Dear Coverts Cooperators & Friends,
Welcome to the new NH Coverts Project Announcement system (otherwise known as a blog!) This format is an experiment, but I wanted to find a way to permanently post my email messages to Coverts folks on the web. That way, if you noticed a message with something interesting in it, you could find it online, rather than having to search through your messages. This format also allows new Coverts Cooperators access to historical posts, so they can see the kinds of workshops and volunteer projects that have been announced, over time.
I welcome thoughts and comments about this format - send me an email at: malin.clyde@unh.edu
My best,
Malin Clyde, Coverts Project Coordinator
UNH Cooperative Extension
New for Coverts Volunteers
New Issue of Making Tracks Newsletter
The Dec. 2007 issue will arrive in the mail shortly. Thanks to those
folks who contributed with photos, articles or "Happenings"
submissions! Preview it online at: http://extension.unh.edu/Wildlife/Pubs/MT12-07.pdf
Coverts Project Annual Report - Summary
New this year, you can check out a short (4-page) summary about the Coverts
Project, including results from the 2007 annual survey of Coverts Cooperators,
pictures, and some quotes by Coverts volunteers. Check it out: http://extension.unh.edu/Wildlife/Pubs/AR07_sum.pdf
Workshop Announcements
Vegetation Management Tour -
Saturday, Jan. 26, 9 - 12:00 rain or shine
Visit an active logging operation on the WMNH intended to maintain forest
health, provide wood products for business and consumers, and enhance wildlife
habitat. The tour, free of charge, will focus on the reasons for cutting, local
forest industry needs for raw materials, the in-depth process of administering
a timber sale on public lands, and the consequences of applying multiple use
forestry across the forest landscape. Families welcome, dress for some
walking. For further information, contact Northam Parr at UNH Coop Extension,
787-6944 or evenings at 786-9896. Cersosimo Lumber (buyers of this sale unit),
Dan & Mike Clark (Loggers from Warren contracted by Cersosimo), Roger Boyer
(USFS/WMNF Pemi District Ranger), and Northam Parr will be present to lead the
tour & discussion.For more information, visit the UNH Forests & Trees
webpage posting: http://extension.unh.edu/Forestry/Docs/WMNFLogging1.pdf
Backyard Maple Sugaring
January 22, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM, Stonewall Farm, Keene
The sap will be running soon! Have you thought about making your own maple
syrup? Do you want to know what is needed? Attend this workshop if you want
to learn the steps from the tree to the table - plus the equipment needed. This
special workshop is geared to first-timers and beginner maplers having less
than
75 taps. All aspects of maple sugaring will be covered, including tree
identification and tapping, collecting and boiling sap, finishing, filtering
and packing syrup. Equipment and supplies needed, especially sizing and
operating small evaporators, homemade and commercial, will also be discussed.
The workshop is FREE, but registration is required. Please call Cheshire County
Cooperative Extension office before January 18th at (603) 352-4550 to register
and be guaranteed a seat. Flyer is online at: http://extension.unh.edu/Forestry/Docs/mapleCheshire08.pdf
Implementing the Wildlife Action Plan in 3
January 29,
Please join the Jordan Institute and NH Audubon to learn about the process,
tools, and outcomes of a pilot project that sought to incorporate habitat
protection into the municipal planning process. A discussion about
ongoing W.A.P. implementation at the local level will follow. Kindly RSVP
to Maura Adams at the Jordan Institute at:
mkadams@thejordaninstitute.org, or call: 226-1009, ext. 204.
Farm & Forest Exposition
Friday, February 8 - Sat. Febrary 9, 2008,
This is a great family-friendly event for anyone interested in forestry,
farming, or the outdoors! Lots of educational events (including the
Coverts-sponsored workshop below), meetings, and vendors. You can also
volunteer to help at our booth (see volunteer opportunities).
