Sophie Oehler writes in this issue about the popular Women in the Woods program that we facilitate with U N H C o o p e r a t i v e E x t e n s i o n a n

Timberland Owners Association At the s o l d

S u m m i t this spring, 100 women landowners who attended represented 8,626 acres of New Hampshire forest. They too are creating an important legacy

Jack Savage is the president of the Forest Society He can be reached by email at jsavage@forestsociety.org.

Opening Oppor tunities

The beauty of post-storm regeneration forestsociety.org/forestregeneration

Unexpec ted Encounters

The ar t of Warner ’s M imi Wiggin forestsociety.org/mimiwiggin

“ We chose to view the eclipse in April from the top of Mount Major as it is a favorite hike of ours. We have shared that gorgeous, panoramic view from the top with our family, friends, and even our stuffed animal, Murray! I t is such a special place to us, and it seemed only fitting to view something as unique as the eclipse from our favorite summit!”

– Lori Sullivan (@tellmeastor ylori)

Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests

A nonprofit membership organization founded in 1901 to protect the state’s most important landscapes and promote wise use of its renewable natural resources

Basic annual membership fee is $45 and includes a subscription to Forest Notes

Editor: Ryan Smith

Design & Production: The Secret Agency

Printing: R.C. Brayshaw & Company, Inc.

Talk

About

Trees

The latest carbon market news forestsociety.org/carbonmarkets

Forest Notes is printed on elemental chlorine-free Sappi Flo paper with 10 percent post-consumer recycled content. Sappi Flo is made from pulp purchased from suppliers who document sound environmental practices and sustainable forest management.

Permission is required for reproduction of any part of this magazine.

Copyright 2024 SPNHF. US ISSN: 0015 7457

54 Portsmouth Street, Concord, N.H. 03301 | Phone: 603-224-9945 | Fax: 603-228-0423 info@forestsociety.org | forestsociety.org

The Forest Society proudly supports the following organizations:

On the last day of their training, volunter Forest Society land stewards posed for a photo in Gilford.

A New Cohor t of Stewards

Forty new Forest Society land steward volunteers completed their core training requirements recently at a culminating field day held at the Gilford Town Hall and the Forest Society’s Weeks Woods in Gilford As part of the training, land stewa r d s l e a r n e d a b o u t t h e F o r e s t S o c i e t y ’s histor y, mission, and goals; forest mana g e m e n t ; t r a i l m a i n t e n a n c e ; r e c r e a t i o n management; and navigation skills.

Hailing from across the state, the 2024 class of stewards will monitor and care for 39 different Forest Society properties, many of which were lacking active stewards

The Forest Society owns and manages m

tion land in more than 95 communities T

scenic beauty and to promote sustainable forestr y, protect water quality, and provide wildlife habitat. “The Land Steward Program now has roughly 185 active stewards monitoring 164 properties,” Forest Society Land Steward Coordinator Laurel Swope-Brush says “As the program continues to expand in the coming years, we hope to get even closer to 100 percent coverage of all our forests ”

Local Wood Is Good

A team of New England-based forest researchers recently released Beyond the “Illusion of Preser vation”; Taking Regional Responsibility for Protecting F o re s t s , R e d u c i n g Consumption, and E x p a n d i n g E c ological Forestry in New England As the subtitle suggests, the report explores how New England can continue an ethic of forest conservation that has been a hallmark of the region, while also meeting its wood consumption needs in a sustainable way

The report adds to a robust discussion under way in this age of climate change, carbon, and forest management. While o f f e r i n g s e v e r a l s p e c i f i c r e c o m m

tions, the report summarizes: “We must simultaneously advance the preservation o

and establishing a better balance between consumption and sustainable production Striking that balance should start locally, right here at home ”

Learn more and read the report at forestsociety.org/advocac y-illusion

Go Wild, Three Times a Week

Hosted by Forest Society Senior Director of Education Dave Anderson and New Hampshire Audubon Conser vation Biologist Chris M ar tin, S omething Wild has been exploring the wonder of the landscape that surrounds us in New Hampshire for more than 25 years The program airs on New Hampshire Public R adio ever y other Friday at 6:45 a m and again at 8:45 a m during Morning Edition; and star ting in April 2024, an encore edition began airing the follow morning during Weekend Edition Saturday at 9:35 a.m. You can continue to download episodes of Something Wild on Apple Podcasts and read a transcript of each program at forestsociety.org/blog.

PSU Celebrates One of Their O wn

S

Plymouth State University graduate Dave Anderson gave the keynote address at his alma mater’s 153rd graduate commencement on May 10 At the event, Anderson received the 2024 Granite State Award for his commitment to service reflecting the university’s motto, Ut Prosim (That I may serve).

Since the 1980s, Anderson immersed himself in natural resource conservation, from climbing osprey nest trees while s t u d y

e n c e a n d

n v i r o nmental biology as an undergrad to his current role at the Forest Society He lives on a 54-acre Tree Farm in Sutton where he embodies the wisdom of Yankee tradition: “Experience is such a dear teacher fools will learn by no other.”

A renowned communicator, Dave writes for the New Hampshire Sunday News and

Dave Anderson speaks at Plymouth State University’s graduate commencement in May 2024.

Forest Notes and co-hosts Something Wild on NHPR His passion for land conservation and forestry has earned him prestigious awards, but his true joy lies in educating others about the importance of stewardship.

This means our annual spring mailers should have arrived (or will soon arrive) in easement landowner mailboxes.

If you are an easement landowner and do not k now what this is ask us!

We may need your new mailing address.

Easement landowners due for a ground monitoring visit this year should be expec ting to hear from a Regional Stewardship manager soon (if you haven’t already) to set up a visit.

Not sure if your proper ty is due for a visit?

Want to discuss any changes in nagement with your regional stewardship manager? Find their contac t info here: stsociety.org/steward- contac t ~ Naomi Brattlof asement Stewardship Director

Nor th Countr y Ar tisans Featured at The Rocks Gif t Shop

Come out to The Rocks this summer and explore the newly renovated Carriage Barn and gift shop, open Tuesday–Saturday from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Our staff has focused on procuring quality goods made with natural materials and sustainable practices

Here is a sampling of what’s for sale, with more to come:

• Pottery by local legend Joan Hannah

• Hand-knit 100 percent merino children’s hats by Jan Johnston

• Handmade ornaments by artist Lea Stone

• Cards and prints by artist Kathy Shuster

• Featured baskets by Maliseet basket maker Amanda Ennis

• Local histories written by Daniel Heyduk

• Framed poetry by Doug Grella

• Handmade chocolate from Winnipesaukee Chocolates (including our favorite bar The Rocks!)

