HOW TO STOP NORTHERN PASSPAGE 40 Forest Notes NEW HAMPSHIRE’S CONSERVATION MAGAZINE our th anniversary issue AUTUMN 2012 US $4.95 24> 0974470 25172 forestsociety.org TABLE OF CONTENTS: AUTUMN 2012, N o. 272 22 14 34 FEATURES DEPARTMENTS 4 75 Years of Forest Notes 2 THE FORESTER’S PRISM By Jack Savage Notable Accomplishments “New Hampshire’s Conservation Magazine” has chronicled the 20 IN THE FIELD state’s drive to protect forests and champion sustainable forestry Hikes and walks, lectures, art, and more since 1937. 10 A Sanctuary of Permanence 22 WOODS WISE The state tree as pioneer By Richard Ober 24 CONSERVATION SUCCESS STORIES 14 Monadnock Trails on the Mend Expanding conserved lands at the High Blue Reservation in Walpole, By David Brooks the Fremont Town Forest, and Black Mountain in Sutton and Warner Monadnock Trails Week, an annual effort to improve the heavily 30 NATURE’S VIEW hiked trails on the slopes of Mount Monadnock, draws many Do we remain in a rural state of mind? and varied volunteers. 32 PUBLIC POLICY UPDATE 16 Getting into the Holiday Spirit at The Rocks The latest on saving our scenery from Northern Pass, clear waters By Meghan McCarthy McPhaul and cloudy issues at Lake Umbagog, and conservation issues The Forest Society’s Christmas tree farm preps for another season in Congress of visitors seeking the perfect Rocks Balsam. 38 HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FY2012 ANNUAL REPORT 40 PROJECTS IN PROGRESS HOW TO STOP NORTHERN PASSPAGE 40 Forest Notes Help the Forest Society conserve our most scenic landscapes NEW HAMPSHIRE’S CONSERVATION MAGAZINE from an industrialized powerline corridor our th anniversary issue AUTUMN 2012 On our cover: US $4.95 24> 0974470 25172 forestsociety.org Celebrating 75 Years of Forest Notes. THE FORESTER’S PRISM Notable Accomplishments e’re proud to celebrate the 75th but ultimately, a com - CHAIR Carolyn Benthien, Goffstown anniversary of Forest Notes this promise was crafted VICE CHAIR year. What started as a simple, that didn’t destroy the William Webb, Holderness W but information-packed newsletter in 1937 beauty of Franconia SECRETARY Midge Eliassen, Sunapee has evolved into the familiar four-color, Notch State Park and TREASURER quarterly magazine now in your hands— the forests we had Leonard “Hunt” Dowse , Hancock with photographs and articles chronicling helped the state ac - PRESIDENT/FORESTER Jane A. Difley, Webster the challenges and accomplishments of the quire decades before BOARD OF TRUSTEES Forest Society and conservation in the to prevent them from Malin Clyde, Durham Margo Connors, Sugar Hill Granite State. being stripped by unscrupulous loggers. Katharine Eneguess, Jaffrey When Forest Notes was launched, the Today, we are confronted with Northern Pamela Hall , Portsmouth Deanna Howard, Etna Forest Society was already three decades Pass—a new threat to our landscape that we William McCarten, Lancaster Jack Middleton, Freedom old. We had helped pass the Weeks Act to are fighting with the same determination Howard Moffett, Canterbury establish the White Mountain National and commitment that has been the hall - Rebecca Oreskes, Milan William H. Smith, Moultonborough Forest, joined the ongoing effort to protect mark of earlier controversies explored in Hank Swan, Lyme Mount Monadnock, and begun the effort Forest Notes . Stephen Taylor, Meriden Bill Tucker , Goffstown to protect Mount Sunapee. We were, as we Buying conservation easements on land STAFF are today, committed to keeping forests as in the sights of Northern Pass will not only EXECUTIVE forests by promoting their wise use through prevent those lands from being used for Jane A. Difley, president/forester Karen Rose, executive coordinator/land protection associate education and example. this misguided project, but from any future FINANCE/ADMINISTRATION Over time we have protected not only projects that disrupt New Hampshire’s Martha Booth, receptionist Allison Cross, finance specialist land and vistas, but the very values we hold landscapes. New Hampshire values its Michelle Morse, human resources specialist Tina Ripley, administrative assistant dear. The Forest Society is part of the state’s mountains, forests and scenery. Speaker of Denise Vaillancourt, vice president, finance culture and way of doing business. We’ve the House Joe Cannon’s declaration “not MEMBERSHIP/DEVELOPMENT advocated both Wilderness and active for - one cent for scenery” didn’t sway Granite Heidi DeWitt, data processor Diane Forbes, senior director for development est management in the White Mountain Staters in the early 20th century nor will it Nancy Ford Huckins, membership specialist Susanne Kibler-Hacker, vice president, development National Forest, encouraging participation today. Allan Krygeris, technology specialist