Forest Society Annual Fund Appeal
With your help, we can make a positive difference locally, regionally and statewide, so that future generations will benefit from the natural resources and scenic beauty that sustain us today.
This summer, at Mount Monadnock, where the Forest Society has protected more than 4,500 acres and collaborates with New Hampshire State Parks, the mountain is abuzz with trail crews, including volunteers participating in our 16th Annual Monadnock Trails Week.
On the Merrimack River, paddlers are out taking part in the two-state Merrimack Paddle Challenge. This 2nd annual event is inspiring even more people this year to explore and develop a greater appreciation for the river that winds through bustling cityscapes and long stretches of undeveloped shoreline and farmland.
And in Bethlehem, construction is underway at The Rocks. In June, we officially broke ground on a major renovation of the 1884 Carriage Barn, beginning its conversion into a net-zero program and education center – as well as tree farm and recreation destination. This new Forest Society North facility will allow us to expand our conservation, stewardship and outreach programs in the North Country.
This activity across the state only happens thanks to you. Your support as as a member and donor makes our conservation, stewardship and education work possible. I hope we can count on you to continue your very generous support now with a gift to our Annual Fund. Together we are making a difference in the New Hampshire of today and tomorrow.
We are also working on several exciting new land conservation projects this year. They include:
- Expanding the Morse Preserve in Alton – Thanks to the generosity of two families and more than 460 donors, we will soon complete the protection of an additional 472 acres surrounding the existing Evelyn H. and Albert D. Morse, Sr. Preserve in Alton. This gem of a reservation offers amazing views of the Belknap Range and Lake Winnipesaukee, and expanding conservation here will provide important watershed protection for Alton Bay.
- Conserving 3,750 acres in the Northern Forest along the Androscoggin River – The Mahoosuc Highlands Initiative will extend a corridor of conserved forestland that stretches from the town of Gorham to the high peaks along the Appalachian Trail Corridor where New Hampshire meets Maine. This new reservation will offer wonderful opportunities for hiking, paddling, fishing and non-motorized recreation.
- Protecting more than two miles of Merrimack River frontage in Penacook – Working with the Morrill Family once again, the Forest Society will secure a conservation easement on more than 200 acres at their main farm property. This conservation project will forever protect prime agricultural soils, as well as floodplain forests and wetlands along a north-south migration route for wildlife.
These projects are emblematic of the Forest Society’s work across the state. We are dedicated to protecting the lands that provide wildlife habitat, store carbon, filter air and support wetlands and water quality.
But this work is not possible without you. The dollars that you contribute to the Forest Society’s Annual Fund are converted into conservation results every day. Your support has direct impact that is seen, felt and experienced across the landscape of our state.