Skip to main content

Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests

Get our e-news! Sign up

small nav

  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Staff
    • Board of Trustees
    • Our History
    • Employment
    • Conservation Center
    • FAQs
    • Partners
    • Business Members
    • Annual Reports
    • Bylaws
    • Policies
  • log in
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Main menu

  • What we do
    • Land Conservation
    • Education & Events
    • Advocacy
    • Forestry & Recreation
    • News & Features
    • Forest Notes & More Publications
  • Current Projects
    • Mahoosuc Highlands, Shelburne
    • Forest Society North at The Rocks Campaign
    • Build Creek Farm Restrooms, Portsmouth
    • Mount Major Stewardship Fund
    • Recent Accomplishments
  • Visit & Explore
    • The Rocks
    • Conservation Center
    • Mount Major
    • Creek Farm
    • Forest Reservation Guide
    • Visitor Use Guidelines
  • Get Involved
    • Upcoming Events
    • Membership/Renewal
    • Support Our Work
    • Volunteer
    • Subscribe to E-news
  • Search

Search form

Donate
Menu

News

  • Press Release: LCHIP Awards 3 Grants to Forest Society

    December 14, 2022

    The Forest Society has received three grant awards totaling $307,500 to support land conservation projects in Canterbury, Concord, and Middleton.

    Read more
  • THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF NH FORESTS AWARDED THREE LCHIP GRANTS

    December 4, 2019

    CONCORD, N.H. (Dec. 4, 2019)--The Board of Directors of the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) has announced $3.5 million dollars in matching grants awarded to thirty-three projects across the state, including the Society for the Protection of NH Forests’ ( ...

    Read more
  • Senate Overrides Governor’s Veto of LCHIP Bill but Bill Dies in the House

    Matt Leahy
    September 20, 2019

    Despite a strong 17-7 vote in the Senate in favor of overriding Governor Sununu’s veto of Senate Bill 74, which would have increased dedicated ...

Legislation Proposed to Increase the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program’s Financial Support

Matt Leahy
February 14, 2019
LCHIP
A bend in the Merrimack river lined with green trees from Stillhouse Forest.
Stillhouse Forest in Canterbury was among the recipients of NH Land and Community Heritage Investment Program grants in 2018. Photo by Jerry Monkman/Ecophotography.

Senate Bill 74 aims to increase the amount of grants the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) can award to projects that conserve and preserve our most important natural, cultural and historic resources. The source of these grant funds is a $25 fee charged on four types of documents that are recorded at the County Registry Offices. In the current state budget, the fee supported approximately $3.5 million in grants.

The Forest Society supports this legislation. We encourage all those who believe in the principle that the protection of New Hampshire’s unique natural assets is essential to safeguarding the state’s economy and character, to lend their support as well.

We expect the New Hampshire Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources will hold a hearing on the bill later this month. 

These are the important points to make with members of the Committee:

  •  A 2014 report by the Joint Legislative Study Committee reviewed the status of land conservation and determined that for every $1 invested in land conservation by the state, $11 in natural goods and services are returned to the state’s economy. Conserved lands also support outdoor recreation, tourism, and forest and agriculture industries, as well as thousands of jobs.
  • Since the program’s inception, the $43 million in funding through LCHIP has leveraged $299 million in funds from other sources. A ratio like that highlights the broad community level support for LCHIP-supported projects.
  •  Over the last 10 years, 177 out of the 505 total applications received were not funded.  That figure indicates the demand and need for LCHIP continues, even 18 years after the Legislature established the program.
  •  Most importantly, this interest in LCHIP shows how much the people of our state value our natural and historic resources and are committed to the protection of those resources. 

To contact Committee members, go here.

Download the Forest Society Mobile App, powered by OuterSpatial

Available on the App Store
Get it on Google Play

Footer menu

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests54 Portsmouth St.Concord, NH 03301
Phone: 603.224.9945Fax: 603.228.0423info@forestsociety.org
Land Trust Alliance accreditation logo