Pappas’ tour comes on the heels of Bartlett’s proposed closure, now postponed due to bipartisan action by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Gov. Kelly Ayotte. Rep. Maggie Goodlander also had a recent visit to Bartlett, just after she and Pappas jointly introduced legislation to block Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins from implementing the closures without congressional approval. Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in Thornton has been removed from the closure list.
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.
Conservation doesn’t stop at the edge of the woods. The Forest Society works alongside policymakers, researchers, landowners, and partners to help shape the policies and public investments that protect New Hampshire’s forests, clean water, wildlife habitat, and communities for generations to come.
As part of Land Trust Alliance Advocacy Days 2026, Forest Society leaders met with New Hampshire’s congressional delegation and U.S. Forest Service officials to advance key conservation priorities, including Farm Bill programs, a proposed Forest Conservation Easement Program, and the value of open space. These conversations also addressed concerns about the Forest Service’s proposed reorganization, reinforcing the importance of strong federal partnerships and scientific capacity to support forests and communities.
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.
From the Union Leader: A new report from eight conservation groups — including the Forest Society — finds that open space contributes more than $8 billion annually to New Hampshire’s economy through forestry, farming, tourism, and outdoor recreation. The study highlights how conserved lands protect water, store carbon, and strengthen communities.
A federal judge recently upheld the U.S. Forest Service’s plans for timber harvests in the White Mountain National Forest near Piermont and Gorham. Forest Society President Jack Savage noted the ruling affirms that the Forest Service followed the law and struck a reasonable balance between conservation and forest management.
A federal court in New Hampshire has upheld the White Mountain National Forest’s management plan, rejecting a legal challenge to two proposed timber harvests. The Forest Society, along with conservation and forestry partners, filed an Amicus brief supporting the U.S. Forest Service’s ability to use well-planned silviculture to balance forest health, resilience, and multiple long-term goals.
