New Hampshire Forest Resource Fact Sheet

New Hampshire Forest Resource Fact Sheet
Brad Simpkins, State Forester
Fiscal Year 2015
Phone: 603-271-2214
Web: www.nhdfl.org/
Fax: 603-271-6488
E-mail: brad.simpkins@dred.state.nh.us
Investment in State's Cooperative Programs
FY 2014
Final
$311,526
$312,619
$342,390
$5,753,800
$6,720,335
Cooperative Fire Protection
Cooperative Forestry
Forest Health Management
Forest Legacy and Community Forestry
Total
This funding is for all entities within the state, not just the State Forester's office.
Key Issues
The fragmentation or loss of forestland.
Threats to forest health and productivity including insects, diseases, invasive plants and animals, and weather events.
Maintaining a sustainable state and regional forest products industry that remains an important part of the social and economic matrix.
Stewardship of public and private forestlands, including impacts of growing pressure from public use.
The public’s lack of understanding about how forestry and forestland contribute to their quality of life.
Forest Facts and Accomplishments
Selected Facts
Population
Acres of Forest Land
Acres of Nonindustrial Private Forest Land
Number of NIPF Landowners
Acres of Federal Land Under State Fire Protection
Acres of Private Land Under State Fire Protection
Number of Rural Fire Departments
Cities and Towns
Forest Based Employment
Economic Impact of Forestry (by rank)
State Forestry Budget (All Sources)
1,316,470
4,832,408
3,451,000
128,000
0
4,660,000
215
13
6,434
5
2,573,818
Selected FY 2014 Accomplishments
Landowners Receiving Educational or Technical Assistance
(Each)
Acres Covered by New or Revised Forest Stewardship Plans
Acres in Important Forest Resource Areas Covered by New or
Revised Stewardship Plans
Volunteer Fire Departments Assisted (Each)
State Fire Communities Assisted (Each)
Coop Forest Health Acres Protected
Forest Legacy Project Acquisitions (Acres)
Communities Provided Urban Forestry Program Assistance
(Each)
Population Living in Communities Provided Urban Forestry
Program Assistance (Each)
Urban Forestry Volunteer Assistance (Hours)
10,906
56,149
6,247
150
256
0
22,957
154
1,156,931
12,296
Program Highlights:
Conservation Education
The mission of UNH Cooperative Extension Forestry and Wildlife Program is "to educate New Hampshire`s citizens about rural and urban forest
environments which enhance their ability to make informed decisions." CE programming is integrated into the work of 12 Extension Educators and
Specialists. Nearly 20,000 people were reached with natural resource conservation education messages through 392 tours, field days and other programs.
Cooperative Fire Protection
National Fire Plan funds aided in reducing hazardous fuels on 40 acres of state lands. Over 600 firefighters were trained in Incident Command and wildfire
suppression. 25 volunteer departments received Volunteer Fire Assistance equipment grants totaling $40,000. Two Community Wildfire Protection Plans
were developed to assist high-risk communities in reducing wildfire hazards.
Forest Health Protection
Three counties are now under quarantine for the emerald ash borer; intensive survey for the invasive pest is ongoing. In the first year of EAB biological
control in NH, a total of over 14,000 biological control agents were released at 2 locations in Concord and 1 site in Canterbury. Hemlock woolly adelgid
continues to spread and is beginning to contribute to tree mortality on the seacoast. Due to an upswing in the number of white pine blister rust cases, the
State no longer allows planting Ribes varieties that aren’t immune to the pathogen. The rust pathogen was found throughout the state.
Forest Legacy
The State completed the last two phases of the Androscoggin Headwaters project that has over 23,000 acres protected by the FLP in three phases, with an
additional 8,000+ acres, in two other phases, added to the Lake Umbagog Wildlife Refuge.
Landowner Assistance
NH reported 98 new revised forest stewardship plans; 9,421 landowners participated in education programs; and 5 on-going community-based landscape
stewardship plans or projects. NH is celebrating an outstanding woodland owner in Rockingham County: tree farmer Roscoe Blaisdell. He manages for
timber production, firewood for family use, wildlife habitat, and recreation and alternative forest products. NH has an on-going forest stewardship grant on
Collaborative Volunteer Networks, an online approach matching conservation volunteers with projects.
Urban and Community Forestry
Since the initial EAB detection, new infestations were found in Canterbury, Loudon, Salem and Hopkinton. The Urban Forestry Center helped local
communities with EAB education, tree inventories and evaluations, and treatment. UNH Cooperative Extension partnered with NH Division of Forests and
Lands Forest Health staff to present workshops to the public and green industry. An EAB awareness display was presented at several events and is
currently on display at the Urban Forestry Center.
Wood Education & Resource Center
The WERC Wood Energy Technical Assistance Team is providing support to the State Wood Energy Team. The Holderness School in Plymouth issued a
contract for the construction of a multi-building wood chip-fired district heating system to be completed by Fall 2015.
Northeastern Area S&PF, USDA Forest Service
Last Updated: May 5, 2015
Tony Ferguson, Director
E-mail: tferguson@fs.fed.us | Phone: 610-557-4103 | FAX: 610-557-4177 | WEB: http://www.na.fs.fed.us