Record Year for Forest Society

I've been a member of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (SPNHF) for over 25 years now. Of all the conservation groups that I am a member of and support, the Forest Society is my dearest. They are doing more than any other organization or agency in making sure that my beloved home state retains its natural beauty and wild and open spaces. The Forest Society has been active in keeping the Granite State one of the prettiest and most livable states in the nation since 1901. This past year was a record year for the Forest Society's land conservation efforts.

According to a January 23 press release, the Forest Society conserved more than one acre of land per hour in 2007 in New Hampshire for a total of 10,335 acres. In all, SPNHF completed 48 conservation projects which included: working forests, water resources, critical wildlife habitat, historic farmland, and important community lands.

This is keeping right in plan with the Forest Society's “New Hampshire Everlasting,” initiative that they launched in 2002 which calls for protecting over one million additional acres by the year 2026. The Forest Society has set out to conserve 25 percent of that total, or 250,000 acres, on its own by 2026. The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (http://www.forestsociety.org/) is the state’s oldest and largest non-profit land conservation organization. In order to preserve the quality of life New Hampshire residents know today, the goal of the Forest Society, in partnership with other conservation organizations, private landowners, and government, is to conserve an additional one million acres of the state’s most significant natural lands for trails, parks, farms and forests by 2026.

All a reason to celebrate, be proud of, and continue supporting SPNHF. A reason too why New Hampshire continues to lead the nation in conservation and land protection. Other states can learn from SPNHF. There is far too much at stake to lose.

(photo- me at the SPNHF Hay Reserve on Lake Sunapee, 12/07)