Hike to riverbank shares watershed land conservation and statewide policy
- Tags:
- Advocacy,
- Clean Water,
- Education
Students and UNH staff hiked the main trail to the river through the white pine plantation to the riverbank to learn about land conservation and the Merrimack River Conservation Partnership.
The Merrimack Conservation Partnership is a regional conservation alliance formed to protect the southern portion of the greater Merrimack River watershed in New Hampshire and Massachusetts through accelerated land and water protection, advocacy, restoration, outreach, and education. The Partnership works by supporting and fostering collaboration, coordination, and innovation among partner organizations to strengthen our individual and collective efforts toward achieving the shared goal of a clean, healthy Merrimack River.Senior Education Director Dave Anderson shared information on the Forest Society's Merrimack Floodplain property features and wildlife habitats including riparian forest of Silver Maple.
Earlier this winter, CoastWise program students watched the Forest Society's documentary film, The Merrimack: River at Risk, to learn why the Merrimack River was ranked as among the "most endangered rivers in the country" by American Rivers in 2014.The Forest Society Public Policy Director, Matt Leahy, shared an introduction to how NH conservation groups have traditionally worked with state lawmakers in the NH State Legislature including State Conservation programs such as the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) and the efforts of the NH conservation community at the federal level via work with NH's Congressional Delegation.
Lindsey Williams, Senior Fellow for Coastal Policy and Engagement/Affiliate Assistant Research Professor/Lecturer at the School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering at NH Sea Grant coordinates the UNH CoastWise workshop shared that the land conservation and policy themes were helpful to set the stage for continued discussion and dialoge within the group.Our unique group field trip setting — outdoors and in winter temperatures along the bank of the Merrimack River — was the outdoor option to provide Forest Society outreach program in indoor setting while the indoor conference room classroom space at the Concord Conservation Center remained closed.
Learn More
- More information on the partnership is here: https://merrimackconservationpartnership.org
- The link to watch the film is located here: https://forestsociety.org/riveratrisk
- More info on CoastWise program is available here: https://seagrant.unh.edu/coastwise
- Those interested in applying for the next cohort of the program are also welcome to sign up for our info list here: https://seagrant.unh.edu/form/coastwise-interest-form