Many New Hampshire towns and cities own land. A study conducted by UNH Cooperative Extension and partners found that 4% of New Hampshire’s forest is in town ownership, scattered in about 1,700 parcels and encompassing 180,439 acres. Much of that land has the potential to be managed to benefit wildlife.
Regardless of the size of the property, what towns do on their land can have a profound effect on wildlife habitat. Many habitat improvements require a low level of management, and some habitat improvements can be integrated with a timber sale and provide revenue for the town.
Why is habitat management important? Some habitats require disturbances to maintain their unique characteristics. Sometimes these disturbances occur naturally, but sometimes we can manage habitat to mimic natural disturbances in places where disturbance has been eliminated or diminished. Habitat management can restore habitats and wildlife in decline.
Potential habitat management depends on your town's specific objectives and goals, and the natural resources you have to work with. County Extension Educators in Forest Resources are ideal contacts for habitat and forest management, and are available to assess current and potential forestry and habitat resources on town-owned properties.
More Information
- Contact your UNH Cooperative Extension County Forestry & Wildlife staff for assistance managing town-owned lands, planning land conservation projects, identifying natural resources and offering public educational workshops.
- Read more about Wildlife Habitat Improvement: Woodlands and Wildlife from UNH Extension