If you are a maker and think you might be a good fit for The Rocks, reach out to us at info@therocks org

Senior Philanthropy Advisor Susanne Kibler-Hacker (left) and Vice President for Development Anne Truslow accept the 2024 Project of the Year award presented by Clean Energy NH in recognition of the Forest Society’s Carriage Barn restoration project at The Rocks in Bethlehem. The annual award recognizes and honors the individuals and entities that make exceptional contributions that champion the Granite State’s energy future. The renovation retained the historic exterior of the building and converted the interior into a net-zero, energy-efficient structure powered by geothermal and solar photovoltaic systems.

Spring Events

J U N E 7 | 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Forest Field Camp for Adults

Session 1: Backyard Birding

The Rocks, Bethlehem

Join us for a special new series at The Rocks in Bethlehem that’s sure to offer fun, interactive, and hands-on learning experiences d e s i g n e d f o r

a n d forest landowners alike

In this introductory session, you’ll learn how to identify common New Hampshire breeding birds by sight and sound, how to attract birds to your property, and how to improve habitat for them

We’ll start with an introduction to common breeding birds, followed by a 90-minute birding walk around the beautiful grounds at The Rocks led by local birding expert Jack Swatt After lunch, there will be time to construct your own own bird house.

We’ll wrap up the day with social time and complimentary beverages and snacks in our beautiful newly renovated Carriage Barn Program Center For information, visit forestsociety org/events

J U N E 8 | 7:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.

Birding Walk

Ashuelot Headwaters Forest, Lempster

Good forest management practices can be a tremendous benefit to wildlife, especially birds. A sustainable timber har vest at the Ashuelot River Headwaters Forest in 2017 has led to increased diversity and numbers of birds using this young forest habitat This walk, led by land steward Jack Swatt, will compare the diversity of birds on the Yellow Trail as it leads to the Silver Mountain summit with the trail that runs alongside the young forest habitat

The hike will be about 3 miles in length with a short break in the middle and will i n v

u p h i l l climb with a great view from the top. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and layered clothing and pack water, snacks, and binoculars if you have them. For more information, visit forestsociety.org/events

Meditative Drawing Session Series with Valeria Rienzi, CZT Creek Farm, Portsmouth

Save the Date!

S E P T E M B E R 5–9

Monadnock Trails Week

For more information, visit forestsociety.org/monadnock-trails-week

S E P T E M B E R 21

Forest Society ’s 123rd Annual Meeting

Monadnock Country Club, Peterborough

The Forest Society’s Annual Meeting is an opportunity to connect, engage, and celebrate the accomplishments of the many people who make our mission possible The meeting will include field trips to explore our Monadnock region properties, lunch, and a keynote address by Annie Proulx, author of Fen, Bog & Swamp: A Short History of Peatland Destruction and Its Role in the Climate Crisis

Proulx received the Pulitzer Prize for fiction for The Shipping News Registration opens August 1, 2024. Check our website for updates at forestsociety org

S E P T E M B E R 28

2024 New Hampshire Tree Farm Field Day

Eli’s Woods, Epping

For more information, visit nhtreefarm.org/news- events.

June 10: Strawberr y Moon | July 22: Buck Moon | August 19: Sturgeon Moon | September 16: Har vest Moon Oc tober 21: Frost on Grass Moon | November 18: Beaver Moon | December 16: Cold Moon

The power of the full moon observed from Creek Farm, where the trees meet the tides, is an exceptional experience. Now, you can have a transformative Full Moon Zentangle experience with Valeria! Tap into the lunar energy and unlock your creative potential Let go of stress and anxiety with each stroke of your pen Register for this community event and enjoy a wonderful and relaxing experience Cost: $35. To register, email Valeria at valeriaczt38@gmail.com

Glimps e d o n a wo rktabl e in her Pe terb o rough stu dio, one of Lulu Fichter ’ s river po d s sug g ests s om e thing natural , the bl ea che d c arapa c e of a l o ng

d ea d s ea creature o r the sp ent hu sk of a wee d .

Held, it demands another explanation. I t is not a shell, its sur face worn thin by the constant buffing of salt water. Nor is it a fragile, paper-lik e vessel that had burst at summer ’ s end, releasing a cloud of downy seeds R ather, it is solid, substantial, with a slightly uncanny presence. Sk illfully for med, with a matt sur face and unifor m tex ture, it is white save for some gray blotches and lines.

Examining it, a naturalist might agree that it resembles a shell but rule out a m a r i n e p rove n a n c e. A

casing, would asser t that its dense body is totally unlik e one. Fichter would concur and, since she made the objec t, drawing its shape from her imagination, forming it in porcelain, and then exposing it to the whims of nature in a process she calls “ water firing,” she k nows its secrets.

The impulse to create something that reflects its maker’s creativity and meets a need, historically a defining characteristic of craft, thrives in contemporary practice and inspires many New Hampshire craftspeople today Some seek a balance, using their skills and knowledge to create singular useful objects There is the tiger maple chair shaped by its author to both provide a comfortable perch and celebrate the patterned graining unique to the slab of wood from which it was carved. Other makers allow the utilitarian or the aesthetic to dominate A pitcher in which the potter’s expertise lies hidden, but for the fact that it never drips, is an example of the former One that captures the wildly expressive potential of clay in the artisan’s hands at the cost of a poorly functioning, if visually dramatic, spout is an example of the latter

Where some see a sharp boundary between craft and art, others find a liminal space to explore Working with materials traditional in craft practice and referencing familiar forms, they create objects to make a statement, not serve a utilitarian need. Today, when the impact of human activities on the climate and natural communities is widely acknowledged, our relationship with the environment is inspiring a growing number of craftspeople to work in this place Lulu Fichter’s porcelain river pods demonstrate how one member of New Hampshire’s craft community is doing so.

Fichter came to clay as a reticent nine-year-old who found shaping wet earth satisfying. In elementary and high school, she

sought opportunities to work with it and, guided by a supportive mentor, learned to throw vessels on a wheel After college, she worked in a production pottery copying a set repertoire of forms again and again. Some view this kind of work as a creative dead end but Fichter says it was essential to her development as a potter. It was here that she learned technique, the importance of consistency, and how to work quickly

Fichter subsequently started making her own potter y, producing utilitarian ceramics that she sold at craft fairs It was exhausting work and Fichter admits that had it not been for the satisfaction she found in teaching, she might have abandoned clay at this point. Instead, encouraged by a colleague, she began to explore line and form in white porcelain pieces that alluded to functional vessels but were not utilitarian Unable to resist the temptation to cut holes into some of them, she created bowls that would not hold water, for example, leading one observer to playfully identify Fichter as, “…the lady with holes in her bowls.” Working in porcelain, producing satisfying work, and testing limits, her own as well as the medium’s, rekindled Fichter’s passion for clay. This and the fact that her work found an audience gave her confidence to move for ward, teaching and creating unique works. Then a back condition forced her from the wheel. Refusing to give up the craft around which she had now developed her artistic identity, she turned to handbuilding, employing techniques she had taught others and understood well.

