Protecting the Headwater Forests of the White Mountains: Case Studies with David Govatski | Mountain Voices Lecture

This talk is Part 2 of a series on forest protection efforts in the White Mountains. Part 1 was on November 9, 2023, with David Anderson speaking on “A Century of Land Conservation with the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.”

In this presentation, we will briefly review the factors that led to a broad-based forest protection movement in the White Mountain Region. Who were the key players? What role did rivers and scenery play? What were the achievements of the movement? We will also discuss the goals of the forest protection movement. Were they Conservation or Preservation?

This presentation will expand on the first talk with five case studies of early forest conservation and preservation efforts across the White Mountain Region with examples on private, state, and federal lands.

1895: Snyder Brook Forest in Randolph purchased by the Appalachian Mountain Club.

1911: Crawford Notch Reservation purchased by the State of New Hampshire.

1914: The Pike Tract in Benton, the beginning of the White Mountain National Forest.

1928: Saving Mad River Notch in Waterville Valley with Philip Ayres

1932: Hemenway Reservation in Tamworth: a donation to the State of New Hampshire.

David Govatski is co-author of Forests for the People – The Story of the Eastern National Forests and is a frequent speaker and writer covering conservation and natural history topics. He was the Secretary of the Weeks Act Centennial Committee in 2011 and co-curator of the “Centennial of the White Mountain National Forest” exhibition in 2018 at the Museum of the White Mountains. He has visited all 174 National Forests and National Grasslands. David retired after a 34-year career with the US Forest Service and lives in Jefferson, New Hampshire. He continues to work as a naturalist and field trip leader.

This event is hybrid. To receive a Zoom link, please do so HERE.