ISSUE #6 • SPRING 2025
From the
Ground Up
Conversations about conservation, climate, and communities in New England.
NOTE FROM OUR EDITORS
Climate change, environmental degradation, and the global loss of biodiversity aren’t just one-time crises—they’re daily threats to human well-being and to all life on Earth. Tackling them demands a bold, integrated approach to conservation, bridging forests, farms, fisheries, freshwater and marine systems, communities, and industries across New England.
Each season, we share stories, essays, in-depth reporting, interviews, art, photography, and poetry that showcase the diverse voices of individuals who exemplify the promise of the Wildlands, Woodlands, Farmlands & Communities vision—offering hope and momentum for positive change.
Our goal is to inspire action for policies and practices that safeguard New England’s land and water for all who make their home here.
If you’re new to From the Ground Up, we encourage you to read “An Integrated Approach to New England Conservation and Community” by Brian Donahue.
At Sowing Seeds, the recent gathering of conservation practitioners hosted by the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, I was asked to begin the day with a few personal remarks about my connection to conservation. I could easily speak about my life as a sugar maker, starting out on a nearly run out hill farm and, developing from that, a maple sugaring enterprise now employing nearly 150 people and supplied by hundreds of other farms. After more than 50 years doing that, I’ve learned a good deal.
I could also speak about more than 50 years serving environmental and conservation organizations starting in the mid-1970s as board member and chair of Vermont Natural Resources Council, to today when I serve on the boards of Preservation Trust of Vermont, Shelburne Farms, and Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB).
FEATURES • ISSUE 6
Exploring Ecological Forestry
Ecological Forestry and Slow Wood
Perspectives from Around the Region
By Brian Donahue
Ecological Forestry. We’ve been hearing about it in the news, from our partners, and in these pages. I wrote about it in our first issue, as an essential part of our integrated approach to conservation. In 2024, Beyond the ‘Illusion of Preservation’ was published (and reported on here), bringing light to the importance of ecological forestry, along with protecting both Wildlands and Woodlands, and reducing wood consumption. New England Forestry Foundation, through a USDA grant, has implemented a large “climate-smart forestry” initiative.
Ecological Forestry
Origins and Principles
By Tony D’Amato
I always start my silviculture course by sharing with my students that we are all a time capsule of when we went to forestry school. Although foresters are lifelong learners, the contexts for which topics are discussed and applied in the classroom reflect the social, economic, and ecological dynamics of the period—whether that be today’s emphasis on adaptation to changing climate and disturbance regimes, or a historic focus on sustaining wood production for a growing nation.
Putting Forests First
Ecological Forestry and an Ethical Worldview
By David Foster
What is ecological forestry? It has been called a strategy, a framework, a toolbox, and a philosophy. The term was first applied in the 1940s by Harvard Forest silviculturists Stephen Spurr and Albert Cline, who joined ecology and forestry to advance practices that “follow nature as far as possible.” Subsequently it has been argued that ecological forestry follows four principles—continuity, complexity, timing, and context—and that FSC-certification signifies these principles in practice.
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Relationships
The Essence of Low Impact Forestry
by Sam F. Brown
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The Practice of Ecological Forestry
Seeking Diversity, Balance, and Adaptation in the Woods
by Rick Morrill
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Worst-First and Femelschlag
Ecological Forestry with the Foundation for Sustainable Forests
by Guy Dunkle and Annie Socci Maloney
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The Maine Woods Initiative
The Appalachian Mountain Club’s Approach to Ecological Forestry
by Carolyn Ziegra
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Managing for Diversity
The Appalachian Mountain Club’s Approach to Ecological Forestry
by Ben Farina
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Exemplary Forestry
Integrating Climate Resilience, Biodiversity, and Wood Production
by Robert T. Perschel
Conversations
The Turning Point
Cooperating for Forest Conservation
by Jamey Fidel
We are at a major turning point when it comes to the vitality of our landscape. We are faced with multiple crises that are creating enormous pressure on our residents and the environment, but rather than working together, we are becoming divided over how to manage land.
Climate change is causing unprecedented flooding in our region, yet broader impacts such as wildfires and air pollution will continue to make northern New England an attractive place for people to relocate. While we are going to see increasing pressure to provide more housing for climate migrants, housing is currently unaffordable for and inaccessible to many people, placing enormous pressure on policymakers.
Will Wolves Recolonize the Northeast?
A Reader Response
by John Glowa
It all began on a Maine summer day in 1993, when a so-called “mystery beast” (Bangor Daily News, September 23, 1993) was shot north of Moosehead Lake by a bear hunter from Pennsylvania. That animal was later identified as a young female gray wolf.
This 67-pound female, and nearly a dozen other wolves and wolf-sized canids ranging in weight from 67 to 107 pounds, are known to have been killed in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada south of the St. Lawrence River over the last 30 years. The actual number of wolves killed is probably much greater.
Policy Desk
New England Policy Chronicle
Updates from Around the Region
by Alex Redfield
In our last issue, we noted the broad uncertainty surrounding how the transition in Washington, D.C. would manifest in environmental and conservation policy changes. Though the extent of President Trump’s agenda and how it will reshape federal policy has yet to be fully realized, it is now abundantly clear that the administration is trying to radically and abruptly shift the role that the federal government has played in protecting the land, water, and air we all share. As the government begins to roll back existing contracts and commitments and to reduce its overall capacity to support public and private partners through layoffs and funding freezes, other institutions will need to adjust their approaches to ensure the continuity of essential conservation, environmental protection, and a broader set of values-aligned initiatives necessary to sufficiently support communities nationwide.
This installment of the New England Policy Chronicle highlights developments from around the region that demonstrate how state-level land use decisions are taking shape in light of these recent shifts in federal perspective and policy.
