Society For The Protection Of New Hampshire Forests

THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF NEW HAMPSHIRE FORESTS WAS FOUNDED IN 1901 TO PROTECT THE STATE'S MOST IMPORTANT LANDSCAPES AND PROMOTE THE WISE USE OF ITS NATURAL RESOURCES.

LAND AND EASEMENT STEWARDSHIP: THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF NEW HAMPSHIRE FORESTS OWNS AND MANAGES 197 RESERVATIONS COVERING ALMOST 58,000 ACRES. IN FY22, WE RAN 10 TIMBER HARVESTS COVERING 544 ACRES. WE HARVESTED 2.4 MILLION BOARD FEET OF SAWLOGS AND 10,108 TONS OF LOW GRADE WOOD. THIS BROUGHT IN $366,000 IN STUMPAGE REVENUE. WE HAD 170 VOLUNTEER LAND STEWARDS HELPING US MNITOR AND MAINTAIN OUR FOREST SOCIETY RESERVATIONS ACROSS THE STATE.OUR VOLUNTEER EASEMENT MONITORING PROGRAM (VEMP) SAW 13 VOLUNTEERS MONITOR 39 CONSERVATION EASMENT PROPERTIES. IN ADDITION, OUR STAFF MONITORED MORE THAN 700 EASEMENTS ON MORE THAN 130,000 ACRES. AT THE ROCKS, WE HARVESTED MORE THAN 5,000 CHRISTMAS TREES. THE FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM AND THE FOREVER GREEN PROGRAMS WERE ALL HELD ON-SITE. THE SPRING MAPLE PROGRAMS AND FALL BUS TOURS WERE BOTH SUCCESSFUL. THE BRETZFELDER PARK PROGRAMS WERE CONDUCTED VIA A MIXTURE OF ZOOM AND IN-PERSON FORMATS.

LAND PROTECTION: THE FOREST SOCIETY CONSERVED 1,168 ACRES THROUGH 9 LAND PROTECTION PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE. AMONG THE PROJECTS WERE THREE FEE ACQUISITIONS TOTALING 267 ACRES ADDED TO OUR RESERVATIONS AND SIX CONSERVATION EASEMENTS TOTALING 901 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 OUTREACH EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR 2021-22 INCLUDED NEARLY 100 UNIQUE PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY-BASED OUTREACH EVENTS FOR AN AUDIENCE TOTALING MORE THAN THREE THOUSAND PARTICIPANTS. BASED FROM PROGRAM CENTERS AT CREEK FARM IN PORTSMOUTH, THE ROCKS AND BRETZFELDER PARK IN BETHLEHEM AND THE CONCORD CONSERVATION CENTER AUDIENCES INCLUDED MEMBERS, GENERAL PUBLIC, SCHOOLS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS AND FOR COMMUNITY PROGRAM PROVIDERS SERVING OLDER, ADULT LEARNERS. PROGRAMS AND EVENTS HELD AT MONADNOCK, MOUNT MAJOR AND IN COOPERATION WITH THE JOHN HAY ESTATE AT THE FELLS.THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 WAS A TRANSITION FROM VIRTUAL PROGRAMS VIA ZOOM TO TRADITIONAL, OUTDOOR LIVE, FACE-TO-FACE PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO RE-CONNECT MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS AND LOCAL AUDIENCES WITH THE FOREST SOCIETY MISSION AND TO NATURAL RESOURCE TOPICS INCLUDING FORESTRY, LAND CONSERVATION, NH HISTORY, WILDLIFE, RECREATION TRAILS AND MORE. LECTURES, HIKES, READINGS, AND TOURS DELIVERED FOREST SOCIETY CONTENT LIVE WHILE VIRTUAL PROGRAMS VIA ZOOM. COMMUNICATION IN STATEWIDE MEDIA VIA THE "FOREST JOURNAL" IN NH SUNDAY NEWS AND "SOMETHING WILD" FEATURES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NHPR AND NH AUDUBON. HIGHLIGHTS:SUMMER- PROGRAMS WITH THE JOHN HAY ESTATE AT THE FELLS, - 5 HIKES CHALLENGE DO-IT-YOURSELF HIKING MAPS AND GUIDES FOR 26 FOREST SOCIETY RESERVATION - MERRIMACK PADDLE CHALLENGE- CREEK FARM 14 SESSION SUMMER PROGRAMS SERIES - STAFF-LED TOURS OF FOREST SOCIETY RESERVATIONS. - VISITS BY SCHOOL CAMPS VISITS TO MERRIMACK RIVER FLOODPLAIN- DO-IT-YOURSELF, SELF-GUIDED PADDLING AND HIKING EXPERIENCES WERE OFFERED VIA YEAR 1 OF THE SUMMER "MERRIMACK RIVER PADDLE CHALLENGE AND DURING THE AUTUMN "FIVE HIKES CHALLENGE" REACHED NEARLY 700 ENTHUSIASTIC PARTICIPANTS.AUTUMN - 5 HIKES CHALLENGE, FEATURING DO-IT-YOURSELF HIKING MAPS AND GUIDES FOR 26 FOREST SOCIETY RESERVATIONS- ANNUAL MEETING AT CREEK FARM IN PORTSMOUTH - STAFF-LED TOURS OF FOREST SOCIETY RESERVATIONS. - SIX SCREENINGS OF THE FOREST SOCIETY FILM "THE MERRIMACK: RIVER AT RISK"- BUS TOURS FOR ROCKS MAPLE EXPERIENCE REACHED 2200 VISITORS- DEDICATION OF JAMES DUE FAMILY PLAQUE WITH BLACK HERITAGE TRAIL NH- CREEK FARM 5-PART OCTOBER PROGRAMS SERIES- PARTNERSHIP WITH SNHU BOTANY CLASS AND A CAMPUS VISIT- MERRIMACK FILM FOR GRAPPONE INSTITUTE FOR HUMANITIES AT SAINT ANSELM COLLEGE SERIESWINTER- CREEK FARM 6-PART WINTER PROGRAMS SERIES- WINTER TIMBER HARVEST TOURS SERIES- ROCKS OUTDOOR SNOWSHOE TOURS- BRETZFELDER PARK 4-PART EVENING PROGRAMS SERIES- OUTINGS AT THE ROCKS AND MAPLE WEEKENDS REACHED A TOTAL 400 PARTICIPANTS- COTTRELL-BALDWIN 4-PART LECTURE SERIES RETURNED LIVE TO FOX FOREST FOR 200 PARTICIPANTS- APPLE TREE PRUNING DEMONSTRATIONS AT BOTH THE ROCKS AND CREEK FARMSPRING- EARTH DAY CLEAN UP AT MT MAJOR- TREE PLANTING FOR ARBOR DAY WITH STUDENTS FROM BROKEN GROUND SCHOOL- FLOODPLAIN WALKING TOUR FOR OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE- MAPLE AND WILDLIFE PROGRAMS WITH CONCORD-BASED "GOOD LIFE" COMMUNITY EDUCATION- CONSERVATION HISTORY OF MOUNT SUNAPEE