Knee deep in the Nubanusit Brook, Lulu Fichter checks on a group of her river pods

Forming a handful of clay into a ball, pinching it to define an interior and an exterior, and shaping a vessel is one the simplest handbuilding practices. Working in this way, a potter can create objects that can be glazed and fired as a thrown piece can. Transitioning from the wheel to handbuilding, Fichter continued to explore ideas that she had started to investigate on the wheel Then, sensing that handbuilding offered still other opportunities, she ventured further.

Pinching and other handbuilding techniques like slab construction and coiling have a storied past. With experience and practice, potters have used them to create sophisticated works, subtly varying the thickness of the clay, distorting a vessel’s form, sculpting its walls, and defining surfaces that flow between the interior and exterior of a shape Exploring its potential, Fichter

b e g a n s h a p i n g p

These evolved into her pods

“I love old bones!” Fichter says but then quickly adds that while intrigued by what she finds in the wild, she does not imitate it in her pods Nor does she look to museum collections or field guides for models. Rather, as she has throughout her career, she takes inspiration from an eclectic range of sources In addition to natural forms, these include yard sale and secondhand shop finds. Machine forms and worn tools hold a special appeal for her and Fichter delights in her button collection, stored like pickled beets in canning jars in her studio. At first glance Fichter’s pods may recall bones, shells, or plants But on closer examination, it is apparent that they are something different Rather than models, natural objects play a suggestive role in her creative process

For Fichter, shifting focus from useful forms to non-functional objects, moving from the known to the unfamiliar, posed a risk. But Fichter has never avoided risks. She chooses to work exclusively in porcelain, a demanding material. And earlier in her career she developed expertise in raku firing, an inherently dangerous process in which a pot is taken from the kiln when red hot and put into a container of combustible material that ignites, causing unpredictable surface effects. Fichter says that she finds the “participatory” aspect of raku especially appealing, and she continues to fire some of her work that way She also experiments with processes like Obvara firing, a technique developed

Fichter starts her smaller pods with a ball of porcelain clay that she shapes entirely with her hands When making a large pod, she sometimes defines its basic shape on a pottery wheel before articulating its final form and surface with them.

in Belarus in which, to produce unpredictable surface features, pots are wrapped with dough before they are fired

Fire is one of the four elements the ancients identified as comprising the foundation of the physical world and it is interesting to relate Fichter’s work to that intellectual construct Clay is, after all, earth; air dries it as it is worked and then feeds the flames that fix a clay shape in a wood or gas kiln As for water, it makes clay malleable While continuing to explore pods, Fichter began to look for other ways that water might figure water more prominently in her work

Fichter’s desire to engage more deeply with water as she continued to develop her pods sprang from several sources In raku and Obvara firing, a pot is sometimes submerged in water while hot either to produce certain surface effects or to arrest their development She recalls being intrigued by an entirely different way water might mark a ceramic form when she learned about an English potter who submerged large ceramic forms in the ocean and then retrieved them when they had been stained by marine organisms that had colonized them.

More important than either of these, however, was Nubanusit Brook, a tributary of the Contoocook River, that flows past the house Fichter and her husband, Robert “Woody” Wood, share The possibility of incorporating nature into her work as she experienced it in this personally meaningful place was irresistible for Fichter Living along the Nubanusit also inspired Fichter and Wood to explore its past. They did this by retrieving artifacts

they found in it and learning about the mills that once lined its banks. The Nubanusit did double duty for early industry in Peterborough, both powering machines and washing away the wastes they generated

Wood, who had been a watershed steward for Lake Sunapee, brought scientific expertise to their investigations. In conversation, he is likely to touch on the makeup of wetlands in the Nubanusit’s watershed, chemical residues found in its streambed, and the composition of fill that was used when a sewer line was installed alongside it He and Fichter also mused about organisms that might be in its water. Fichter’s curiosity led her to wonder what would happen if she exposed her pods to those chemicals and organisms

To find out, Fichter decided to add a step to the production of her pods. After sculpting them in porcelain, she would kiln fire them unglazed This would produce objects with a dense body and a hard white matte surface. Then, when the pods had cooled, she would put them in the Nubanusit at several sandy locations in the riverbed and see what happened. She called this “water firing” and the pods it produced, “river pods.” While Wood had suggested that chemicals and organisms in the water might stain the porcelain, he and Fichter understood that the results could not be predicted

It was not clear whether what was in the water would, indeed, mark the pods And if it did, it was uncertain what that would look like and how long it might take to happen There were other uncertain elements in the project as well. Just as a pot might

The Nubanusit Brook, a source inspiration and an adjunct to Fichter’s studio, as it winds through her West Peterborough neighborhood.

explode in the intense heat of a kiln, might an extreme weather event trigger a rush of water that would wash pods away or smash them against stones downstream? The possibilities were intriguing; but despite the unknowns, and maybe even because of them, Fichter wagered that the results would be worth the risks

The initial trials proved her instincts right. Pods emerged from the Nubanusit intact and stained in any number of ways Despite a crawfish slipping into one pod almost as soon as it was put in the river at the start of one of the first “water firings,” evidence suggested, as Wood had anticipated, that microscopic organic

flows produced deeper and more extensive staining than lower water flows had in previous summers.

Another unknown has been how seasonal fluctuations in ambient temperature might affect the staining process. The most recent “water firing” suggests that the answer is: significantly Over two days in early March 2024, Fichter and Wood placed pods she had made over the winter in the river The water was running high at the time; and areas where sand had been plentiful in the past were found to be bare. Without enough space to accommodate all the pods at the near bank, Fichter and Wood had to ferry many across the Nubanusit to a spot where a sandy bed had formed

In the six weeks that followed,

nearly spilled over its banks and

life would be the primary agent at work. Thin reddish and brown lines on a couple of pods hinted that iron and manganese in the sand had marked them

Fichter continues to refine “water firing,” but the process remains imprecise, and ever y “water firing” is different After putting pods in the river, she monitors the staining which helps her decide when to take them out The results sometimes confound her expectations Assuming that a large volume of water washing rapidly over the pods would produce lighter staining than would lower volumes of slow-moving water that could pool around them, Fichter was surprised to find that the opposite was the case Over a comparable length of time, 2023’s high water

When levels dropped it was clear that, despite the large volume of water that had roared down the Nubanusit, the pods had remained where they had been placed. But it was also apparent that none of them had been stained On a bright Monday afternoon, Fichter pulled on waders and stepped into the Nubanusit to examine them. Nearly all had a thin light greenish coating, but disappointingly none were marked with the dark blotches and lines she had anticipated. Over the next few days, Fichter returned the pods to the Nubanusit where she will monitor them through the spring, retrieving them when this slow “water firing” is complete.

