Society For The Protection Of New Hampshire Forests

THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF NEW HAMPSHIRE FORESTS IS A FORESTRY ASSOCIATION SEEKING TO PERPETUATE THE FORESTS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE THROUGH THEIR WISE USE AND THEIR COMPLETE RESERVATION IN PLACES OF SPECIAL SCENIC BEAUTY.

LAND AND EASEMENT STEWARDSHIP: THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF NEW HAMPSHIRE FORESTS OWNS AND MANAGES 200 RESERVATIONS COVERING MORE THAN 60,000 ACRES.IN FY2024, WE RAN 13 TIMBER HARVESTS COVERING 700 ACRES. WE HARVESTED 2.6 MILLION BOARD FEET OF SAWLOGS AND 20,600 TONS OF LOW GRADE WOOD. THIS BROUGHT IN $555,000 IN STUMPAGE REVENUE. WE TRAINED 40 NEW VOLUNTEER LAND STEWARDS, BRINGING OUR TOTAL OF LAND STEWARDS TO 184 AND PROVIDING MORE THAN 1,600 HOURS OF MONITORING AND MAINTENANCE OF OUR FOREST SOCIETY RESERVATIONS ACROSS THE STATE. OUR VOLUNTEER EASEMENT MONITORING PROGRAM (VEMP) SAW 6 VOLUNTEERS MONITOR 28 CONSERVATION EASMENT PROPERTIES. IN ADDITION, OUR STAFF MONITORED MORE THAN 750 EASEMENTS ON MORE THAN 135,000 ACRES. AT FOREST SOCIETY NORTH AT THE ROCKS, WE HARVESTED MORE THAN 2,780 CHRISTMAS TREES. IN MAY 2023 THE ROCKS WELCOMED 150 3RD AND 4TH GRADERS FOR THE ANNUAL NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM FIELD DAY. THE FOREVERGREEN PROGRAM CONTINUED WITH VISITS FROM KINDERGARTENERS, FIRST, SECOND, AND FOURTH GRADES IN MAY, THIRD AND FIFTH GRADES IN SEPTEMBER, AND SIXTH GRADES IN DECEMBER AS EACH GRADE LEARNED ONE FACET OF GROWING CHRISTMAS TREES, FROM PLANTING TO HARVEST. THE ROCKS HELD ITS ANNUAL WILDFLOWER FESTIVAL IN JUNE 2023, FOLLOWED BY A SUCCESSFUL BUS TOUR SEASON IN SUMMER AND FALL 2023. THE SUMMER 2023 AND WINTER 2024 FREE BRETZFELDER PARK EDUCATIONAL SERIES MOVED BACK TO IN-PERSON EVENTS WITH FULL AUDIENCES AT EACH OF THE EIGHT EVENTS. THE NEWLY RENOVATED CARRIAGE BARN PROGRAM CENTER WAS READY FOR THE 2023 CHRISTMAS SEASON, WITH MORE THAN 5,000 VISITORS TO THE ROCKS CHRISTMAS TREE FARM. MONTHLY GUIDED FULL-MOON SNOWSHOE HIKES WERE OFFERED THROUGHOUT WINTER 2024. THE SPRING 2024 NH MAPLE EXPERIENCE TOURS WELCOMED APPROXIMATELY 400 VISITORS TO THE ROCKS. THE 2024 ANNUAL MAPLE DINNER WAS HELD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE CARRIAGE BARN AND WAS A SOLD-OUT EVENT.