MEMBERSHIPTHE FOREST SOCIETY CURRENTLY HAS 8,958 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 AND PROVIDING LEGISLATORS WITH INFORMATION ON ISSUES UNDER CONSIDERATION IN CONGRESS AND THE NH LEGISLATURE. 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. 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, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE 2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE ADVOCATED FOR LEGISLATION THAT ESTABLISHED THE NH LOW-GRADE WOOD AND EMERGING MARKETS COMMISSION. BECAUSE THE FOREST SOCIETY HARVESTS WOOD OFF OUR RESERVATIONS, FINDING ADDITIONAL MARKETS FOR THIS WOOD IS IMPORTANT TO FURTHERING OUR EFFORTS TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY. BECAUSE THE INCREASE IN OHRV USE IN NH HAS CREATED CONFLICTS, WE ALSO ADVOCATED FOR THE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH AN OHRV STUDY COMMISSION WHICH WILL FOCUS ON OHRV USE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. BECAUSE THE PROTECTION OF NH'S WATER RESOURCES IS ANOTHER PRIORITY OF THE FOREST SOCIETY, WE ALSO ADVOCATED FOR THE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN THE STANDARDS FOR SITING A SOLID WASTE LANDFILL NEAR A BODY OF WATER. FINALLY, WE WORK DIRECTLY WITH OUR FEDERAL CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION ON FEDERAL LEGISLATION WHICH IMPACTS SPNHF'S MISSION. FOR EXAMPLE, PRIOR TO THE PASSAGE OF THE FEDERAL INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA), WE WORKED WITH THE NH CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION ON SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT BECOME PART OF THE ENACTED INFLATION REDUCTION ACT INCLUDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE FEDERAL FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM AND A PROGRAM TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES FOR PRIVATE FOREST OWNERS TO IMPROVE AND MAINTAIN SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT THAT SEQUESTERS ADDITIONAL CARBON. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN WORKING WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO PASS THE CHARITABLE CONSERVATION EASEMENT INTEGRITY ACT, LEGISLATION DESIGNED TO CURTAIL TAX ABUSES WITH CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. WHILE THE LEGISLATION IS STILL PENDING, THE NH DELEGATION IS SUPPORTIVE.