The results were discouraging Fichter had been invited to exhibit at the prestigious Smithsonian Craft Show in Washington, D C in May and had hoped to show river pods from this “water firing” alongside other examples of her work. That would no longer be possible. Instead, she will unveil them at the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Annual Fair at Sunapee in August and exhibit them at some of the League galleries around the state.

Fichter evidences a certain equanimity when talking about this most recent experience. “It’s just part of the deal when you incorporate nature into your creative process,” she says. This is an acceptance and self-awareness that she has been acquiring over time. Fichter remembers once looking out to see a deer walking across the Nubanusit at the exact spot where a group of pods lay carefully nestled in the streambed. Her first impulse was to move them Then she realized that collaborating with the environment meant letting go of control of some aspects of her work Who was she to worry that a deer finding a path through the environment might crush some of the pods she had put in its way?

Dennis McFadden lives in Sugar Hill, New Hampshire. He is particularly interested in insights the arts and humanities provide into our attitudes toward the more-than-human world.

Held in the hand, Fichter’s river pods capture a tension between the artist’s aspirations and nature’s will.

100 Landowners, 8,600 Acres:

Connecting a Community of Women in the Woods

Author’s note: While the following stor y uses the term “women” to describe the audience present at the Womens Landowner Summit, the team behind the event would like to emphasize that Women in the Woods programming is intended for all marginalized genders, including women, women-identifying individuals, and non-binar y/gender non-conforming people who are comfortable in a space that centers the learning experiences of women

The energy in the main conference room at the Geneva Point Center in Marlborough, N H , feels like it might be able to, at the very least, register on the Richter scale, if not lift the building out of its foundation and into the sky

It’s March 8, International Women’s Day and coincidentally, though appropriately the inaugural Womens Landowner Summit, a gathering hosted by the Women in the Woods program and organized by UNH Cooperative Extension, NH Timberland Owners Association (NHTOA), Natural Resource Conser vation Service (NRCS), and the Forest Society.

The Summit aims to connect women landowners with educational opportunities and with one another in the hope of fostering continuing relationships and support systems for female stewards “Here in New Hampshire, we rely on private landowners to manage the vast majority of our forests,” says Hayley Andreozzi, wildlife conservation state specialist with UNH Extension “It’s important to make sure we’re supporting that audience, specifically women landowners as they become more proportionally present in that landowner base ”

forested state in the country, with 75 percent of that forestland managed by private landowners. And while historically private landowners have been men, the number of female landowners and stewards is growing. Between 2006 and 2013, the percentage of family-owned forests where women were the primary decision makers doubled from 11 to 22 percent

At the Womens Landowner Summit alone, 8,626 acres of the state’s forestland is currently managed by the 100 women landowners who attended, all who acknowledged the importance of their work and the difference they can make. “My favorite part of being a landowner is having autonomy over the decisions that get made about our piece of land and having the power to make decisions that align with my values,” says Summit attendee Lucy Koup, a proud steward of a half-acre in Plymouth which she manages to support the growth of native plants and her seasonal vegetable garden. An important distinction to make about this Summit is that it wasn’t just for women managing hundreds or even tens of acres. Many women in attendance are operating with similar plot sizes to Koup There were many women present who have yet to purchase land.

Valerie Connolly, who at 21 was one of the youngest attendees of the Summit, was using this opportunity to network to get her feet under her before she begins to look into buying land. “I was really passionate but really uneducated about the process of buying and owning land,” she says. “At the Summit, I was able to say ‘OK, slow down, you’re applying for these reasons.’ Attending this conference helped me to bridge the gap between fantasizing about owning and taking care of land and actually doing it.”

One hundred women from across New Hampshire gathered on March 8 at the Geneva Point Center in Marlborough for the inaugural Womens Landowner Summit.

Photos and story by Sophie Oehler

One of the ways in which the Summit aimed to inspire its attendees was through a women landowner panel: an hourlong conversation with four female land managers from a range of backgrounds, areas of interest, and experience with land management

Rachel Dandenau, who owns 37 acres on her farmstead in Stark, served as one of these panelists Her portion of the conversation was highlighted by her anecdotes about the Nigerian Dwarf Fairy goats she keeps on her farm and her two sons (7 and 4) who have both been wielding axes since they were 2 “Being a mom landowner allows me to really incorporate the boys in management and support their exploration and love of nature,” she says “It’s important to me to raise boys into being men who see women as capable.”

C a p a b i l i t y i s a t t h e h e a r t o f t h e m i s s i o n o f t h e Wo m e n s

Landowner Summit. According to the Women in the Woods Needs Assessment completed by UNH Cooperative Extension in 2023, women are less likely to take management action on their land due either to feelings of inadequacy in land management or to feelings that land management hasn’t historically been “for us.”

As a result, 68 percent of the women who responded to the assessment survey were taking a passive approach to managing their land (i.e., infrequent management activities or changes being made to the property) Twenty-four percent of the respondents stated that lack of training in best management practices was one of their biggest challenges in managing their forestland, while 22 percent attributed it to lack of resources and tools. Another 20 percent noted lack of confidence or comfort in their ability to manage their land as a prime obstacle

“Giving women the space to learn in an environment that is for them really allows them to flourish, explore and ask questions in a way that some don’t always feel comfortable doing,” Andreozzi of UNH Extension says. “I think a lot of women feel more comfortable learning in and from groups of other women ”

T h e r e

t o c h o o s e , i n c l u d i n g Ti m b e r H a

Society Managing Forester Wendy Weisiger), Inventor ying and Monitoring Wildlife on Your Land, and Winter Tree and Shrub ID The varied classes were intended to provide an all-encompassing look at what may be needed to successfully manage land, while providing resources that landowners can refer to when the time comes to apply their knowledge. Additionally, the Summit directors wanted to create opportunities for personal connections to form between the landowners so that they would have a network of people to rely on.

