Important to Biodiversity and resilient to climate change

Protecting New Hampshire’s Wildlife and Old-Growth Forests

WildLandscapes, in collaboration with Bear Hill Conservancy Trust, the Kilham Bear Center, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is making great strides in preserving the ecologically rich Bear Hill Conservancy in New Hampshire. Situated in the Mascoma Headwaters unit of the Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge, Bear Hill is surrounded by wildlife management areas, the Smarts Mountain Forest Legacy Project, and lands managed by the National Park Service as part of the Appalachian Trail. The mission of the Bear Hill Conservancy Trust (BHCT) is to enhance wildlife diversity, safeguard old-growth forests, and establish a continuous habitat corridor linking Bear Hill and the White Mountain National Forest.

Bear Hill Conservancy is recognized as a top conservation priority by the New Hampshire Wildlife Action Plan due to its rich limestone-based soils, high biodiversity, and proximity to the Connecticut River. According to The Nature Conservancy’s nationwide analysis, Bear Hill’s 14,817 acres are crucial for biodiversity protection and climate resilience due to its diverse topography, fertile soil, abundant rainfall, and substantial size. This area is essential for species such as wood turtles, brook trout, Canada warblers, black-throated blue warblers, wood ducks, black ducks, and American black bears. Additionally, Bear Hill serves as a study area for renowned bear biologist Dr. Ben Kilham.

In 2023, we partnered with landowners and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to acquire Unit B, a 306-acre parcel, and establish a conservation easement on Unit J, covering over 2,635 acres. By 2024, our conservation efforts expanded with the addition of Unit D (856 acres), Unit F (1,317 acres), and soon, Unit P (468 acres), bringing the total protected area to 5,582 acres. The ultimate goal is to designate almost the entire conservancy as a National Wilderness Area, ensuring its perpetual protection.

This remarkable success is largely thanks to David Roby, founder of Lyme Timber Company. As the landowner, Roby has been a driving force behind this project, doing all he can to protect it forever. A pioneer in timber investment management, Roby established Lyme Timber Company as the first for-profit organization to partner with conservation efforts, leading to the protection of nearly a million acres nationwide. His innovative public-private partnership model has been adopted globally by many timber companies. In his retirement, Roby has focused on establishing Bear Hill Conservancy and partnering with WildLandscapes to conserve nearly 16,000 acres, including plans for a significant old-growth forest with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. His visionary leadership has earned him widespread recognition, including the Landowner Appreciation Award of Excellence from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Commission in 2022, highlighting his exceptional contributions to land management and wildlife habitat preservation.

For more information, see our fact sheet below: