Videos

• The Return of Old Growth Forests

"Much of New England's second-growth forest is on a trajectory toward old-growth, following the mid-1800's abandonment of cleared agricultural lands. However, there is increased pressure to manage these forests, which will stall their return to their natural state. This documentary film describes the characteristics and great importance of "old growth" New England (and other northeastern) forests.

Atmospheric physicist Anastassia Makarieva explains the "Biotic Pump" theory, which describes the crucial role that natural, mature, native forests play in regulating the Earth's winds and hydrologic cycle, and the biotic pump's feedback loop that sustains forests.

Environmental scientist Margery Winters discusses "morticulture", the role of fallen logs and hollow trees in the ecology of the forest and its soil.

Ed Faison, Senior Ecologist at Highstead, talks about the ecological significance of older, wild forests.

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• Proforestation With Bill Moomaw

"Large trees must be preserved.  They are by far the most valuable - not for lumber - but for the incredible amount of carbon they store.  Just 3% of the trees - the big ones, which are over 21 inches in diameter - store a whopping 40% of the carbon.  In 'managed forests', the replanted trees take years to effectively pull CO2 out of the air.  Bill Moomaw raises the alarm.  We must save the strategic forest reserves and prevent the largest trees from being foolishly harvested."

For more information on the state of our planet visit the FacingFuture Library at https://facingfuture.earth/library

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•Two Years After the Cut

NJ Forest Watch, Dr. Sharon Wander and members of the New Jersey Highlands Coalition Natural Heritage Committee demonstrate how the forestry practices applied to the Sparta Mountain Wildlife Management Area by the NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife do not deliver the anticipated results.  

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• Once upon a Forest: Rewilding a Forest

Touching, beautiful story of a woman in Sweden who uses minimally invasive techniques to regrow her  forest when it is stressed by disease.

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Podcasts

• "We Came to the Forest" on Apple Podcasts

Compellingly dramatic and disturbing true story series about the intersection of forest protection, racial injustice, and activism when protestors try to save a beloved public forest outside of Atlanta, GA

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• Michael Kellett interview on Resistance Radio podcast - Recorded Sunday Jan 26, 2025

Michael Kellett is executive director of the New England nonprofit organization, RESTORE: The North Woods, which he co-founded in 1992. He has been involved in national park, wilderness, public land, and endangered species issues for more than 30 years.

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• Janet Sinclair is co-founder of Save Massachusetts Forests with Michael Kellett.

• Listen to Janet discuss the current state of logging in our Massachusetts forests and forest activism on Resistance Radio podcasts.

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• The Enviro Show podcast presents A Degradation Nation, a lively discussion of the current state of environmental politics

Texts

• "Franconia Notch and the Women Who Saved It" by Kimberly A. Jarvis

The true story of the women who fought to permanently preserve another Notch:

"The 'heart of New Hampshire,' the 6,000-acre Franconia Notch nestled deep in the majestic White Mountains, has been a well-loved summer resort and tourist destination since the nineteenth century. When in 1923 a devastating fire destroyed the famous grand hotel the Profile House and the hotel owners decided against rebuilding, lumber companies eagerly moved in to evaluate the timber in the region. A vigorous campaign to save the pristine Franconia Notch wilderness rapidly galvanized around the efforts of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, the Granite State's premier force dedicated to conservation. Support poured in from local, state, regional, and national sources as the Franconia Notch campaign gathered steam in a bid to acquire and preserve the Notch.The New Hampshire Federation of Women's Clubs was a particularly spirited participant--and a key to the campaign's success. In 1928 the effort culminated in the creation of Franconia Notch Forest Reservation and War Memorial, today's magnificent Franconia Notch State Park."

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• The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wholleben

"Peter Wohlleben shares his deep love of woods and forests and explains the amazing processes of life, death, and regeneration he has observed in the woodland and the amazing scientific processes behind the wonders of which we are blissfully unaware. Much like human families, tree parents live together with their children, communicate with them, and support them as they grow, sharing nutrients with those who are sick or struggling and creating an ecosystem that mitigates the impact of extremes of heat and cold for the whole group."

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•The Rural We: Saving the Notch Forest
Rural Intelligence
by Francesca Olsen
January 23, 2025

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•Who Will Speak for the Trees?
Bloomberg.com - January 2025

"In addition to making our world more beautiful and helping regulate the planet’s temperature, (old) trees provide homes for a variety of wildlife that need their high canopies — which young replanted forests lack."

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Restore.org

There is a wealth of good pro-forestation and reforestation information about New England and beyond at Restore.org!

"A group of conservationists...decided to stop reacting and instead become more proactive in defense of the wild. They started an organization called RESTORE; not an anagram, just banking on the strength of the word to inspire."

— Terry Tempest Williams