“There’s a lot of value to women connecting with and inspiring other women,” Dandenau says. “As women, we’re thinkers. We hold things in the back of our mind and think, ‘how can I apply this in my own life?’ It’s like a pebble creating a ripple in a pond At the Summit, there were so many opportunities for those pebbles.”

While circulating through the many rooms and sessions at the Summit, I was continuously struck by those rippling moments But what created the biggest one for me was the collective pride that filled each room Pride in our state, in the work being done, in the knowledge being shared, and above all, pride in each other.

There’s a strange perception about identity-specific programming, whether focused around women or other affinity groups, that by designating it solely for one identity, it becomes about devaluing other non-identifying groups That couldn’t be further from the truth.

There wasn’t a moment at the Womens Landowner Summit where I heard anyone complaining about men There wasn’t time. And when we left at the end of the day, any thoughts disparaging men were far from my mind Instead, all I could think about was how much I love women.

I love the woman who pointed out a bald eagle flying overhead while our group examined tree stands for suitable firewood timber, saying she hated to interrupt but she thought everyone might like to see it I love the woman who stood up before the closing address and asked who the other landowner from her town was I love the women who applauded for their classmate when she correctly identified which trees should be cut in a selective harvest.

But above all, I love that 125 women took time away from the many other roles that we hold as women to come together, to learn, and to celebrate one another, proving that even if the rest of the world doesn’t want to do so, we’re perfectly capable of doing it ourselves.

Sophie Oehler is the communications coordinator at the Forest Society.

Online:

To learn more about Women in the Woods, and to sign up for future programming, visit forestsociety.org/events.

Womens Landowner Summit participants take part in a land management workshop where they learned how to mark trees for harvest.

Beyond the Blight: Innovations in Chestnut Tree Breeding and Restoration

By Carrie Deegan

Th e A m e r i c a n c h e s t n u t ( C a s t a n e a dentata), once a stately and dominant tree in deciduous forests of the Northeast, now rarely grows larger than an understor y sapling At fault is the invasive blight fungus (Cr yphonectria parasitica), which causes cankers on the cambium tissue under the chestnut bark that quickly girdle and kill infected trees

R e s t o r a t i o n o f t h e A m e r i c a n c h e s t n u t t o a n y s e m b l a n c e o f i t s f o r m e r g r a ndeur on our landscape is a complex and a r d u o u s c h a l l e n g e , b u t o n e t h a t T h e American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) has embraced fully and has been working toward for more than four decades.

S i n c e 2 0 1 9 , t h e F o r e s t S o c i e t y h a s worked collaboratively with the Vermont/ New Hampshire Chapter of TACF to maintain an American chestnut seed orchard at the Tom Rush Forest in Deering, N.H. To establish the orchard, we enclosed one acre of an existing field with 8-foot-tall

deer fencing and, with the help of volunteers, planted 600 nuts in May 2019 These chestnuts were hybrid backcrosses with Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima), which is resistant to the chestnut blight fungus. The hope was that a few of these hybrid trees (which are 15/16th American chestnut and 1/16th Chinese chestnut) might end up resistant to the blight. Nearly all the 600 nuts sprouted, and, thanks to careful watering, weeding, fertilizing, and mowing by orchard volunteers, most grew and thrived for the first four years “The sur vival and subsequent care of the trees at the Tom Rush Forest c h e s t n u t o rc h a r d h a s b e e n e x

m p l a r y, ” notes TACF Director of Regional Programs Kendra Collins. “It’s so wonderful to see the trees thrive through the implementation of best management practices and regular care by the volunteers.”

The Forest Society’s original plan in spring 2023 was to inoculate all the trees

with the blight fungus when they reached 5 years of age, kicking off a sort of sylvan Hunger Games to hasten the process of determining which individuals were blight resistant. But the interesting thing about scientific research is that it is always evolving and changing based on the latest available data and protocols. Hence, TACF’s new directive later that summer which was to not prematurely infect the trees with the hope that a few end up significantly resistant to blight, but rather do everything we can to keep a select subset of the trees healthy as long as possible and help them reach breeding maturity.

This was welcome news for our chestnut volunteers, who weren’t looking forward to infecting the trees after spending countless hours tending to them In fall 2023, volunteers found a spiny chestnut bur housing up to 3 chestnut seeds This exciting discovery tells the Forest Society that the trees are very close to breeding maturity.

Left: The author holds the first chestnut bur grown in the Tom Rush Forest American Chestnut Orchard Each spiky bur typically houses three nuts

Right: As an orchard volunteer, Dave Heuss assists in annual weeding, mulching, mowing, and fertilizing in an effort to grow healthy American chestnut trees.

Moving for ward, the orchard’s trees will be used essentially as “breeding stock” and will be pollinated with pollen from the most blight-resistant trees TACF has developed or identified, resulting in nuts that will have increased genetic diversity.

Of the original 600 chestnuts planted in 2019, 60 trees remain in the orchard. This drop-off occurred in summer 2023, not because of the chestnut blight, but b e c a u s e t h e o rc h a r d w a s d e l i b e r a t e l y t h i n n e d t o k e e p o n l y t h e l a r g e s t a n d healthiest looking trees and ensure they have ample room to grow These trees are growing and thriving, with many measuring more than nine feet tall!

The next exciting chapter for the Tom R u s h o

T

V T / NH chapter of TACF, in partnership with other similar chapters in the Northeast, has several hundred chestnuts available that were produced in New England by crossing their most resistant varieties to date. Tools to uncover blight resistance,

Learn More:

such as genetic sequencing, have becom much more sophisticated since the 201 planting, so these nuts will be started i pots in greenhouses and their DNA wi be analyzed for genetic markers know to convey at least some blight resistance “This is an exciting evolution of our pro cess,” Collins says “It allows us to selec promising trees without the added stres o f s t e m i n o c u l a t i o n s ” O n l y t h e m o s promising seedlings, likely fewer than 30 will be chosen for planting at Tom Rus Forest in fall 2024. Orchard volunteer including Kay Hartnett of Deering, wi be ready to plant when the time comes “It gives me hope the work we are doing might bring back the chestnut tree,” she says. “I’m pretty sure I won’t be around to see the real fruits of our work, but I am proud to be a part of the beginning of this experiment, and hope it ends with repopulating the forests with these trees ”

Carrie Deegan is the Reservation Stewardship & Engagement Director for the Forest Society

Visitors are welcome at the Tom Rush Forest Chestnut Orchard. To learn more, visit forestsociety.org/tom-rush-forest. More detailed information about Darling 58 can be found at tacf.org/darling-58

Collins says I m thrilled to have the Forest S ociet y team suppor ting this revamped effor t on such a successful site. Organizations like the Forest Society understand work ing on ‘tree time,’ as well as the need to pivot when science presents us with better tools or solutions We really appreciate their p a r t n e r s h i p i n o u r wo r k to re s to re the American chestnut.” As staff and volunteers have already experienced i n t h e i r fe w s h o r t ye a r s o f te n d i n g the orchard, management plans will continue to evolve and change in the future with new and improving science, which is all par t of the fun!

