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News

  • Legislation Introduced in Congress to Enhance the Protection of the Connecticut River Watershed

    Matt Leahy
    August 28, 2023

    The act proposes to establish a partnership among federal, state, local and private entities to promote conservation, restoration, education and recreation efforts in the important watershed.

  • Legislation Introduced in U.S. Senate to Establish New Forest Conservation Program

    Matt Leahy
    August 23, 2023

    The purpose of the program is to keep forests as forests through the use of conservation easements that purchase development rights from willing private and tribal landowners to prevent conversion to non-forest uses.

  • Forest Society Statement on Governor Sununu's Veto of HB142

    Jack Savage
    August 21, 2023

    "It is too early for us to comment on what the future will be for low-grade wood markets but we will continue to work with our partners in the forestry community to assess our next steps," said Jack Savage, president of the Forest Society.

NH Senate Committee Approves Agricultural Lands Protection Legislation

Matt Leahy
May 24, 2023
Advocacy
A green field on Tuckaway Farm.
Tuckaway Farm, in Lee, where the Forest Society purchased a conservation easement on a 36-acre parcel of land in 2021 that was an addition to the already-conserved farm lands.

The New Hampshire Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources approved House Bill 221. This bill proposes to make some important improvements to New Hampshire’s existing Agricultural Land Preservation (ALP) Program. The Forest Society supports this bill. (Read our testimony here)

RSA 432, the enabling statute for the Agricultural Land Preservation (ALP) program, gives the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food (DAMF) the ability to conserve important farmland across NH through the purchase of conservation easements. These scenic farms support the backdrop for the larger tourism-based economy and provide employment, economic, and environmental benefits to their local communities.

One of the challenges that has become apparent in recent years is that the DAMF’s capacity to administer ALP and to take on the technical and financial responsibilities of managing and monitoring those easements is constrained.  

Fortunately, New Hampshire has a capable land trust community who have protected thousands of acres of NH farmland. These organizations have the expertise and capacity to take on the responsibilities of protecting and stewarding the important agricultural land in our state. 

The passage of HB 221 will allow land trusts to hold easements on the properties protected under the ALP Program. The Forest Society is supportive of HB 221 because adding the ALP into the toolbox of land protection programs will mean better outcomes for the conservation of our state’s agricultural and farming community.

  • We encourage readers to contact members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to thank them for their vote. 

 

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Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests54 Portsmouth St.Concord, NH 03301
Phone: 603.224.9945Fax: 603.228.0423info@forestsociety.org
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