The Massachusetts Commitment to Forest Reserves
Major Progress and Questions
by David Foster
These days, especially, it is extraordinarily gratifying to witness science and government working with public engagement to conceive, develop, and implement major solutions to address climate change. That is exactly what state government in Massachusetts is accomplishing by forging the Forests as Climate Solutions Initiative in 2022; producing a state-wide decarbonizing roadmap in 2023; tasking a committee of experts to recommend ways to advance climate-informed forestry; and then, based on those recommendations, creating programs to support ecologically sustainable forestry and awarding $5 million in grants to establish 13 new forest reserves. Here, I explore how the state came to adopt the 2005 goal of Wildlands, Woodlands, Farmlands & Communities of establishing reserves across 10 percent of the state’s forests, review state progress on reserves to date, and pose questions concerning the future of these efforts.
Conservation in Action
Funding the Future
A New Program to Support Connecticut Land Trusts
by Marissa Latshaw
In a significant move to bolster land conservation efforts across Connecticut, the Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC) recently announced the Land Capital Grant (LCG) Program. Launched at the start of 2025 with underwriting support from The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation, this initiative aims to support land trusts by providing financial assistance for the swift acquisition of critical conservation lands and easements.
As in many states in New England, Connecticut’s land trusts have long identified the need for sourcing new funding as a primary challenge in land acquisition for conservation. CLCC’s Executive Director Amy Blaymore Paterson shared, “In CLCC’s 2023-24 Land Trust Census, land trusts identified fundraising and financing as their top challenges, particularly for acquisitions. This is no surprise: Connecticut’s public conservation funding, per capita, ranks near the bottom for any state in New England.”
Read, Watch, Listen
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What is Ecological Forestry?
Ethan Tapper
Watch: Learn how ecological forestry balances harvesting trees for economic benefit with supporting biodiversity and resilience. Mimicking natural processes and restoring old-growth traits ensures forests remain healthy, vibrant ecosystems while providing sustainable resources for the future.
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2024 Pennsylvania Leopold Conservation Award: Troy Firth
Foundation for Sustainable Forests
Watch: Discover how Troy Firth’s dedication to sustainable forestry earned him the prestigious 2024 Pennsylvania Leopold Conservation Award, honoring his exceptional stewardship of soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat.
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Rewilding in Practice
Northeast Wilderness Trust
Read: Learn how rewilding transforms ecosystems and reconnects us to nature. Northeast Wilderness Trust explores real-world successes, innovative strategies, and the profound impact of restoring wild landscapes.
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$4.3 Million Federal Grant to Help Maine’s Oldest Forests Store More Carbon
New England Forestry Foundation
Read: Find out how a $4.3M federal grant is empowering Maine’s oldest forests to combat climate change by storing more carbon. Discover the innovative strategies behind this project and its role in preserving vital ecosystems for future generations.
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From Extraction to Regeneration: A Just Transition Approach to Financing Climate Resilience in the Food System
Food Solutions New England
Read: Explore how a just transition approach is reshaping climate resilience in the food system. This article dives into equitable financing strategies that support sustainable practices, empower communities, and build a resilient future for food and the environment.
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Shifting Landscapes, A 4-Part Documentary Film Series
Emergence Magazine
Watch: Immerse yourself in Shifting Landscapes, a stunning film series exploring the profound connection between humans and nature. Journey through powerful stories of resilience, transformation, and hope as landscapes and lives adapt to an ever-changing world.
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A Profound Vision For An Ecological Civilization
Population Balance
Listen: Listen as compassionate systems thinker Dr. Eileen Crist unpacks the biodiversity crisis, human supremacy, and ecological solutions. Discover how reframing our relationship with nature can lead to a harmonious, sustainable future for all life on Earth.
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Rewilding North America, One Region at a Time: From ‘America’s Serengeti’ to the Northeast
Northeast Wilderness Trust
Watch: Learn about the work of restoring America’s prairie in a presentation by Henry Pollock of Southern Plains Land Trust and Jon Leibowitz of Northeast Wilderness Trust. The two leaders compare differing regional approaches to rewilding, and inspire viewers to get involved.
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Old Growth Forest Characteristics: The What, the How, and the Why
Vermont Land Trust
Watch: Learn what old growth forests are, why they are valuable, and how to increase them through passive Wildlands conservation or light management. Ecologist Liz Thompson and VLT forester David McMath share stories and photos.
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How Vermont Got So Many Town Forests
Vermont Public
Listen: Hear the voices of Vermonters as they tell the fascinating stories of the state’s town forests, from one acquired years ago as a water source to another acquired just months ago as a place to walk in the woods.
The Bookshelf
Essential reading from our editors and contributors.
ARTWORK BY JACO TAYLORBulletin Board
Events, updates, and announcements from our partners and friends from around the region.
Want to join the conversation?
We invite your questions, reactions, debates, suggestions, and contributions. Our editorial team is committed to expanding the chorus of voices needed to safeguard the health, resiliency, and vibrancy of New England’s communities—both human and wild.
Reflections
Artistic expressions that reflect Nature's complexity, simplicity, and beauty.
Election Night in Sapmi
A POEM BY ROBERT T. PERSCHEL
There were 400 words for reindeer
You knew them all
One for the truculent female who resists the rope
njirru
Another for the plodder whose hooves barely leave the ground
sohtur
A longer word for the one that hovers indecisively at the fringe of the herd, keeping his own counsel.
ravdaboazu
I wish I could remember the word you used for the one that would lead them to the feeding grounds
Rising Red
A POEM BY SEAN PRENTISS
After the blankets
of white snow
have melted into
surging brooks
but before leaf out,
those fluttering flags
of chlorophyll leaves
swallowing the sun,
our mountain grows
into April’s rising red,
new leaves budding
into almost-blossom,