Routed signs greet visitors to the Tom Rush Forest American Chestnut Orchard, a partnership between the Forest Society and The American Chestnut Foundation.

A Legacy of Forest Conservation Continues as the Jennings Forest in New Durham Expands

By Kelly Whalen

The Forest Society is excited to announce t h a t d u e t o a v e r y generous donation of land, the Jennings Forest in New D u r h a m h a s n e a r l y d o ubled in size In the 1980s, Ellen Jennings donated the Jennings Forest to the Forest Society Now, more than 40 y e a r s l a t e r, h e r d a u g h t e r, E l i s a b e t h M a l e y, c o n t i nued the family’s legacy of protecting land by gifting a n a d d i t i o n a l 3 1 4 a c r e s d i r e c t l y a c r o s s f r o m t h e original 385-acre Jennings Forest Reser vation donated by her mother Referred to as the Jennings Forest Maley Tract, it was never a question of whether Elisabeth’s land was going to be conser ved, it was just a matter of when “Conser vation of this land is so meaningful to me,” Elisabeth told Forest Notes “To be able to add to the forest my mom started brings me great joy We grew up with a strong value of conserving land, the environment, and wildlife, and this addition to Jennings Forest accomplishes it all ”

Road to more than 700 acres, creating a larger connected network of conservation lands to forever support wildlife habitat and passage along the river and wetlands.

The property mainly consists of working forest and more than 7,000 linear feet of the Hayes Brook, a perennial stream, running through the center of the prope r t y T h e r e a r e a l s o a f e w i n t e r m i t t e n t streams and wetlands on the property, t o t a l i n g m o r e t h a n 7 , 1 0 0 l i n e a r f e e t , which all lead to the wetland complex on the existing Jennings Forest. By combining the additional 314 acres to the 385-acre Jennings Forest, it will increase the total conser ved land area around Middleton

“I’d like to thank Elisabeth and her family for her generosity and for expanding upon our Jennings Forest that her mother so generously donated to us long ago,” Forest Society Jack Savage said. “We know that maintaining unfragmented areas of protected land supports wildlife and water quality, and this addition will do just that. Because of this, it has been a priority of the Forest Society to enlarge existing forest properties and build connections to a broader network of conser vation land ” The property contains high-quality wildlife habitat with more than 140 acres of

the property consisting of Tier 1 habitat a c c o r d i n g t o t h e

and Game’s 2020 Wildlife Action Plan

T

Bureau also states that within one mile of the property are recent records of both Common Loon, a threatened species, and Blanding’s Turtle, an endangered species

The Maley Tract is in the larger Great Bay Watershed as Hayes Brook is a first o

More than 90 percent of the property is located within the 2021 coastal conservation focus area according to the Coastal Watershed Conser vation Plan. Managed a n d o w n e d b y t h e F

t y, t h e property will be open to the public for recreational activities, including hiking,

In a photo from winter 1964, Elisabeth’s grandfather, Irving E Jennings, who was the original owner of the Jennings Forests, pulls a Christmas tree alongside Elisabeth’s brother, William B Maley Jr

hunting, and fishing A snowmobile trail currently exists on the land, ser ving the Powder Mill Snowmobile Club and other recreationists who utilize the trail system year-round “I hope visitors are happy the Jennings Forest is protected and open to recreation,” Maley says. “There’s going to be less and less land available, and I think it’s important to have some land for people to explore I made this donation because I love the land and I want it to stay that way, conser ved and not develo p e d I ’ v e h a d m a n y

s t e l l m e how much I could get per acre, and I just ignored them all because I can’t imagine developing all that land ”

The project was suppor ted with grant funds from The Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership and The Adelard A and Valeda Lea Roy Foundation to assist with the transaction and stewardship costs.

Consulting Foresters

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Eric Radlof, NHLPF #447, Antrim, NH 603-321-3482 • eradlof.fc f@gmail.com

Jeffrey Snitkin, NHLPF #452, Newbur y, NH 802-310-0292 • jsnitkin fc f@gmail com

Benjamin Vicere, NHLPF #453, Springfield, V T 802-779-7021 • bvicere fc f@gmail com

We specialize in creative, ecological approaches to forest management that are designed to provide longterm economic and intangible benefits to landowners and their forests FCF par tners are licensed foresters, NRCS Technical Ser vice Providers, pesticide applicators, and Tree Farm Inspectors.

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Meadowsend Consulting Company

Quality Consulting Forestr y with Integrity Guaranteed

Jeremy Turner, NHLPF #318 Southern NH jturner@meadowsendco.com

Matthias Nevins, NHLPF #518 Central NH mnevins@meadowsendco com

Ryan Kilborn, NHLPF #442 Nor thern NH rkilborn@meadowsendco com

Vast range of quality land management ser vices

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Licensed foresters should address inquiries about advertising to Anne Truslow by calling 603-224-9945 or emailing atruslow@forestsociety.org.

Busy Beavers: Fellow Foresters and Farmers

By Sarah Kern

Despite their seemingly conflicting worlds, beavers and humans share surprising commonalities that extend beyond the mere cohabitation of ecosystems Known for their dam-building and environmental engineering skills, beavers mirror certain aspects of human behavior, leading to a unique interplay between the two species in the delicate balance of coexistence

One striking parallel lies in the fundamental importance of shelter Beavers construct elaborate lodges and huts as a means of protection and survival Similarly, since the beginning of time, humans have been building shelters, evolving from primitive caves to our modern-day homes Both species understand the significance of creating secure structures to shield themselves from the elements and potential threats M or e o v er, t he fa m i l ia l bo n d s e x hi bited by beavers mirror the social structures found within human communities.

Beavers live in family units, cooperating in the construction and maintenance of their habitats, food sources, and shelters

munal effort similar to the collaborative spirit seen in our societies. From parent-

ing, both species display the advantages of teamwork for the betterment of their respective communities

R

intriguing parallel between beavers and humans Beavers are renowned for their adept manipulation of natural resources from felling trees and building lodges to constructing dams that regulate water levels. “One of the most common misconceptions about beavers is people think they are little loggers who cut trees for building structures,” says Senior Director of Education Dave Anderson “The reality is they are more like little farmers. Yes,

the impoundments they create provide protection, but they are also gardens that grow the starchy emergent aquatic vegetation with tasty thick roots think arrow arum, cattail reeds, and water lilies that are the beaver’s summer and early autumn food staples. Beavers don’t tend to cut trees in spring and summer if they have ample aquatic plants to feed on.”

