Our current project:
Conserving Gilman Forest
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drawing by Kate Thompson
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Introducing...
Whites-to-Ossipees
Wildlife Connectivity
Keeping wildlife connected between the White Mountains and the Ossipee Mountains of central New Hampshire.
An ecologically rich swath of land runs north to south through western Tamworth and
eastern Sandwich. This "corridor" of fields and forests, rivers, and marshes supports large and wide-ranging mammals - moose, bear, deer, bobcat, otter, fisher and mink - some roaming
and interbreeding between the Sandwich Range of the White Mountain
National Forest to the north and the Ossipee Mountains to the south.
And where large animals roam, there is a rich diversity of smaller
wildlife.
During the past 40 years, landowners and conservation groups have conserved thousands of acres in this "Whites to Ossipees Connectivity" area. In 2009, recognizing the value of the corridor and the extent of the progress already made in keeping it wild, the Tamworth Conservation Commission refocused its land conservation efforts in this area.
The Commission, in partnership with the Sandwich Conservation Commission and the Society for Protection of New Hampshire Forests, is working with local and regional land conservation groups and private landowners, using a variety of land preservation tools, such as conservation easements, to help facilitate actions that will maintain the diversity and connectivity of wildlife populations.
For more details, download this PDF (516 KB):
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View looking south from Mt. Whiteface, over the "Corridor," to the Ossipee Mountains.
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Top: The Gilman Forest property extends 2,500 feet along Mill Brook.
Bottom: View of the Gilman Forest, on the slope of the ridge in the mid-ground, with the Ossipee Mountains beyond.
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The NH Fish & Game Wildlife Action Plan (details here) delineated the western part of Tamworth and the eastern part of Sandwich as "Highest Ranked Wildlife Habitat by Ecological Condition," with pink showing highest ranked habitat by condition in the entire state and green showing highest ranked habitat by condition in the biological region.
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The map below shows conserved lands, including many in the "Whites-to-Ossipees Wildlife Corridor" (including The Gilman Forest, shown in yellow).
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Project Updates
September 2, 2010
PUBLIC HEARING
Gilman Forest Conservation Easement to be purchased by the Town with
funds raised from private donations. Hearing to be held at TCC Meeting,
September 13, 2010, 7:30 pm at Tamworth Town Offices.
May 1, 2010Fundraising Success!
(But now come the last details.)
We have reached our fundraising goal, thanks to the generous help of almost 150 contributors. This is truly a community effort!
The next steps in the process are to finalize the legal documents, conduct a closing, and register the documents at the Carroll County Registry of Deeds. This process will take several months. We will make public announcements when it is complete.
Thank you for your support!
NOTE: Contributions to the
Commission's Stewardship Fund, which ensures adherence to conservation
easements - including on the Gilman Forest - are still welcome. See
contribution form, below.
$128,446 raised!
Four generous lead donors had created the match challenge (see below). The challenge they set prompted $12,016 in new contributions from over 40 donors! The match was met! There is now less than $12,000 to go! The support for this project is widespread. It looks like we're going to get there - thanks to you and many others! Help us over the top with a final gift!
December 15, 2009
$100,381 raised!
Every dollar donated before January 31st - up to $12,000 - will be doubled!
Track the progress to $12,000:
12/14: $2,500 (Thank you!)
+ Your contribution (Thanks!)
October 22, 2009
$95,529 raised! (68%)
$44,471 to go.
Who will put us past $100,000?
October 9, 2009
We are seven weeks into the fundraising effort, and it is becoming more challenging. &;We are up to 66% of the project goal, but momentum has slowed; nearly $48,000 to go.
Every bit of support is critical now!
September 15, 2009
The first official three weeks of fundraising resulted in more than $40,000 of new contributions.&; When added to initial sponsoring organization pledges, this brings us to more than 65% of the project goal!
This is momentum! Please help keep it going!
Thanks to all those who have contributed & provided support!
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Help Conserve The Gilman ForestThe Tamworth Conservation Commission and the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests are partnering to conserve a key 130-acre property within the Whites-to-Ossipees Wildlife Corridor, a matrix of intact habitats that provide wildlife population connectivity between the Sandwich Range and the Ossipee Mountains.
Located next to 895 acres of conserved land, the Gilman Forest is home to moose, bear, otter, mink, and other wildlife. This property and adjoining lands have been identified by the NH Fish and Game Department's Wildlife Action Plan as having some of the highest priority habitats in the state.
The land contains trails that are part of a network maintained by the Mill Brook Trail Association. By conserving this area, we will ensure continued opportunities for public recreation on the land, such as hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, fishing, and hunting. Conserving this critical property will also protect the water quality of Mill Brook, preserve well-managed forestland, and protect the scenic ridge viewscape.
The opportunity we have today will not always be available to us. The Gilman Forest includes 3,045 feet along Durrell Road and 2,500 feet along Mill Brook. Even in a depressed economy, this parcel is a tempting site for development - an occurrence that could compromise all the afore-mentioned values: wildlife habitat, recreational access, water quality, working woodlands, and scenic viewscapes.
To conserve this important property, we have until May 1, 2010 to raise the required $140,000, of which we already have pledges of $48,000. To contribute or for more information, contact:
Ned BeecherChairman of the TamworthConservation Commission603-387-7869Ned.Beecher@gmail.comJohn MersfelderChairman of the Gilman Forest Project603-323-7793mhfarm@ncia.net
Jack Savage, VP of Communications
Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests603-224-9945
jsavage@forestsociety.org
CONTRIBUTION FORM
For a download version of "Help Conserve The Gilman Forest" & contribution form, click below:
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Gilman Forest Project News Releases:
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