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September 23, 2026
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Download official Senate Record PDFReturn to issue contextMrs. SHAHEEN. Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute to the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests and recognize its 125 years of dedicated service to land conservation and sustainable forestry.
The Forest Society began with eight Granite Staters back in 1901. Concerned that New Hampshire's White Mountains were being rapidly clear-cut, they formed the Forest Society with a clear mission: to perpetuate the forests of New Hampshire through their wise use and their complete reservation in places of special scenic beauty. Inspired by great conservationists like John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt, they formed the Forest Society at a time when Americans across the country had begun to appreciate mountains for their unparalleled beauty and opportunities for outdoor recreation. As Americans increasingly recognized the need to protect the Nation's natural landscapes, the Forest Society set its sights on the White Mountains and promptly got to work.
With former New Hampshire Gov. Frank W. Rollins serving as the Forest Society's first president and Philip W. Ayres serving as its first forester, the group's earliest efforts focused on land conservation projects in the northern reaches of the State. It first lobbied for the State of New Hampshire to buy Crawford Notch, and the purchase was finalized in 1911 after 3 years of hard work. Later that same year, the Forest Society famously advocated for the passage of the Weeks Act alongside the Appalachian Mountain Club, AMC. Known as one of the most important conservation laws in American history, the Weeks Act authorized the Federal Government to purchase private land to restore and protect forests and watersheds. It led directly to the establishment of the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire, and thanks in large part to the public support the Forest Society generated for its passage, Granite Staters will continue to enjoy the many environmental, economic, and recreational benefits of this land for generations to come.
Society, but its work was just getting started. Also in 1911, the group began to acquire land of its own, purchasing hundreds of acres on Mount Sunapee to protect it from clear-cutting. In the years that followed, the Forest Society acquired or helped protect some of New Hampshire's most treasured natural and recreational spaces, including Lost River Gorge, Mount Monadnock, the Old Man of the Mountain, and the Flume. By 1994, Forest Society reservations encompassed 24,584 acres across the State, a testament to its commitment to protecting New Hampshire's wilderness. Today, the Forest Society owns more than 68,000 acres in over 200 reservations and protects tens of thousands more through conservation easements and other arrangements. Over its 125-year history, the Forest Society has worked alongside landowners, municipalities, government agencies, and other conservation organizations to help protect more than 1 million acres of open space across New Hampshire.
tirelessly for the wise use of our forests. It has remained a key supporter of the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program LCHIP, a program that provides competitive grants for land conservation and preservation projects that permanently protect landscapes in the Granite State. After a 2019 fire left two historic buildings at The Rocks Estate destroyed, the organization pivoted and used the loss as an opportunity to reimagine the historic estate. In 2020, the Forest Society launched its Forest Society North at The Rocks campaign, beginning a multi-year effort to renovate the site and expand its conservation, education and forestry work in the North Country. Another recent accomplishment is the Forest Society's work to preserve Mount Major and the surrounding land. As one of New Hampshire's most beloved hiking destinations, Mount Major's immense popularity has heightened the risk of trail erosion and damage to vegetation. The Forest Society has led numerous volunteer efforts to preserve this special place for Granite Staters and visitors to enjoy. With these projects and more, the Forest Society continues to embody its original objective of promoting the wise use of land through conservation and advocacy.
The 125th anniversary of the Forest Society is worthy of celebration. It is an opportunity to reflect on more than a century of advocacy and hard work that have supported the longstanding mission of the Forest Society: to promote the protection and wise use of land through education and by example. I ask all Americans to join me in honoring this milestone, recognizing the generations of members, volunteers, landowners, and partners who have contributed to its story and saluting the next generation of Forest Society staff, volunteers, and supporters who will carry this legacy into the future.