BY BLAKE STANSELL
The Connecticut Lakes Headwaters Working Forest is a cherished property for many in New Hampshire. It serves as a haven for campers, hunters, ATV riders and those who find peace among its diverse wildlife and tranquil surroundings. It also provides vital employment for many locals.
Blake Stansell
As the chief operating officer and president of Aurora Sustainable Lands, I assure you that this forest will continue to fulfill these important roles.
For over a year, Aurora has collaborated with the state of New Hampshire and various stakeholders to develop a refreshed stewardship plan for the Connecticut Lakes Forest. This privately owned property is protected by a state-held conservation easement issued in 2003, which safeguards its water, plants and wildlife. The easement also ensures the forest remains a working landscape and guarantees public access for recreational and commercial activities.
As stewards of this 146,000-acre forest, Aurora Sustainable Lands is committed to honoring the letter and spirit of the conservation easement, maintaining a strong and healthy working forest, which includes continuing timber harvesting, and maintaining and enhancing its use and enjoyment by the public.
Our management plans have sparked dialogue, and we welcome the opportunity to address concerns while reaffirming our dedication to a holistic approach that benefits both the environment and the local community.
Among other concerns, we have heard that Aurora has ceased harvesting on the property and plans to end harvesting going forward. This is untrue. In fact, as of today, we have active and ongoing timber operations on the property, and we will continue to harvest. We also have numerous harvesting jobs planned for 2025.
Fundamentally, the forest remains a working forest and will continue to remain a working forest under our management.
In addition, we understand there is a concern that Aurora’s management plans might impact tax revenues. To address this, Aurora Sustainable Lands made voluntary donations to the towns of Pittsburg, Stewartstown and Clarksville in 2024 as a show of our commitment to these local communities. We’ll do the same in 2025.
Our strategy prioritizes sustainable practices, not eliminating timber harvesting. By having a sustainably focused harvest plan, we aim to ensure long-term forest health, which will sustain timber yields over a longer period. Healthy forests contribute to resilient ecosystems, consistent timber supply and sustainable economic opportunities for future generations.
Timber harvests have been declining on the property for years due to various factors, including weather and fluctuating timber markets. Extreme weather has been a major driver. Warmer winters have limited the number of days the ground is sturdy enough to support heavy logging equipment, and severe rains have caused road damage, limiting access for harvesting. Thankfully, this year’s favorable winter weather has allowed us to return to the woods for increased timber harvesting, and we are pleased to have six logging contractors working on the property.
The conservation easement governing the Connecticut Lakes Headwaters Forest does not mandate a specific volume of timber harvesting. Instead, it allows for flexible management decisions to achieve conservation objectives. Sustainable forestry can include periods of reduced activity to promote regrowth, enhance biodiversity or adapt to changing market conditions.
By responsibly managing the forest, much like we handle Aurora properties in New York, Tennessee and West Virginia with conservation easements, we ensure it remains a viable working landscape for years to come. Harvesting is and will continue to be an important part of that management.
Aurora values the region’s cultural and recreational heritage. Our management plans maintain and enhance public access for hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and other activities essential to the North Country’s identity. Aurora’s management plans have not — and will not — curtail continued public access to these lands. Sustainable forestry ensures these opportunities will persist for future generations by preventing overharvesting and habitat degradation.
Revenue from carbon credit programs aligns seamlessly with the goals of the conservation easement. In fact, the property has been enrolled in a carbon credit program since 2013 — more than half of the time the conservation easement has been in place.
By leveraging these funds, we can do more for the silvicultural health of the forest and reinvest in trail maintenance, wildlife habitat restoration and public access improvements, ensuring the forest remains a treasured resource for residents and visitors alike.
We welcome continued dialogue and collaboration with stakeholders to secure the legacy of this forest for generations to come.
Blake Stansell is COO and president of Aurora Sustainable Lands.
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