The coexistence narrative shifts, however, when the use of resources leads to potential conflicts As human activities encroach upon beaver habitats, conflicts a r i s e T h e b e a v e r s ’ p e n c h a n t f o r d a m building may clash with human interests, too, especially when it results in flooding of agricultural areas or human homes and infrastructure, such as roads or driveways. Striking a balance between human development and the preser vation of beaver h

n s u r i

t h e beavers continued positive influence on

Fall colors illuminate the waters around a swimming beaver

ecosystems Efforts to mitigate conflicts i n v o l v e a d o p t i n

species. In some regions, wildlife specialists implement beaver-friendly practices, including the installation of flow devices, cleverly named “beaver deceivers,” to regulate water levels without entirely disrupting the beavers’ natural behavior.

Education also plays a pivotal role in f a c i l i t a t i n g h a r m o n y b e t w e e n h u m a n s and beavers Understanding the ecological benefits that beavers provide, including water filtration and increased biodiversity, fosters a more tolerant attitude toward these rodents. Similarly, awareness about responsible land use and the potential consequences of encroachment helps humans make informed decisions that consider the broader ecosystem Despite the challenges, success stories of coexistence between beavers and humans abound Communities th a t e m b r a c e s u s t a i n a b l e p r a c t i c e s a n d prioritize conser vation efforts find that these industrious creatures contribute to the overall health of ecosystems. The key lies in recognizing the interconnectedness of all living beings and acknowledging the role each species plays in maintaining ecological balance

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And if you need even more reasons to believe in supporting beavers, it is also important to note that, in a changing climate which is affecting ever y living thing on the planet, beaver can actually help mitigate some of the effects. They create wetlands which act as carbon sinks, storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Additionally, their dams can slow down t h e fl o w o f w a t e r, r e d u c e e r o s i o n , a n d h e l p m a i n t a i n w a t e r l e v e l s , w h i c h c a n be beneficial during periods of drought B e a v e r p o n d s a l s o c r e a t e d i v e r s e h a b itats that support a plethora of plant and animal species “The resurgence of beavers created a rebound in populations of n e a r l y 4 0 s p e c i e s , i n c l u d i n g g r e a t b l u e h e r o n s , w o o d d u c k s , h o o d e d m e r g a nsers, spotted salamanders, spotted turtles, Blanding’s turtles, muskrats, mink, otters, a n d m o o s e , ” A n d e r s o n s a y s . B i o d i v e r s e

The floodplain forest of the Merrimack River Outdoor Education and Conservation area in Concord, N.H., is a great spot to see beaver activity, including beaver-made trails (top) and felled trees (bottom). ( O P

challenges and impacts of climate change

services they provide to other species The NH Wildlife Action Plan often mentions beaver-created habitat as habitat needed for many native species, including some of those having the “greatest conser vation need,” including the spotted turtle and the New England cottontail rabbit. T

and humans extend far beyond the surface, revealing shared values, resources,

of adopting sustainable practices, fostering understanding, and finding innovative solutions. As we navigate the delicate dance between progress and preservation, the stor y of beavers and humans ser ves as a poignant reminder of the interconnected web of life and the necessity of harmonious coexistence.

Sarah Kern is the former Creek Farm Education Program Coordinator for the Forest Society.

More: For more information about beavers, visit beaverinstitute.org.

Landfills vs. Greenspace

By Matt Leahy

Once a landfill, always a landfill That admittedly simplistic statem e n t r e f l e c t s t h e r e a l i t y t h a t once a solid waste landfill is closed, the trash that had been dumped there during its operations will continue to exist below the surface of the property long after it has ceased operations.

This fact is noted in the state’s Recycling & Solid Waste Study Committee’s 2019 report: “While there is some decomposition of solid waste once it is landfilled (testimony indicated the volume of a landfill w i l l d e c r e a s e a b o u t 2 0 p e rc e n t o n l y ) , most solid waste, including much plastic, construction and demolition debris and innumerable other types of waste, remain entombed in perpetuity, requiring ongoing maintenance and always a potential threat without proper monitoring.”

Yes, it is true that some closed landfills are now being used for other purposes such as community parks, wildlife habitats and, in some cases, the conversion of landfill gas to energy. What they will not

be are forests, a point noted on the New Hampshire Municipal Association’s website: “Tree growth must be prevented on landfills because the shallow cover soils will not support trees as they mature, making them susceptible to being blown over. Blown over trees will damage the cover soils and can expose waste. Tree roots also provide a pathway for water to enter the waste, increasing leachate generation ” O

generate significant waste each year. The E

the total generation of municipal solid waste in 2018 was 292.4 million tons or 4 9 pounds per person per day These figures leave us to question what to do with all this waste and whether landfills are the best way to dispose of it

dispose of trash Source reduction is the most preferred way followed by recycling and reuse, composting, waste-to-energy t e c h n

incineration without resource recover y, and finally, burying the trash

Over the last several years, government officials and stakeholders have spent significant time tr ying to find a consensus approach on this topic. For example, the NH Department of Environmental Services (DES) updated the state’s solid waste management plan in 2022 The plan seeks to achieve the state’s overarching disposal r

f municipal solid waste and construction and demolition debris by 25 percent by 2030 and by 45 percent by 2050 In the Legislature, elected leaders have debated several waste management–related bills,

questions. It puts in place a hierarchy of waste management methods Landfilling

planning and policy initiatives

The Forest Society has been following these discussions. We’ve obser ved that

Over the last several years, government officials and stakeholders have spent significant time debating the hierarchy of waste management methods, including landfilling and incineration

supporters of modernizing the state’s waste practices have similar priorities as conser vation organizations when undertaking a project, including protecting forest and water resources and spaces that have important scenic and recreation value to local communities. As such, the Forest Society’s advocacy team has an interest in how and where landfills are sited and how they are managed We also recognize that the issues surrounding this topic are complex. Further complicating the question of how to manage the waste generated in New Hampshire is the fact that about 50 percent of the solid waste disposed of in New Hampshire comes from out of state The Interstate Commerce Clause limits the steps states can take to manage waste that comes from out of state.

