Hiking, mountain biking, bird watching, horseback riding, snowmobiling are just some of the ways we get outside to enjoy nature and unwind from our day-to-day activities. However, even these seeming innocuous activities can have impacts on wildlife including reduced abundance, reproduction, and survival. Thoughtful trail location allows us to get outside to enjoy nature and also minimize disturbance to wildlife.
Funded by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department recently developed a statewide tool that can be used to assess existing trails and site new trails in the most wildlife-friendly way. This mapping tool highlights areas particularly important for wildlife and areas that would be more suitable for trail development.
The companion guidebook, Trails for People and Wildlife, explains in more detail how recreation can impact wildlife, how to use the tool to minimize those impacts, and provides some real-world examples of how conservation organizations are using it to make their trail planning efforts most effective.
If you'd like to read the guidebook you can download it here or you can review a copy at the Dunbarton Public Library.
The Conservation Commission used this information in developing a new trail policy for our conservation areas. View Dunbarton Trail Policy.
Conserving Your Land -- Options for NH Landowners Available
This popular publication originally written in 2005, has been updated, the first major revision in 14 years.
Conserving Your Land is a guide for landowners, conservation commissions, citizens, and others interested in learning about land conservation options and techniques. The 2019 publication is loaded with current information, landowner stories and more in a full color, user-friendly format.
You can view and download the 2019 document on the NH Land Trust Coalition website.
You may also download a low-resolution version suitable for viewing on a computer here >
Coral fungus on the Hobblebush Trail
Ferns and fungus
Local Dunbarton naturalist Joreen Hendry led a nature walk in the Kuncanowet Town Forest and Conservation Area on Saturday morning. Participants not only learned a bit about tree and plant identification, but also had an opportunity to learn how to identify a number of fungus and fern species.
Walk leader Jo Hendry (right) makes a point