To help the Easement Stewardship team monitor thousands of acres of conservation properties, the Volunteer Easement Monitoring Program (VEMP) was started in 2016. Since then, the program has been gradually expanding.

Do you like to hike off-trail in the woods?  Would you like to explore conservation properties and enjoy the challenge of navigating through the forest with a map and compass?  

If so, the Forest Society's Volunteer Easement Monitor Program (VEMP) may be a great fit for you!  

Volunteer Easement Monitors assist the Forest Society's Easement Stewardship staff by monitoring 2-5 conservation easement properties each year.  These properties are not typically owned by the Forest Society, but we hold conservation restrictions on them which limit development and need to be upheld and monitored annually.  Volunteer Easement Monitors will complete a 1-day training covering history/mission of the Forest Society, the basics of easement deeds and terms, use of a GPS tablet/smartphone app, and boundary navigation by survey and compass.  Following this training, 2-5 easement properties are assigned to each volunteer to monitor annually.  

We have reached capacity for 2020 volunteers - please send an email to VEMP@ForestSociety.org if you would like to be involved in 2021 - Thank you

Volunteer Skills/Qualifications: Familiar and comfortable with navigating off-trail in the woods, ability to use (or learn to use) technology- GPS app for tablet or smartphone- to collect track, point and photo data, and submit it to the Forest Society. Knowledge of stewardship and forestry practices also helpful, but not essential.  Willing to travel some distance in NH to reach easement properties, and willing to monitor 2-5 properties per year, for 2+ years.  

Location: Variable, several conservation easement properties statewide. 

Commitment/Hours: 1 day training, then 2-5 days/year monitoring easement properties.  
We ask that Volunteer Easement Monitors make a 2 year commitment to the program.

Training: Comprehensive training for new volunteer easement monitors offered annually.

• The 2020 training @ The Conservation Center in Concord, NH will be postponed (See update below).
• Topics include, map & compass use, smartphone navigation app use and recording GPS tracks, overview of conservation easement/land management philosophy
• Please see contact below for more info and details about the training. We need your help to monitor many many acres of conserved land!

Contact: Andy Crowley VEMP@forestsociety.org for more information.