In 2024, the Forest Society supported House Bill 1620, which proposed to suspend the issuance of new landfill permits until 2028. Our endorsement of the bill relates to the state’s solid waste management statute’s (RSA 149-M) statement of p u r p o s e t o “ p r o t e c t h u m a n h e a l t h , t o preserve the natural environment, and to conserve precious and dwindling natural resources through the proper and integrated management of solid waste ”

Prior to permitting any additional facilities, we felt it was prudent and reasonable to put in place a short-term suspension of the approval process, as proposed in HB 1620, while the Legislature and state agencies determine the appropriate longterm policies for the management of solid waste here.

It is unfortunate the Senate found HB 1620 “Inexpedient to Legislate” and killed t h e b i l l . We d o n o t k n o w h o w f u t u r e Legislatures will treat this issue; however, all of us need to remember: once a landfill, always a landfill Let’s get it right before we convert the precious and dwindling natural resources noted in the management statute into another use that can never really be undone.

M a t t L e a h y i s t h e p o l i c y d i re c t o r f o r t h e Forest Society. P O N T

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Zachar y Berger Associates, Inc

Matching Gift Companies

ADP, LLC

Advent International

American Biltrite, Inc.

Amgen, Inc

Bank of America

Bank of New Hampshire

Boston Scientific

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

The Cigna Group

Cleveland H. Dodge Foundation, Inc.

Davis Polk & Wardwell, LLP

Dell, Inc

Erie Insurance

Gar tner, Inc.

Gilead Sciences, Inc

Google, LLC

Gradient

Hearst Communications, Inc.

Intel Corporation

Jacobs Solutions, Inc

Jefferies Financial Group, Inc

Johnson & Johnson

Liber ty Mutual Insurance

Lincoln Financial Group

Mac y ’s, Inc

Manulife Financial Corporation

Microsoft Corporation

Motorola Solutions, Inc

NetApp, Inc

Prudential Financial, Inc.

Raytheon Technologies Corporation

Shell Oil Company

Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Inc

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

The Travelers Companies, Inc

UnitedHealth Group

Ver tex Pharmaceuticals, Inc

VMware, Inc.

Protecting Tinker Brook and other perennial streams is a priority of the Forest Society as part of a recent conservation project in Berlin

Striking a Balance in Berlin

Following on the heels of the 3,700acre Mahoosuc Highlands Project in Shelburne, the Forest Society now seeks to acquire 730 acres of forestland in Berlin This project builds on a legacy of conser vation in the Upper Androscoggin River Valley and will accomplish worki n g f o r e s t c o n s e r v a t i o n , p u b l i c r e c r eational access, watershed protection, and enhanced conservation connectivity all within the city limits of Berlin.

Accessed from the Cascade neighborhood on the Berlin and Gorham town line, this property rises up an easterlyfacing hillside toward Sugar Mountain and Jericho Mountain, surrounding stretches of Tinker Brook and other perennial streams Managed as a woodlot for decades, the property is a mixed northern hardwood

c o n i f e r f o r e s t w i t h a 3 0 - a c r e p e a t l a n d and wet meadow at higher elevations. The wetlands offer habitat for wildlife as diverse as moose, white-tailed deer, black

bear, beaver, snowshoe hare, ruffed grouse, songbirds, and spotted salamanders.

Existing woods roads offer access by foot from the Cascade neighborhood and it is presently used lightly by dog walkers, hikers, and snowmobilers. Snowmobile

C o r r i d o r # 1 9 f o l l o w s 1 7 5 m i l e s o f woods roads across the property, linking t h e G o r h a m To w n F o r e s t w i t h J e r i c h o Mountain State Park.

This property forms a bridge between t h e p o p u l a t i o n c e n t e r o f B e r l i n o n i t s east side and more than 100,000 acres of contiguous conser ved forestland to the south, west, and north that has been protected as community forests in Randolph and Gorham, state parks, and the White Mountain National Forest. Now, Berlin will also benefit from conser ved lands, open for passive public recreation, in close proximity to the city.

F o r t h e F o r e s t S o c i e t y, t h i s p r o j e c t strikes a desired balance: conser ving 730

acres of Northern New Hampshire’s wood basket near mills and transportation; prov i d

m local neighborhoods; linking and expanding large blocks of conser ved forestland; and protecting streams like Tinker Brook that drain to the Androscoggin.

To a c q u i r e t h e p r o p e r t y, t h e F o r e s t Society must raise a total of $675,000, the majority of which is likely to be funded through grant programs To demonstrate a broad base of support that will help secure those grants, we hope you will consider a gift to this project today Our goal is to raise $50,000 from individual donors by June 30, which will support land acquisition, associated costs, and a long-term s t e w a r d s h i p e n d o w m e n t f o r c a r e a n d maintenance in perpetuity

Please join us to conserve 730 acres of forestland in Berlin today!

The property forms a bridge between the population center of Berlin on its east side and more than 100,000 acres of contiguous conserved forestland to the south, west, and north

Please mail the completed form to: Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests 54 Por tsmouth Street, Concord, NH 03301 Or donate online at forestsociety.org/berlinforestland

For more information, call Anne Truslow at 603-224-9945 or email atruslow@forestsociety org Thank you for your help! Town/City : State: Zip:

54 Por tsmouth Street

Concord, NH 03301-5400

Address Ser vice Requested

Isupport the Forest Society because I believe in conserving and taking care of this planet we call Earth When I was growing up, I spent quite a bit of time with my grandfather, who immigrated to America from Poland He and my grandmother lived about a mile down a dirt road that my family called the ‘farm,’ a small home with a couple of acres of open space surrounded by 60 acres of woods and wetlands He and I would take walks in the woods with his goats, and he told me tales of growing up in Poland and taught me the names of trees and plants he knew It was the time spent with him in the woods and fields that opened my eyes to the beauty and mystery of the natural world.

This inspired me to work for organizations affiliated with the outdoors, including the U.S. Forest Ser vice as a backcountr y ranger, the Appalachian Mountain Club as a construction

G ar y Newfield

R andolph, N.H.

Member since 2010

M E M B E R S M A K E

T H E D I F F E R E N C E !

Gary is among the 10,000 members who help the Forest Society protect and manage critical lands for wildlife, water quality, wood, and wellness across the state

crew member, and Outward Bound as an instructor on Hurricane Island in Maine When I retired, I continued following my passion by volunteering as the chairman of the conser vation commission in Randolph, N H

Supporting the Forest Society is a no-brainer for me because I want youngsters to see and feel the awe of nature that I felt as I tramped in the woods with my grandfather I also support the Forest Society because we face an existential threat to our planet due to global warming as evidenced by more frequent and stronger storms, heavier rain events, bleaching of coral reefs, severe droughts, and worsening forest fire seasons. By preserving working forests and farms and practicing sustainable logging, the Forest Society is having a positive impact on carbon capture and storage an effort we all need to support ”