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News

  • Memories Made at the Rocks

    Emily Lord
    February 15, 2019
    Following the fire that destroyed the historic ...
  • Newly Protected Farmland in Hillsborough Strengthens Existing Conservation Areas

    Brian Hotz
    January 30, 2019

    In 2005, James and Cynthia Thorburn donated a conservation easement to the Forest Society on more than 25 acres of land in Hillsborough. In 2017, ...

  • Additional 77-acres of Forestland and Wetlands Conserved in Hopkinton

    Brian Hotz
    January 30, 2019

    Donald and Susan Ware are not strangers to conservation. In 2007, the couple donated a conservation easement on their 120 acres of land in ...

Passing the Torch

Jane Difley
January 29, 2019
Land Conservation
Forest Society History
Gap Mountain reservation in Jaffrey, New Hampshire
Gap Mountain Reservation in Jaffrey, New Hampshire is where Jane Difley spent time working as a Forest Society summer intern early in her career. Photo by Jerry and Marcy Monkman/Ecophotography.

I recently shared my plan to retire in October 2019 with the Forest Society board, staff, and supporters. After 22 years, I’m ready to spend more time exploring the land the Forest Society has protected during my tenure here. I’m looking forward to taking my canine sidekick, Minnie, on hikes of Black Mountain, Deaf Dog Reservation, and Grandpa Watson’s Woodlot. I want to hike the length of the Hedgehog Ridge Trail in Deering and return to the Washburn Family Forest in Clarksville. And I’m always game to hike Gap Mountain, where I spent my early years as a Forest Society summer intern.

The Forest Society was founded in 1901 in an effort to save the White Mountains from devastating logging, fires, and erosion. Thanks to the fledging Forest Society and many other dedicated supporters, the White Mountain National Forest was established.
I am grateful to our members, staff, and Board of Trustees who have contributed to all that’s been accomplished over the last two decades. Together, we’ve protected nearly 300,000 acres of New Hampshire’s most important forests, fields, wetlands, and vistas. We’ve protected public drinking water supplies, wildlife habitats, and amazing recreational resources. The lands we own as reservations have doubled in acreage. As a friend of mine used to say, “Not too shabby!”

From an organizational standpoint, this is a good time to transition to new leadership. The Forest Society is on stable footing with a great board and experienced staff. Our trustees are already convening a committee of the board to begin a search for a suitable person to lead the organization forward.

In the meantime, there’s our 118th anniversary to celebrate and a lot of work to be done: Northern Pass will (perhaps) be at the Supreme Court this year; we want to engage more people on our lands; and there are land protection projects to complete along with myriad other important challenges to keeping New Hampshire, New Hampshire. I’ll have three or so more columns to write between now and October, but right now, I’ve got to get back to work! I hope to see you in the forest!

Jane Difley is the president/forester of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.

This blog post originally appeared in Forest Notes: New Hampshire's Conservation Magazine. Join today to start receiving our quarterly, award-winning magazine for land conservation news and special stories of people and place in New Hampshire.

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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