Pavers Battle Nature Protectors Near Keene

Hundreds of acres of wilderness on the lower slopes of Mount Monadnock, near Keene, are at risk of being clear cut logged, paved, Chem Lawned, and “developed.” But activists are racing to save the land so future generations will be able to hike there. Details about that struggle are below.

Meanwhile, Congress and President Obama are deciding how much money to spend on protecting open space from development, how much to spend on war, and how much millionaires and billionaires will pay in taxes. The governors and state legislators in Boston, Concord, and Montpelier are deciding how much money to spend on protecting open space from development, how much to spend on road construction versus trains and bicycles paths, how much for prisons for people convicted of non-violent crimes like prostitution and drug possession, and how much millionaires and billionaires will pay in taxes.

These politicians can be reached at:

www.WhiteHouse.gov/contact

www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?OrderBy=last...

www.house.gov/representatives

www.mass.gov/?pageID=gov3utilities&sid=Agov3&U=Agov3_contact_us

www.maLegislature.gov/People/Search

www.governor.nh.gov/contact/index.htm

www.GenCourt.state.nh.us

www.governor.vermont.gov/contact-us

www.leg.state.vt.us/legdir/findmember3.cfm

The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests www.ForestSociety.org is working to conserve 404 acres along the slopes of Mount Monadnock in Jaffrey and Marlborough, near Keene. The group needs money and volunteers.

“If we are successful in our current effort, this land will add to more than 5,000 acres of protected acreage on and around Mount Monadnock,” said Forest Society president Jane Difley.

Several seasonal streams flow through the 404 acres that are at risk of being paved. The streams convere into a single tributary that forms the headwaters of Mountain Brook, which supports a population of brook trout and other cold water fish. The land includes wetlands that provide bird nesting and feeding areas, and habitat for amphibians and reptiles. The waterways also serve as travel corridors for mammals and birds. Nut-producing trees on the land provide food for black bear, deer, moose, turkeys, and smaller animals.

Forest Society workers will lead a short hike to this property on October 2. The hike is open to the public.

The Forest Society is raising money to conserve these properties. “We must raise $760,000 by December 31 in order to protect this land,” said Difley.

A photo of Mount Monadnock is at

http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/63455/photos/PHOTO_5641287_6...

A map of the Keene and Brattleboro region, and of the Pioneer Valley, shows what land has been protected from development. To see the map, scroll almost to the bottom of this web page: www.ValleyPost.org/node/137 To enlarge the map, click on it.

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