PEOPLE MAKING A DIFFERENCE

A Forest to be Reckoned With

By Dave Anderson

As a role model, an impassioned landowner, and a dedicated tree farmer, Charlie Niebling has been a respected leader in the New Hampshire forestry community for decades. Niebling is a forestry industry consultant and a prominent spokesperson and advocate for forestry and tree farming, and he has been employed by and has served on the board of trustees of numerous forestry and open space–related organizations in the state.

Renowned for working long days yearround, Niebling walks his talk by tirelessly pursuing forestry improvements on his family’s certified tree farm in Boscawen and by sharing the lessons he’s learned with the larger community. Over the years, he has encouraged his peers to consider traditional and innovative forestry approaches. “Every landowner has a different perspective [when it comes to managing land]. You’re not just managing timber, there’s also wildlife habitat, recreational use, protection of natural communities and ecosystems, and water quality—all those have to be considered, ” he says.

In recognition of Charlie and his wife Mabel’s dedication and commitment to conservation, the couple was recognized by the N.H. Tree Farm Program as the 2021 Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year. Charlie and Mabel purchased their 67-acre tree farm in May 2001 from the Forest Society. Prior to the purchase, the tract was permanently protected via a Forest Society conservation easement. The woodlot was officially certified as a N.H. Tree Farm in 2003. Although Charlie often works alone, Mabel and their four children have worked on a variety of projects on the woodlot over the last two decades. Ahead of his time perhaps, Charlie quips, “I’ve been socially distancing out here for the past 20 years. ”

The history of the tract mirrors the majority of forestland in central New Hampshire. The land was originally cleared in the 1800s and used as sheep pasture into the early 1900s. The forest regenerated first as a crop of old field white pine that was harvested in 1949 by Colby Lumber using a John Deere crawler. Following the first pine harvest, the present stand of red oak regenerated. The Niebling’s forestry practice utilizes group selection to create smaller sunny openings to favor regeneration of white pine and red and white oak. Careful attention to detail while harvesting wood at a small scale supports maintaining a healthy, productive, and attractive forest while maximizing opportunities for annual growth.

In the summer of 2001, the Nieblings roughed in the access road to the timber landing and established a network of woods roads throughout the property. The roads were designed so a tractor can

From top: Mabel and Charlie Niebling celebrate and recreate a family photo taken 20 years ago when they acquired their Boscawen tree farm. Charlie Niebling socially distances himself on his family’s property.

theoretically reach every tree in the forest with the 120 feet of cable on its winch. The woods road system includes labels at junctions that correlate to a map which help visitors determine where they are on the property. The property’s trails and openings provide scenic views and recreation opportunities. From the top of Raleigh Hill, the highest point in Boscawen, the view stretches west to Mount Monadnock, Pack Monadnock, Crotched Mountain, and Pat’s Peak. One of Charlie's long-term goals is to expand the view northwest to the Mink Hills in Warner and south to the Uncanoonic Range west of Manchester.

For wildlife, the family has observed bobcat, moose, bear, turkey, fisher, deer, and coyotes roaming their property; and a rocky area of the forest is home to a “thriving porcupine condominium complex, ” Charlie notes. To support a diversity of habitats, he has set aside twelve acres of the tree farm as a designated natural area, acreage that is left uncut and not managed for timber or wood production; and he created no-cut areas along the riparian zone of a seasonal stream and forested wetland.

Attention to detail and pride are apparent in the quality of the Niebling’s forestry work. From 2002 to 2014, the family implemented improvement cuttings on 42 acres of their property. This involved harvesting pulpwood and firewood, as well as girdling non-crop trees and leaving them in place as standing dead snags for wildlife. They harvested mature saw logs— more than 100 MBF of white pine—while continuing to manage for future highquality red oak and white pine timber. The Neiblings consume 4–5 cords of firewood annually to heat their home, and they sell an additional 5–20 cords of low-grade fuelwood each year.

Charlie’s timber management goal is to keep 20–25 percent of the forest in sapling stage, which amounts to opening 12 acres of the forest over the next 12–15 years. To do this, he creates small openings each year in areas of lower quality trees. In better quality stands, crop tree release, which involves picking the best future sawlog stems and cutting out the competing stems that are of inferior quality, favors valuable hardwoods: oak, black birch, and maple.

Charlie maintains meticulous records of his timber stand improvements and harvests. “Over nineteen years I have grossed receipts from the sale of logs, pulp wood, and firewood that exceed one hundred thousand dollars, ” he notes. The sale of timber and firewood has helped him cover current use taxes and associated management costs such as buying a tractor and creating tractor roads. He admits that he doesn’t factor in the cost of his time when it comes to managing the tree farm, which he estimates amounts to 6–10 hours per week. “I figure it’s like being paid to exercise. I’ve never joined a health club. ”

Half forester, half logger, and part philosopher, Charlie has demonstrated how even smaller woodlots can be managed conservatively for high-quality timber and still generate significant revenue over time. “Owning woodland has allowed me to apply my land ethic in how I manage our land. A good third of our family forest is off limits to any management, where trees will grow old and where the forest can realize its full natural expression, ” Charlie says. “About two-thirds is devoted to the careful, conservative production of goods people use every day, with an eye toward longterm quality, value, and species diversity. After twenty years of very intentional management, the results are gratifying. ” Charlie is quick to add that it’s not all about income when it comes to caring for his land. He says the tree farm’s management plan includes an intentional focus on overall species diversity and retaining quality trees throughout the forest regardless of species. “Seventy-someodd percent of forests in New Hampshire are owned by tens of thousands of different landowners, ” Charlie says. “We don’t really experience widespread abuses or narrowly channeled management direction because each and every landowner approaches it differently. ” To teach and support the next generation of tree farmers, Charlie has hosted educational programs that cover safe and productive tree felling techniques and the ways to employ logging Best Management Practices. Elementary schools have visited the property and the Niebling family has held a forest field day every three years where about 50 family members and friends gather to enjoy the natural surroundings.

“This land has provided my family with a deep sense of place, a refuge to which we can always turn, and an opportunity to fully immerse ourselves in the natural world on a moment’s notice. Our family trust will ensure that our children and their children will be able to steward and enjoy this forest for generations to come. The conservation easement relieves us all of the burden of its market value from influencing our decisions. It’s highest and best use will always be to leave the land to its natural devices, come what may. What a wonderful world it is that there is an award to recognize my family for our stewardship!”

Dave Anderson is the senior director of education for the Forest Society.

Did You Know?

The New Hampshire Tree Farm Program is an application of the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) and has been operated by volunteers through the New Hampshire Tree Farm Executive Committee since 1950. The ATFS is a nationwide program that encourages private forest owners to actively manage their forests in a sustainable manner for multiple values. To learn more, visit nhtreefarm.org.