in the planning process and working out Margaret Liszka, director, membership Ann McCoy, membership coordinator agreements to which most could subscribe. Meredith Reed O’Donnell, development associate When the Forest Society protested the Martha Twombly , development specialist COMMUNICATIONS/OUTREACH PROGRAMS building of a four-lane highway through David Anderson, director, education and volunteers Franconia Notch, we were dogged in our Brenda Charpentier, communications manager Carrie Deegan, land steward program specialist attempts to bring the necessary agencies to Jane Difley is the president/forester of the Society Jack Savage, vice president, communications/outreach the table. It was not always a friendly effort, for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. POLICY/LAND MANAGEMENT Will Abbott, vice president, policy/land management Frank Allen, building and grounds assistant Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests Clare Brown, volunteer coordinator A non-profit membership organization founded in 1901 to protect the state’s most important landscapes Rita Carroll , land management and policy assistant and promote wise use of its renewable natural resources. Basic annual membership fee is $35 and George Frame , senior director of forestry includes a subscription to Forest Notes . Steven Junkins , forester Nigel Manley, director, north country property Editor: Jack Savage Carleen Quinn , gift shop and program manager Managing Editor: Brenda Charpentier Gabe Roxy , forester Design & Production: The Secret Agency Jason Teaster, property manager Printing: TDS Printing Wendy Weisiger, field forester Chris Wells, senior director for strategic projects/policy Forest Notes is published four times a year and printed on elemental chlorine-free Sappi Flo paper with LAND PROTECTION 10 percent post-consumer recycled content. Sappi Flo is made from pulp purchased from suppliers Joslin Bennett, easement steward who document sound environmental practices and sustainable forest management. Chris Borg, land protection specialist Permission is required for reproduction of any part of this magazine. Paul Doscher, vice president, land conservation Paul Gagnon, easement steward Copyright 2012 SPNHF. US ISSN: 0015 7457. Brian Hotz, senior director for strategic projects/land protection 54 Portsmouth Street, Concord, NH 03301 | Phone: (603) 224-9945 | Fax: (603) 228-0423 Tom Howe, senior director, land conservation E-mail: [email protected] | Internet: www.forestsociety.org Lori Johnson, land protection assistant/data base manager Lauren Kras, easement steward The Forest Society proudly supports the following organizations: Lyndsey Marston, easement steward intern Michael Speltz, land protection specialist Daniel Sundquist, director, land conservation planning Ryan Young, director, easement stewardship Cosponsor Underwriter Member Autumn 2012 FOREST NOTES | 3 Years of HOW TO STOP NOR THERN PAS 75 Forest Notes SPAGE 40 Forest N N o EW HAM t PSH e IRE’S s CONSER VATION M The Forest Society published the first issue of Forest Notes AGAZINE in the fall of 1937 as “A Publication Devoted to Forestry in New Hampshire.” Today one of the longest continually our th anniversary published magazines in the state, Forest Notes continues issue the tradition it started—to chronicle the conservation of New Hampshire’s forests through their wise use and complete reservation in places of special scenic beauty. AUTUMN 2012 US $4.95 24> 074470 25172 9 fo restsociety.org Chronicle of a Better Way We usually aspire to longevity, and offer our admiration policy. Keeping forests as forests, maintaining a vibrant timber when we discover it. At the Forest Society’s 2012 Annual Meeting market, convincing a skeptical public of the value of sustainable in September our President/Forester, Jane Difley, recognized management, pointing out the value of forests for protecting four 75-year members. Their loyalty to our mission over time water and wildlife, balancing the desire for recreational oppor - is exemplary. tunities with the need for proper stewardship, and fighting off Such loyalty is also the main reason that Forest Notes continues forest pests and disease have filled our pages from Day One. to be published today. Our members and constituents care What has changed has been the solutions brought forward. deeply enough about the forests of New Hampshire and the The Tree Farm program. Conservation Easements. Current Use. issues involved in their conservation that they insist on knowing Conservation Commissions.The Land and Community Heritage who is doing what to protect them and how they can help. Investment Program. Forest Notes has chronicled New Hamp - As a relative newcomer to Forest Notes (seven years in the shire’s determination to find better