Inventorying and Monitoring Wildlife on Your Land
Saturday, February 9, 2008, 1:00 3:00 PM
NH Farm & Forest Expo, Manchester, NH
This presentation will introduce techniques you can use to better recognize and
understand the wildlife on your land. The program will cover wildlife
observation tips, how to create a basic habitat map, examples of inventory
methods, and how to contribute to wildlife monitoring programs in the state. The
publication A Landowners Guide to Inventorying and Monitoring Wildlife in
DES Land Resource Management Workshops
February 14, 2008, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Concord OR March 6, 2008, 8 a.m.
- 4 p.m., Concord
Choose one day-long workshop to attend and learn about current and upcoming
activities in a variety of DES and related programs, including the Shoreland
Protection Program, Landscaping at the Water's Edge, Alteration of Terrain
Program, and Wetlands Program. The afternoon sessions will consist of two
concurrent tracks - a Shoreland Protection Program Track and a Wetlands Program
Track. Attendees may choose one of the two tracks to attend. The workshop is
geared towards those involved with land development, and land conservation and
management, from consultants and environmental professionals to municipal
employees, non-profit organizations and volunteers. There is no fee for the
workshop. CEUs have been approved as follows: Foresters, 5 CEUs; Land
Surveyors, 2 CEUs; Soil Scientists, 1 CEU; Wetland Scientists, 2 CEUs. To
register and learn more, visit the DES website at: http://www.des.state.nh.us/workshop/default.asp
For Dragonfly Afficianados: Nymphfest 2008
February 9-10 at the Millers River Environmental Center, Athol, MA
If you participated in the 2007 NH Audubon-sponsored Dragonfly survey (or were
curious about it!), the Northeast Chapter of the Dragonfly Society of the
Americas and Athol Bird and Nature Club are jointly sponsoring "Nymphfest
2008" next month in Athol, Mass - a weekend dedicated to the enjoyment of
immature dragonflies! The event will be held February 9-10 at the
Upper Valley Landowner Workshops
Audubon VT and Vermont Coverts are sponsoring a series of landowner
workshops, and NH Coverts (especially those in the Upper Valley) are invited to
participate. More complete information is on the Coverts webpage
at: http://extension.unh.edu/Wildlife/Pubs/VTCovert.pdf .
Workshops include:
- Creating a Vision for Your
Forested Land
- Wildlife of Vermont Forests
- Wildlfie Inventory &
Monitoring
- Invasives on Your Property
Save the Date - Saving Special Places Conference, 2008
The annual conservation conference will be held April 5th in Sutton, at
Volunteer Opportunities
Farm & Forest Expo Booth, Feb. 8-9,
We still need a one more person to help staff the UNH Coop Ext. Forestry &
Wildlife booth! If you like talking to people and want an excuse to visit
the Expo, please email me letting me know if you can volunteer for the
following shift: Friday, Feb. 8: 11 - 1:00
Other Notices
Wildlife Habitat Mapping Info Now Online
Are you interested in seeing a map showing the types of wildlife habitat
found in your part of NH? How important is that habitat, on a state-wide
scale? With a new online tool, you can view all kinds of new wildlife
data from NH Fish & Game. The GRANIT datamapper, the online GIS mapping
program, now has a theme that includes the Wildlife Action Plan's Wildlife
Habitat Land Cover, Habitat Condition Rankings, and Conservation Focus
Areas. This data is now available to all NH citizens, so that they can
use it to help protect wildlife in their communities. Check it out at http://mapper.granit.unh.edu/viewer.jsp
and please pass the word on. Thanks to Fay Rubin and Jennifer Lingeman of
GRANIT and UNH Complex Systems and our own Katie Callahan for making this
possible. I just tried it out (you have to choose "wildlife"
from the list of themes), and it's very easy to use! For more information on
the Wildlife Action Plan, including how the habitat maps were made and a
schedule of workshops, please visit http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife/wildlife_plan.htm.
Web Video about the NH Coverts Project
Okay, this is kind of embarrassing, but UNHCE has a video posting on our
website about "What is the Coverts Project." It's just Malin
talking on camera, but hey, if you ever forget how to pronounce my name, you
can listen to me, actually saying it (ha ha)! http://extension.unh.edu/Forestry/Media/clyde/clyde.htm