MEMBERSHIPTHE FOREST SOCIETY CURRENTLY HAS 7,971 MEMBERS (HOUSEHOLDS AND BUSINESSES). MEMBERS ARE KEPT INFORMED OF THE ORGANIZATION'S ACTIVITIES VIA BLOGS, SOCIAL MEDIA, E-NEWSLETTERS AND QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF FOREST NOTES MAGAZINE. POLICYTHE FOREST SOCIETY LOBBIES STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS IN CONCORD, NH AND OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION IN WASHINGTON. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THERE WAS ONE STAFF MEMBER WHO ALLOCATED TIME TO LOBBYING THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: TESTIFYING AT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE HEARINGS, MEETING DIRECTLY WITH STATE LEGISLATORS ON BEHALF OF THE FOREST SOCIETY'S POSITION ON SPECIFIC PIECES OF LEGISLATION, PROVIDING LEGISLATORS WITH INFORMATION ON ISSUES UNDER CONSIDERATION IN CONGRESS AND THE NH LEGISLATURE AND MEETING WITH STATE AGENCY OFFICIALS ABOUT ISSUES RELATIVE TO THE FOREST SOCIETY'S MISSION.THE STATE LEGISLATURE MEETS FROM JANUARY TO JUNE EACH YEAR. THE MAJORITY OF THE ORGANIZATION'S POLICY STAFF STATE-LEVEL LOBBYING EFFORTS OCCUR WITHIN THESE SIX-MONTH SESSIONS ALTHOUGH WE DO ENGAGE WITH LEGISLATORS AT OTHER TIMES DURING THE YEAR. THE FOREST SOCIETY LOBBIES SPECIFICALLY ON BILLS RELATING TO SPNHF'S MISSION INCLUDING THOSE ADDRESSING FORESTRY, WATER QUALITY, AIR QUALITY, LAND CONSERVATION, ENERGY FACILITY SITING, CLIMATE CHANGE, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE TESTIFIED ON THREE SEPARATE BILLS RELATED TO FOREST CARBON CREDIT BILLS, TWO OF WHICH THE FOREST SOCIETY OPPOSED AND ONE WHICH THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED. WE TESTIFIED IN SUPPORT OF TWO BILLS THAT IMPROVED THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE LAND AND COMMUNITY HERITAGE INVESTMENT PROGRAM, ONE OF THE KEY STATE-LEVEL PROGRAMS FOR LAND CONSERVATION.BECAUSE THE PROTECTION OF NH'S WATER RESOURCES IS ANOTHER PRIORITY OF THE FOREST SOCIETY, WE ALSO ADVOCATED FOR THE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE BANNED THE SALE IN NH OF CERTAIN PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN PFAS IN ORDER TO LIMIT PFAS CONTAMINATION IN WATER.FINALLY, WE WORK DIRECTLY WITH OUR FEDERAL CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION ON FEDERAL LEGISLATION WHICH RELATED TO THE FOREST SOCIETY'S MISSION. FOR EXAMPLE, AS IN 2023, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE NH CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW FEDERAL CONSERVATION PROGRAM TO HELP FORESTLAND OWNERS CONSERVE THEIR FORESTS CALLED THE FOREST CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAM. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE DELEGATION ON A BILL TO ESTABLISH THE CONNECTICUT RIVER WATERSHED PARTNERSHIP ACT. BECAUSE THE FEDERAL FARM BILL IS A MAJOR SOURCE OF CONSERVATION FUNDING, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM ON THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE FARM BILL. CONGRESS HAS NOT FINISHED WORK ON THIS ISSUE IN 2024 AND LIKELY WILL NEED TO DO SO IN 2025. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN WORKING WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO ENSURE THE US FOREST SERVICE CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE FOREST SERVICE-MANAGED EXPERIMENTAL FORESTS, TWO OF WHICH ARE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. THE EXPERIMENTAL FORESTS HAVE BEEN UNDERTAKING IMPORTANT RESEARCH ON ISSUES RELATIVE TO FOREST MANAGEMENT, FOREST HEALTH AND CLIMATE HEALTH.

LAND PROTECTION: THE FOREST SOCIETY CONSERVED 5,396 ACRES THROUGH 15 LAND PROTECTION PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE. AMONG THE PROJECTS WERE SIX FEE ACQUISITIONS TOTALING 4,207 ACRES ADDED TO OUR LAND OWNERSHIP AND EIGHT CONSERVATION EASEMENTS TOTALING 1,186 ACRES ON LAND OWNED BY OTHERS. WE CONTINUE TO ADMINISTER TWO REGIONAL LAND PROTECTION PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE QUABBIN TO CARDIGAN REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP AND MERRIMACK RIVER CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP, WHICH INVOLVE ORGANIZATIONS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MASSACHUSETTS WORKING TOGETHER TO PROTECT THE VITAL NATURAL RESOURCES OF EACH REGION.

