Residents of the Northern Forest have a connection to the land few Americans
experience or understand. These loggers, farmers, and business people have grown up hunting, fishing, trapping, and walking in the woods. Many work in the mills that have been the backbone of the region's economy for decades. Nearly 85% of the Northern Forest is privately owned and has provided a diversity of environmental and economic benefits. The economic viability of these private land ownerships is integral to the strength of the community and the overall economic health of the region.
Some families
and companies in the region have taken care of their forests and farms
for generations, through storms, droughts, great fires, and hard times.
Living in the Northern Forest is difficult, but the residents are proud
of their endurance, heritage, and a way of life so different than the urban
areas around them. The same forest that is the source of this deeply-rooted,
traditional culture is also valued by those who live outside the region.
Over seventy-million people live within a day's drive of the Northern Forest,
and many come for outdoor recreation, escape, and adventure. These visitors
continue to find natural beauty and opportunities for recreation here,
but they often take for granted the time-honored availability of private
and public lands for their use.
Regional profiles
Butternut Mountain Farm, Johnson, Vermont
A Watershed Contribution by Ward Lumber Company,
Jay, New York
Craig Washburn, Colebrook, New Hampshire
Baskahegan Company, A Large Family Forest
Ownership, Washington County, Maine