We were asked to prepare a forest management plan for a 54 acre forested property in Deering, NH. Most of the land is protected by a Conservation Easement held by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. It is part of a conservation block totalling over 2,600 acres that straddles the Hillsborough, Henniker, and Deering borders.
The project was a challenge as it was logged over the past winter, and part of our job was to inventory what was there, not just what is there now. We collected data on wetlands, hydrology, understory flora, wildlife, overstory trees, regeneration, stand dynamics, and harvest effects on the residual stand.
A major highlight was locating a unique enriched hardwood seepage forest featuring black ash, basswood, elm, hornbeam, and a very rich herbaceous understory. We also observed breeding rose-breasted grosbeaks, an uncommon bird in the northeast in the spring. Unusual plants like oak fern and baneberry occurred in the mature forests low in the property, while the closest areas to the road featured great early successioanl forest habitat in dense pole stands of aspen and mixed hardwoods.
To protect private property rights we are choosing to not post the management plan for public viewing, but if you own land and would like to see a sample of this type of work feel free to contact us and we can show you portions of some management plans to give you and idea of what we can do for you and your property.