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: FOREST SOCIETY STATEWIDE OUTREACH EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL EVENTS FOR 2023-24 INCLUDE PUBLIC, PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY-BASED EVENTS WHICH REACHED OVER 7,000 PARTICIPANTS. PROGRAM CENTERS AT CREEK FARM IN PORTSMOUTH, THE FOREST SOCIETY NORTH AT ROCKS AND BRETZFELDER PARK IN BETHLEHEM AND AT THE CONCORD CONSERVATION CENTER HOSTED OUTREACH EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR AUDIENCES OF FOREST SOCIETY MEMBERS, GENERAL PUBLIC, NH PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS, COLLEGE STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY PROGRAM PARTNERS SERVING LOCAL YOUTH TO ADULT LEARNERS. THE GRAND RE-OPENING OF THE NEW CARRIAGE BARN EDUCATION FACILITY AT THE ROCKS PROVIDED RENEWED OPPORTUNITIES TO REACH WIDER NORTH COUNTRY REGIONAL AUDIENCES, SCHOOLS, HOLIDAY VISITORS AND THE PUBLIC.CREEK FARM IN PORTSMOUTH PROGRAMS INCLUDE FOREST SOCIETY SPONSORED NATURAL HISTORY EDUCATION PROGRAMS AS WELL AS SUMMER CAMPS HOSTED BY THE GUNDALOW COMPANY AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING YOGA, ZEN-TANGLE AND POETRY EVENTS.CONCORD-BASED OUTREACH PROGRAMS REACHED WIDER STATEWIDE AUDIENCES VIA PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDING:- THE SUMMER PROGRAM SERIES AT THE JOHN HAY ESTATE AT THE FELLS IN NEWBURY- THE COTTRELL-BALDWIN ENVIRONMENTAL LECTURE SERIES WITH THE NH DIVISION OF FORESTS & LANDS, DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES AT FOX FOREST, HILLSBOROUGH.- THE LAKE SUNAPEE PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION.- CITY OF ROCHESTER RECREATION DEPARTMENT.- THE OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE- CENTENNIAL SENIOR CENTER "GOOD LIFE" PROGRAMS- PLEASANT VIEW RETIREMENT IN CONCORD.- MUSEUM OF WHITE MOUNTAINS HISTORY AT PLYMOUTH STATE UNIVERSITY.- THE USDA USFS WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FORESTTHE AUTUMN 2023 DIY "5 HIKE CHALLENGE" WAS OFFERED FOR THE 4TH YEAR IN A ROW IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CONCORD HOSPITAL / CONCORD COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE NETWORK TO REACH A WIDER AUDIENCE IN CONCORD, TILTON AND LACONIA. TOTAL PARTICIPANT REGISTRATION FOR 2023 TOTALED 328 PARTICIPANTS.FISCAL YEAR 2024 INCLUDED A BROAD MIX OF INDOOR LECTURE SERIES, OUTDOOR WALKS AND HIKES AND PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS AND MEDIA FEATURES WERE DESIGNED TO CONNECT FOREST SOCIETY MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS AND LOCAL AUDIENCES WITH THE FOREST SOCIETY'S LAND CONSERVATION, FORESTRY AND RECREATION STEWARDSHIP MISSION.PROGRAMS CONTENT INCLUDES FIELD NATURAL HISTORY, RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY, LAND CONSERVATION, CULTURAL HISTORY, WILDLIFE, AND STEWARDSHIP OF RECREATION TRAILS SERVING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VISITORS STATEWIDE AT POPULAR FOREST SOCIETY PROPERTIES INCLUDING MOUNT MAJOR AND MOUNT MONADNOCK. SLIDE-ILLUSTRATED LECTURES, READINGS, HIKES AND TOURS DELIVER FOREST SOCIETY CONTENT BOTH LIVE AND IN-PERSON AT PROGRAM CENTERS, FOREST RESERVATIONS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES. COMMUNICATION VIA STATEWIDE MEDIA INCLUDE MONTHLY "FOREST JOURNAL" COLUMNS IN THE STATEWIDE NH SUNDAY NEWS AND "SOMETHING WILD" NH PUBLIC RADIO FEATURES ON-AIR AND ONLINE AND VIA THE PODCAST FEATURES PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NHPR AND NH AUDUBON. OUTREACH EDUCATION, COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS AT THE FOREST SOCIETY INTRODUCE STUDENTS, RESIDENTS, VISITORS, FOREST SOCIETY MEMBERS AND DONORS TO THE PEOPLE, PROTECTED PROPERTIES AND PARTNERSHIPS WHICH MAKE OUR STATEWIDE MISSION POSSIBLE.FOREST SOCIETY FY'24 EDUCATION PROGRAMS REGISTRATION DATACONCORD CONSERVATION CENTER9 EVENTS WITH 164 ATTENDEESCREEK FARM PORTSMOUTH22 EVENTS WITH 286 ATTENDEESBRETZFELDER PARK4 EVENTS WITH 41 ATTENDEESFOREST SOCIETY NORTH AT THE ROCKS EVENTS INCLUDING CHRISTMAS TREE SALES, MAPLE EXPERIENCE TOURS, BUS TOURS, BUILDING TOURS, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND TRAIL USERS 5,500 ATTENDEESOFF-SITE FOREST SOCIETY PROGRAMSPROGRAMS SUCH AS 5 HIKES CHALLENGE, SCHOOL AND YOUTH PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS, PROGRAMS WITH PARTNER GROUPS AND FOREST SOCIETY ANNUAL MEETING, 1,473 ATTENDEES