On March 7, 2025, sixty-five women forest landowners and managers from across New Hampshire gathered at the Women Landowner Summit held at The Rocks in Bethlehem, NH. The Summit offered a unique opportunity for women who own and manage land in the Granite State to come together, learn, and connect.
Nationally, women are playing an increasingly prominent role in land management. In fact, the percentage of family forest ownerships where a woman is the primary decision maker doubled from 2006 to 2013, rising from 11% to 22%. New Hampshire is 81% forested with 4.8 million acres of forestland and over 120,000 landowners privately own around 75% of that forestland. Many of those landowners are women. Whether they own land individually or jointly with a spouse, family, or partner, women landowners are making crucial decisions that affect the future of New Hampshire's forests. These decisions have a far-reaching impact on the health of New Hampshire’s forests, influencing timber resources, wildlife habitats, recreational access, clean water, and so much more.
Despite the important role women landowners play as decision-makers, research has shown that women are less likely to take management actions, and the challenges of land ownership are more significant for women than men. This could be driven by several factors, but partly because outreach efforts have not reached women as successfully as men. In response to this need, UNH Extension, New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association (NHTOA), the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (Forest Society) and other partners have committed to increasing engagement with this underserved and underrepresented audience through the Women in the Woods program.
Women in the Woods programming is open to all participants, but is designed for marginalized genders, including women, women-identifying individuals, and non-binary and gender non-conforming people who are comfortable in a space that centers the learning experiences of women. This program provides a diversity of learning opportunities, including hands-on one-day workshops on topics such as chainsaw safety and maintenance, tree identification, winter wildlife tracking, logging with farm tractors, tool maintenance and sharpening, bird and mushroom identification, and map and compass skills.
The Summit, which drew a wide range of participants, offered a variety of expert-led sessions designed to enhance the participants’ understanding of forest management and other key topics. These educational sessions were tailored to meet the diverse needs of women landowners, whether they were just beginning their journey or looking to deepen their expertise. Topics included forest management planning, wildlife habitats, maple sugaring, tree and shrub identification, forest pests and diseases, wildlife track and sign, and trail planning and maintenance. These sessions were aimed at providing women landowners and managers with the tools, knowledge, and resources they need to make informed decisions on their land.
Following the Summit, participants shared their thoughts about their experience. One attendee shared that it was "wonderful to see such a diversity of age groups and to see so many women involved in land management" and another shared "what a wonderfully thoughtful and well-organized program in a beautiful setting."
It was so wonderful to spend the day held in community of supportive women and having such kind, compassionate and knowledgeable presenters.
The Women Landowner Summit is just one example of educational opportunities available to women landowners and managers. By continuing to provide women-focused educational opportunities, we provide women landowners with the knowledge and resources necessary to manage their land effectively, benefiting both their properties and the natural resources community of New Hampshire.
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Check out some scenes from the 2025 Women Landowner Summit below.
Women in the Woods is a collaboration between UNH Cooperative Extension, NH Timberland Owners Association, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, and other partners aimed at connecting women forest landowners, managers, and stewards with the resources, skills, and community they need to make informed stewardship decisions that promote healthy forest resources. Women in the Woods programming is open to all participants, but is designed for marginalized genders, including women, women-identifying individuals, and non-binary and gender non-conforming people who are comfortable in a space that centers the learning experiences of women.
Funding for this program provided by a Landscape Scale Restoration Grant, U.S. Forest Service.
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