Forest Society Blog - News & Features

For nearly a century, the U.S. Forest Service's experimental forests—including Bartlett Experimental Forest and Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest—have provided the scientific research that guides sustainable forest management, wildlife habitat, climate resilience, and water quality across New Hampshire. Proposed changes that could weaken or close these research centers threaten the long-term knowledge landowners, foresters, and conservation organizations rely on to steward healthy forests.

American beech trees are a distinctive and vital part of New Hampshire’s northern hardwood forests, providing food and habitat for wildlife while adding year-round beauty to the landscape. But the spread of beech leaf disease could dramatically reshape these forests, making it more important than ever to appreciate—and protect—this remarkable tree.

The Forest Society joined a roundtable with New Hampshire’s congressional delegation to discuss the U.S. Forest Service’s proposed reorganization, raising concerns about cuts to research capacity, loss of scientific expertise, and potential impacts to state and private forestry programs. As the proposal evolves, we’re urging public engagement to help ensure decisions support healthy forests, strong communities, and a resilient forest-based economy.

The New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands and Forest Society have announced the 2026 Cottrell-Baldwin Environmental Lecture Series, a free four-part program on New Hampshire’s forest history, health, and future. The series runs March 17–April 7 at the Henry I. Baldwin Environmental Center in Hillsborough.

Winter forests are full of hidden microclimates, from snow-sheltered deer yards beneath conifers to sun-warmed tree wells in hardwood stands. As explored on Something Wild, these subtle snow patterns shape how wildlife survives the coldest months.

Join Forest Society forestry staff and a UNH Extension Forestry Educator on Saturday, February 14 (9:30 AM–12:30 PM) at Dudley Pond in Henniker for a free, guided hike through an active timber harvest. Discover how sustainable forestry works, how trees are selected during a harvest, and how forests regenerate over time on this behind-the-scenes tour.