Forest Society Blog - News & Features

Join the Forest Society on August 8 for this special anniversary event offering rare access to privately protected conservation easement properties across New Hampshire through guided and self-guided tours, landowner conversations, and opportunities to explore the landscapes conservation helps preserve.

For Canterbury resident Stephen Rasche, New Hampshire's forests and wildlife are a daily reminder that truly wild places still exist. Through a planned gift to the Forest Society, Stephen and his wife are helping ensure that the forest they love remains protected for future generations—reflecting their belief that we are not owners of the land, but its stewards during our time here.

The Forest Society has permanently conserved 53 acres in Goffstown, New Hampshire, completing the protection of the historic Sugar Bush Farm with the Shost family and safeguarding important farmland, wildlife habitat, and water resources in the Merrimack River watershed. This project supports the town’s goal of preserving productive agricultural land and was made possible through the generosity of the Shost family and a partnership of public and private funders.

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.

Join the Forest Society for a month of stewardship at Mount Major in Alton. With heavy use comes real impact—trash, erosion, and strain on trails and water. From volunteer outreach and trail work to a self-guided Earth Day cleanup, there are simple ways to help care for this well-loved place. Be part of protecting it for the future.

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.

Thanks to the generosity of more than 425 private donors, the Forest Society has conserved 230 acres of critical land at the summit of Mt. Kearsarge—some of the last remaining private inholdings within the state forest. This milestone protects high-elevation habitat and preserves the mountain’s scenic and ecological integrity for generations to come.