How will climate change affect our forest? | | |
Climate change is progressing three times faster in winter than summer and the Upper Valley is in the US epicenter of rapid winter change. UVLT’s collaboration with Dartmouth College researchers is helping to assess these impacts on our forest’s ability to recycle nutrients and retain carbon.
The Winter Climate Change Network was established in 2025 and consists of 30 forested plots spanning a range of elevation, aspect, and latitude. Other sites in the project extend up to the northern border of New Hampshire, and UVLT’s Up on the Hill Conservation Area in Charlestown was identified as an ideal additional site toward the more southerly end of the state.
“Climate change is affecting not only the lands we love but also so many aspects of our economy and lifestyle,” says Director of Stewardship Jason Berard. “When the Dartmouth researchers reached out about the possibility of setting up their experiment on one of our properties we were eager to lend a hand.”
Dartmouth students and researchers are leveraging this network to investigate how natural differences in snowpack depth and duration across the region impact the soil climate, soil microbes, and important soil processes.
“This study will help us better understand how our soils and soil organisms are responding to new winter climate conditions, which can impact ecosystem function year-round” says lead Dartmouth researcher, Joanna Ridgeway. “These sites also serve as a really cool lab (literally), where students can learn about ecosystem ecology and gain scientific research experience.”
The Winter Climate Change Network initiative is just one of the latest in a long line of valuable UVLT research partnerships across our region. See the article below to learn more.
| | |
Research Partnerships Enrich Our Properties |
| Fawn at Brookmead Conservation Area. | |
Our conservation leadership and neighborly, collaborative approach blend naturally through a wide range of research partnerships. UVLT owned and managed properties are enlivened by abundant activities that explore and analyze our region’s physical and biological assets.
Dartmouth College’s Winter Climate Change Network at Up on the Hill in Charlestown is among many scientific studies involving researchers, schools, cities and towns, conservation commissions, and other like-minded organizations. A partial listing of some other on-going studies include:
-
Brookmead Conservation Area (Norwich, VT) – Separate studies of vernal pools and of deer browsing are taking place.
-
My Walden (Sharon, VT) – A new weather station may be installed to gather additional climate data, complementing long-term studies related to erosion and sedimentation changes.
-
Smith Pond Shaker Forest Conservation Area (Enfield, NH) – One research study is monitoring a loon pair to determine their success in raising the next generation, while another involves sediment coring to investigate the Upper Valley’s geological and biological history.
UVLT is also discussing potential use of an out of service aviation beacon at the Snow Mountain Conservation Area (Enfield, NH) by Motus, an international research community working together to study the movement and behavior of birds, bats, and insects. The tower provides an excellent viewshed for Bicknell’s thrush research already taking place in other locations.
Additional regional research and conservation projects occur on several UVLT properties, both in conservation areas and privately-owned UVLT-conserved lands. The wide range includes a kestrel nesting box project, a project aiming to alter hay cutting schedules to improve bobolink and other grassland bird fledging, and a pollinator project.
Of course, you don’t need to be a scientist to explore UVLT properties! Visit our new Explorer website to learn about some new land trust properties worth visiting in our regional backyard.
| | |
Event Report: Noticing Nature at the Lyme Hill Conservation Area | |
While learning to identify trees by bark, twig, and bud at the Lyme Hill Conservation Area on a beautiful and clear January 11, participants also spotted signs of winter-active wildlife.
“Several trees native to the northern hardwood forest have features that make them easy to identify,” says UVLT Naturalist and Outdoor Programs Leader Holly Henderson. “These include pine by its clustered, needle-like leaves; American beech by its lingering, brown leaves and smooth gray bark; and paper birch by its white, horizontally peeling bark.”
Others are trickier to pinpoint, and Holly and her fellow trail walkers shared tips to narrow them down. They observed and discussed features like the cork-like texture of black ash, the crackled old-paint appearance of young sugar maple bark, the bright red bud of American basswood, and the citrus scent of the yellow bitternut hickory bud.
The group also encountered some unusual streamside tracks, which Holly speculated may have been made by a raccoon. “They don’t hibernate all winter but go through periods of dormancy for days or weeks at a time, usually when the temperature drops below 15 F,” she notes. “We also found evidence of scatter hoarding by gray squirrels in the form of dug up food caches in the snow. Unlike red squirrels who typically hoard their winter stash in one place, gray squirrels leave small caches of food all around their territory.”
Participant Jim Miller of Canaan thanked Holly for her UVLT programs, sharing, “I took my dog through the Canaan Town Forest and had a much keener awareness of the bark of the trees. I am looking forward to the next walk with you.”
Holly spent her childhood roaming the forests between Vermont’s Mt. Mansfield and Camel’s Hump, has served with several nonprofits and public agencies, and is currently a member of the Hartford Conservation Commission. Visit our Upcoming Events listing for more fun and educational walks and workshops led by knowledgeable land trust staff.
| Noticing Nature... Gets Noticed! | |
The Vermont Standard’s January 22 issue did a wonderful job capturing the joys, surprises, and camaraderie of our winter programs. “‘Even in the dead of winter,’ area residents are invited to ski amidst hemlock, fox tracks, and birdsong” reviewed the recently concluded event at Lyme Hill Conservation Area and previewed many ways that UVLT is sharing the outdoors through public programs.
The article came out just before the seriously big chill that prompted rescheduling of the Winter Biodiversity Exploration on Skis that had been planned for January 24. This installment of the Noticing Nature series has been expanded to include a snowshoe trek as well and both will take place on Saturday, February 14, in conjunction with the Hartland Winter Trails Tiki Torch Trek.
The “Trek” is a family-friendly, all-weather annual celebration featuring groomed Nordic trails lit by tiki torches, a community bonfire, kids’ games, music, food, and more. Visit our Upcoming Events for more information about this memorable Valentine’s Day outing and other ways to love the many places that make the Upper Valley so special.
| | Holly Henderson will point out key forest features on both ski and snowshoe treks. | |
Noticing Nature: Winter Biodiversity Exploration on Skis or Snowshoes
Saturday, February 14, 3-4:45 p.m.
UVLT Outdoor Programs Leader Holly Henderson is leading two trips to discover the biodiversity of Pohl Conservation Area: a brisk, fun-paced Nordic ski trip from 3-3:45 p.m. and a slower snowshoe hike from 4-4:45 p.m. Both will include a visit to the largest black birch tree in the nation!
Skiers will stop occasionally to note changes in natural communities, observe wildlife tracks and behavior, and listen for birdsong, while snowshoers will stop more frequently to snap pictures and identify trees and wildlife tracks with iNaturalist and record birds using EBird.
These events will be taking place in conjunction with the Hartland Trails Tiki Torch Trek, a free event taking place from 3:30-8:30 p.m.
| |
Bear Pond Snowshoe
Sunday, February 15, 9 a.m.-Noon
This is UVLT’s longest-running annual event, and for good reason: the Bear Pond Natural Area in Canaan has significant frontage along the Mascoma River and contains tremendous ecological diversity, including a quaking bog celebrated as one of New Hampshire’s best.
We’ll be joined by the Canaan Conservation Commission and be rewarded with inspiring winter views while sipping hot chocolate. “We plan to explore the frozen bog and see what makes this place so special, such as pitcher plants and bog rosemary,” says Land Steward and Volunteer Coordinator Cassie Bernyk. “We’ll also talk about the history of this exceptional property and its many wildlife research projects, including 20-year study of Canada warblers.”
Please register to receive updates and further information about this popular trip.
| | We Know You Love the Upper Valley. We Do Too. | | | | |
