Current Projects

Woodland Views Ecological Land Management

At roughly 235 acres, Woodland Views is nestled amongst the foothills of the Monadnock Region. Dominated by forests, this property also supports vernal pools, perennial stream, forested wetlands, early successional and shrubland habitat, over 6 acres of pollinator meadows, a reclaimed apple orchard for wildlife, and nearly 1 mile of pristine frontage along a small, quiet pond. Our ecological inventories have documented hundreds of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, mushrooms, and insects. Woodland View’s biodiversity includes over 30 species of conservation concern, as well as significant habitats and natural communities among other ecological features.

Moosewood Ecological began its ecological monitoring and land management in 2014. Using the landowners’ vision and stewardship ethics as the basis for project design and implementation, we sprang into action. This vision propelled Woodland Views forward to promote sustainable land management while enhancing ecological integrity, biodiversity, and climate resilience. Since our tenure, Moosewood Ecological has incorporated these monitoring efforts into every land management decision. While these improvements consider biodiversity as a whole, we emphasize activities with respect to the benefit for species of greatest conservation concern.

Moosewood Ecological has assisted the landowners in acquiring funds for various projects. Through its Pollinator Initiative Project, the Cheshire County Conservation District provided financial assistance for a 1-acre pollinator meadow. This project inspired the landowners to install an additional 5+ acres. The USDA Natural Resources Service provided financial assistance for planning and implementation projects, including a forest management plan, pollinator habitat enhancement, timber stand improvements, wildlife openings, invasive species management, apple tree release, bird nest boxes, early successional habitat, and waterfowl habitat enhancement.

Beaver Wood Tree Farm Forest Restoration Plan

The Scherschel’s and Moody’s recognized early on in the acquisition of their property that some serious attention was needed to restore the forested habitat for this 52-acre expansion of Beaver Wood Tree Farm in Alstead, NH. A major timber operation occurred the year prior to their ownership. This ill-planned logging event created exposed soils susceptible to environmental degradation. Riparian forest habitat was also lost as a result of this intense land use. In addition, it is anticipated that seed sources from existing invasive plants will be encouraged to germinate due to soil disturbance, decrease in tree canopy closure, and increase in light on the forest floor.
Moosewood Ecological has been busy collecting field data and conducting GIS modeling to document current ecological conditions. Several areas were noted with exposed soils that have led to soil loss, resulting in bedrock exposure, soil erosion, and sedimentation along steep slopes. Many areas in need of soil stabilization are associated with logging roads and skidder trails. In fact, one site of severe erosion near Camp Brook resulted from bulldozing a logging road in an inappropriate area. This action dramatically altered the topography and removed a significant amount of soil, leaving it exposed for erosion and sedimentation into the brook.
We are now moving towards the development of the restoration plan, including recommendations specifically developed as a result of our field and GIS-based assessments. Soil stabilization will include various techniques geared towards revegetation using native herbaceous seed mixtures and other plantings, mulching, strategic placement of tree slash, water bars, and other measures to manage drainage and sedimentation, erosion control fencing and other materials, native riparian plantings, and invasive species management.
Have a habitat enhancement or restoration project in mind? Don’t hesitate to contact us for a free consultation!

Bear Hill Conservancy Ecological Inventory and Management Plan

At nearly 15,000 contiguous acres, the Bear Hill Conservancy includes an incredibly diverse landscape of forests, wetlands, streams, talus slopes, rocky ridges, floodplains, and vernal pools. Biodiversity soars high, including rare and uncommon species and natural communities. Bear Hill has great regional significance in maintaining ecological integrity and climate resilience within a large, unfragmented landscape. It provides important connectivity to large blocks of conserved lands within the Upper Valley of New Hampshire and Vermont as well as the White Mountain National Forest. Bear Hill is acclaimed for having high conservation values in many natural resource planning efforts including the NH Wildlife Action Plan.

Under the direction of WildLandscapes International and the Bear Hill Conservancy, Moosewood Ecological also works in partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Kilham Bear Center, Redstart Natural Resources Management, and Native Geographic to document the property’s various ecological attributes and prepare a land management plan. The final outcome is a conservation easement with the Sylvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge administered through the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Moosewood Ecological has been a proud partner in this impressive conservation project for 15 years. Beginning in 2008, we worked with The Nature Conservancy and NH Natural Heritage Bureau to document the ecological significance of the original tract of land known as Bear Hill. This effort eventually expanded to cover the Clark Hill portion in 2011, and then efforts were revived in 2019 to continue assessing a few additional parcels that would collectively be known as the Bear Hill Conservancy. Now in its final stages of land conservation, this project seeks to complete the land management plan and execute the conservation easement in 2023, protecting forever one of New England’s most significant ecological areas.

PO Box 9, Chesterfield, NH 03443-0009

(603) 831-1980

info@moosewoodecological.com