Old trees, large trees, structural diversity, snags, coarse woody debris, pit and mound topography, nurse logs, canopy gaps, broken-topped trees, mosses, lichens, and lack of human disturbance—these are characteristics of an old-growth forest in the Granite State. See “Finding Old-Growth Forests in New Hampshire,” an article by David Govatski, published by the University of New […]
Archive | natural heritage
Resistance Radio talks old forest ecology and protection
Resistance Radio recently aired an interview with Joan Maloof, an old-growth advocate. During the discussion, Maloof relates personal stories as she teaches about forest ecology, the importance of preserving old forests, and the work of the Old-Growth Forest Network. We share that interview here. And to learn about the rare old forest in Mount Sunapee […]
Sunapee Mountain hike bestows far more than one seeks
At Mount Sunapee State Park, the forested hiking trails take you through an exemplary natural community system, which encompasses rare old forest. As you explore the great outdoors, please stay on the trails and be mindful of trail conditions and others on the trails.
Old-Growth Forest Network founder speaks for forest
Voices & Views shares an inspiring article. The Esperanza Project interviewed Joan Maloof, founder of the Old-Growth Forest Network: “What she and her small team has already been able to achieve in the six short years since she founded the Old-Growth Forest Network is impressive, and what they have in the works is even more […]
Let the forests speak through you
Voices & Views: Let the forests speak through you. The photos and sentiment are courtesy of a Friends of Mount Sunapee organizer and old forest advocate, who hikes and participates in trail work on Mount Sunapee. Views are from hiking the Summit Trail at Mount Sunapee State Park, late March 2020.
Everlasting Forests: The Mount Sunapee Story
“Everlasting Forests: The Mount Sunapee Story”—a Friends of Mount Sunapee presentation—is now available online. View (via YouTube: “Everlasting Forests: The Mount Sunapee Story” 26-minutes). New Hampshire’s unique natural heritage includes the rare forest on Mount Sunapee, located on public land. A FOMS PowerPoint program—”Everlasting Forests”—tells this under-told story. It is about citizen activism, protection of […]
“Nature’s peace will flow into you …”
Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. ― John Muir Friends of Mount Sunapee President Steve Russell shares this photo from […]
PBS Brief But Spectacular take on environmental literacy and old growth
Check out this Brief But Spectacular take aired on PBS. Naturalist John Bates speaks about the purpose of his work, to foster “environmental literacy” by “connecting time through old-growth forests.” And here is related information about John Bates and old growth, including the exemplary and ancient forest on Mount Sunapee. Naturalist John Bates Can […]
The under-told story: Mount Sunapee’s rare forest
Many people know Mount Sunapee as a fun place to ski. Few know the story of its rare forest. Yet, audiences at the Claremont MakerSpace and Goshen’s Brook Road Inn recently heard Steve Russell, president of Friends of Mount Sunapee, tell that story about an enduring, exemplary forest in Mount Sunapee State Park. “Everlasting Forests: […]
Film showing: “The Lost Forests of New England”
A film showing of “The Lost Forests of New England” will be held Thursday, January 30, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm, in the Putnam Theater at Keene State College. Courtesy of the co-sponsors, the Harris Center for Conservation Education, the Monadnock Conservancy, and the Keene State College Film Society, we share the program announcement […]
VGJ: Citizens work to protect ancient forest on Mt. Sunapee
The Valley Green Journal, a local independent grassroots newsletter, recently published an article about the work that Friends of Mount Sunapee is doing to preserve the ancient forest on the mountain. The article is in the Journal’s December 2019 – January 2020 issue. View or download it via the VGJ website at www.valleygreenjournal.com. The Journal, based […]
Eagle Times: Sunapee group seeks protection of old growth
The Friends of Mount Sunapee continues its work on conservation, natural resource protection, education, and advocacy. Our current focus includes outreach regarding the rare ancient forest in Mount Sunapee State Park. The enduring forest on Mount Sunapee We invite you to read a recent article via the Eagle Times: “Sunapee group seeks protection for old […]
DNCR announces Sunapee lease transfer and amendments
Read FOMS latest Enews The state-owned ski area at Mount Sunapee State Park recently took another significant turn. Commissioner Sarah Stewart of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) consented to a lease transfer request that allows industry giant Vail Resorts to take over the lease and operations of the Mount Sunapee ski area. […]
DNCR to announce Mount Sunapee lease decision at Sept. 26 meeting
Special Alert: Mount Sunapee State Park Public Information Session – Wednesday, September 26 (6 pm) at Mount Sunapee State Park (Sunapee Lodge), Route 103, Newbury, N.H. New Hampshire DNCR Commissioner Sarah Stewart (Department of Natural and Cultural Resources) will announce her decision on the Mount Sunapee ski area lease assignment to Vail Resorts at a […]
Film tells of lost ancient forests of New England
Mount Sunapee State Park contains primeval forest, first documented in the Manual of Mount Sunapee in 1915 and rediscovered in 1997 by conservation ecologist Chris Kane. Permanent protection of Mount Sunapee’s “exemplary” and ancient forests is a priority for the Friends of Mount Sunapee. The film “The Lost Forests of New England” further informs and […]
‘The primeval forest of Mount Sunapee’
Courtesy of the Eagle Times, July 28, 2018, this article by Steve Russell, president of Friends of Mount Sunapee, reports on a recent hike with conservation ecologist Chris Kane. “Mount Sunapee contains as much as 10 percent of all the known ancient forest in New Hampshire, and the great majority south of the White Mountains.” – […]
SooNipi Magazine: ‘Hiking Mount Sunapee’s Summit Trail’
Enjoy and explore the Summit Trail at Mount Sunapee State Park. The SooNipi Magazine, always a fun and informative read, delivers in its summer (2015) issue an article that takes you for a hike up the Summit Trail. Learn what makes this area of our state park so special and why this favorite hiking trail […]
How do you describe Mount Sunapee’s rare old forest?
Q. – The manager of Okemo/Mount Sunapee Resort has repeatedly stated that there is no old growth in the proposed expansion area. How do you and the Friends of Mount Sunapee respond to that claim? A. – It is essential to understand that, even among forest ecologists, there is some debate over the definition of […]
Herbert Welsh: Protect Mount Sunapee for All People
Herbert Welsh: “Save Mount Sunapee for all people to all time!” Herbert Welsh (1851-1941) was a political reformist, an artist, humanitarian, Indian Rights activist, and, in many ways, the father of land conservation on Mount Sunapee. In the early 1900s, Welsh led the effort to protect land on Mount Sunapee for public use. At the […]
A forest treasure by Christopher Kane
This week conservation ecologist Christopher Kane passionately spoke out about protecting the old-growth forest on Mount Sunapee in a letter published in the Concord Monitor (Dec. 16, 2014). Chris Kane has been studying the older forest areas on Mount Sunapee on and off since 1997. Old growth forest cannot be created. Once it’s gone, it’s […]