The Monadnock Conservancy

LAND PROTECTION THE ORGANIZATION SECURED FIVE PERMANENT CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON 958 ACRES OF LAND. THESE EASEMENTS PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC BENEFITS PROTECTION OF SIGNIFICANT WILDLIFE HABITAT AS IDENTIFIED BY THE NEW HAMPSHIRE WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN EXPANSION AND CONNECTION OF EXISTING UNDEVELOPED BLOCKS OF CONSERVED LAND CONSERVATION OF HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE SOILS THAT ARE SUITABLE FOR BOTH FARMING AND FORESTRY PROTECTION OF WATER RESOURCES, INCLUDING STREAMS, WETLANDS, FLOODPLAINS, AND GROUNDWATER AQUIFERS PROTECTION OF OVER A HALF-MILE OF SHORELINE ON ONE WATERBODY PROTECTION OF SCENIC VIEWS AND RURAL CHARACTER AND PROTECTION OF AREAS IDENTIFIED AS IMPORTANT TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES. IT ALSO COMPLETED AN AMENDMENT TO AN EXISTING CONSERVATION EASEMENT TO ADD 98 ACRES. THE ORGANIZATION INITIATED NINE NEW PROJECTS, AND IT CONTINUED WORK ON NUMEROUS PREVIOUSLY INITIATED PROJECTS. Continued on Schedule O

LAND MANAGEMENT AND RECREATION THE ORGANIZATION MONITORED 21 PROPERTIES OWNED IN FEE SIMPLE FOR A TOTAL OF 1,920 ACRES. STAFF MEMBERS AND INTERNS CONTINUED LONG-TERM SCIENTIFIC STUDIES OF RESTORATION OF THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT TREE AND CONTROL OF AMERICAN BEECH TREES, WHICH INCLUDED MAINTAINING DEER EXCLUSION FENCING IN FIVE AREAS PREVIOUSLY PLANTED WITH 150 HYBRID AMERICAN CHESTNUT SEEDLINGS. STAFF MAINTAINED OR ENHANCED MORE THAN 20 MILES OF PUBLIC HIKING TRAILS AND CONTINUED TO CO-LEAD THE WANTASTIQUET TO MONADNOCK TRAIL COALITION IN COORDINATING MANAGEMENT OF THE 48-MILE TRAIL AND ESTABLISHING TRAIL AND CAMPSITE AGREEMENTS WITH OWNERS OF LAND ALONG THE ROUTE. THEY COMPLETED NEW PUBLIC WETLAND BOARDWALKS ON THE CRANBERRY MEADOW POND TRAIL IN PETERBOROUGH, NH AND THE NEWLY OPENED WINCHESTER LEARNING CENTER COMMUNITY NATURE PARK IN WINCHESTER, NH, AND THEY OVERSAW A CREW OF VOLUNTEERS FROM THE STUDENT CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION TO COMPLETE TWO RE-ROUTES OF THE CRANBERRY MEADOW POND TRAIL. Continued on Schedule O

CONSERVATION EASEMENT STEWARDSHIP THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED AND COORDINATED 14 VOLUNTEERS AND FIVE STAFF MEMBERS TO MONITOR 231 CONSERVATION EASEMENT-ENCUMBERED OR DEED RESTRICTED PROPERTIES TOTALING NEARLY 21,000 ACRES. THE STAFF CONTINUED TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN DIGITAL RECORD-KEEPING PROCEDURES IMPLEMENTED IN THE PRIOR YEAR, AND IT SUPPORTED VOLUNTEERS IN TRANSITIONING TO DIGITAL REPORTING FOR ANNUAL EASEMENT MONITORING. STAFF HELD A SMARTPHONE MAPPING APPLICATION WORKSHOP FOR VOLUNTEERS AND ACCOMPANIED SOME VOLUNTEERS ON THEIR MONITORING VISITS. THEY REACHED OUT TO ALL LANDOWNERS TO CONFIRM CONTACT INFORMATION AND SURVEY THEM FOR CHANGES IN LAND MANAGEMENT AND OTHER USES, OFFERING TO MEET WITH THEM ON THEIR LAND AND, WHERE APPROPRIATE, POINTING THEM TOWARD LAND MANAGEMENT RESOURCES SUCH AS TRAININGS, GRANTS, AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS. THEY TRAINED A STUDENT INTERN TO CONDUCT ANNUAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT MONITORING VISITS AND PROVIDED EXPOSURE TO OTHER ASPECTS OF LAND TRUST WORK. Continued on Schedule O