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Vickie Bunnell Preserve, near Gore Brook - Wink Lees photo
Nature.org Donate Nature.org/newhampshire
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January 17, 2006
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 photo © Mark Godfrey/TNC Explore the world's rainforests.
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Spread the Word: Jan. 24 in Concord January 24, 1 p.m., in Concord is the appointment to keep to make the case for funding the N.H. Land and Community Heritage Investment Program, or LCHIP. The House Finance Committee will hold a hearing on a bill sponsored by Rep. David Hess (R-Hooksett) that proposes funding LCHIP with $2.5 million in the current fiscal year and $5 million in the next. The funds would come from the state's unanticipated budget surplus. House Bill 1167 is co-sponsored by Representatives Elizabeth Hager (R-Concord), Howard Dickinson (R-Center Conway) and John Pratt (D-Walpole), and Senators Carl Johnson (R-Meredith), Sylvia Larsen (D-Concord), and Andre Martel (R-Manchester). Despite widespread and strong grassroots support for LCHIP throughout the state, there's no guarantee for smooth sailing for this bill. Conservation organizations large and small -- including The Nature Conservancy -- are hoping for a large turnout at the Jan. 24 hearing as a show of support for LCHIP. If there was ever a time to help LCHIP, this is it. What you can do:
Right now, LCHIP's nominal budget allows enough funding for only a small handful of projects. In the two-year budget cycle beginning in 2001, LCHIP received $12 million. In the last and current biennium, the program received only $1.5 million – an 87 percent cut. The state now has a budget surplus, with enough revenues to contribute to the state's rainy day fund and other critical needs while still making a modest investment in New Hampshire's quality of life -- its rural and historic character, its natural resources and special places. House Bill 1167 -- adding a meaningful $7.5 million to LCHIP over the next two years -- comes at a time when New Hampshire is losing 17,500 acres of forestland every year and once familiar and treasured open spaces in our towns are being lost to development. LCHIP has proven itself to be a valuable tool that communities and organizations can use to leverage additional public and private dollars to protect lands of statewide and regional significance. The benefits of open space and historic preservation include tourism; natural resource industries; jobs created by preservation projects; and the quality of life in New Hampshire that attracts high-wage businesses. The program is a classic model of public/private partnership, using a competitive process that lets the best projects rise to the top, and represents traditional New Hampshire fiscal responsibility. LCHIP’s success has spawned broad support. Since the program’s start in 2000, LCHIP has stretched its modest funding to leverage $81 million in cash match from other sources to support an array of community-based conservation projects. Every $1 invested in LCHIP leverages an additional $5.95 in cash or in-kind services. Under a competitive grant system, the program has awarded 115 grants, benefiting 91 communities, protecting more than 200,000 acres since 2000. Many communities have projects that seek LCHIP funding. The LCHIP board has received funding requests for numerous projects from throughout New Hampshire, communities that want to protect their treasured natural and historic resources. These projects are ready to go; they just need the leveraging power of LCHIP’s funding. So help spread the word. Forward this message ... and see you on the 24th! Visit NH's Biodiversity: The N.H. Natural Heritage Bureau has just published four new guides in its ongoing Visiting New Hampshire’s Biodiversity series.
These interpretive trail brochures are designed to help the public experience some of the state’s best examples of exemplary natural communities and systems. Sites are chosen to reflect a broad diversity of the state’s geography and ecology (and landowners). New sites for this year include: marshes at Bellamy River Wildlife Sanctuary in Dover; kettle hole bog system at Ponemah Bog in Amherst; salt marsh at the Sandy Point Discovery Center in Stratham; and kettle hole bog system at Philbrick-Cricenti Bog in New London.Visit the bureau's website to check out and download the guides. Also on the website is a statewide map and list of the sites, including many additional ones that guides have not yet been created for. A brief description is included for each, as well as directions and website links. Full guides will be developed for some of these sites in the future. The series is still being developed and more sites are added each year. In 2006, the bureau plans to add several more new guides, for sites in the North Country, the Lakes Region, and the CT River Valley. These will be posted on the website as they are completed. The Visiting New Hampshire’s Biodiversity project is paid for with funds from the N.H. Conservation License Plate program – the mooseplate (www.mooseplate.com). Signs of Success: In a sign of successful conservation around New Hampshire’s Great Bay, a dozen tracts of land – totaling 806 acres – will be transferred this month from The Nature Conservancy to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. The N.H. Executive Council has approved the transfer of 12 parcels in eight Seacoast towns from The Nature Conservancy to the Fish and Game Department, all parcels the Conservancy purchased on behalf of the Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership. The Conservancy will also transfer to Fish and Game conservation easements from an additional two tracts, totaling 220.5 acres. The tracts and easements range in size from 10 acres to 359 acres and were purchased by The Nature Conservancy from willing sellers between 1999 and June of 2005. The tracts were identified and purchased for their excellent habitat for waterfowl and other species and for their value in protecting Great Bay’s water quality. << Learn more about this progress at Great Bay >> Tackling Climate Change: The Nature Conservancy applauds the decision by Governor John Lynch that New Hampshire has signed onto the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a historic multi-state agreement that takes great strides toward reducing carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming. “We congratulate the leadership of Gov. Lynch for brokering this landmark deal with other states in the Northeast,” said Daryl Burtnett, state director of the New Hampshire chapter of The Nature Conservancy. “This is a tremendous first step that sets an important precedent for future climate change policies across the United States and internationally.” RGGI sets an exemplary precedent to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants using a market-based system at little to no cost to electricity consumers. In fact, this new regional climate accord would improve energy efficiency and could save the typical residential customer about $50 per year, according to analysis sponsored by nine Northeast states. << Read more about the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative >> Saturday, Jan. 28: Saturday, Jan. 28: Saturday, February 25: Saturday, April 1: Aliens Attack: The Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE) and the New England Wild Flower Society (NEWFS) are seeking citizen volunteers to help gather data on invasive plant species in their local area. Information gathered by volunteers is submitted via the IPANE website to a regional database. All data collected are available on-line in map and text form. The gathered information is then used for predictive ecological research and planning rapid response and control efforts. All necessary training is provided. In addition to training, volunteers receive weekend workshops and educational courses provided by project staff at no charge. Currently more than 400 volunteers are participating in all New England states. Many more are needed to gather the necessary data and make the project a success. Individuals, school groups, scout troops, students, and clubs are all welcome to participate. An interest and working knowledge of invasive plants is helpful, but not required. More information and applications can be found at www.ipane.org. Contact Bill Brumback or Ailene Kane if you have questions. Opportunities in Conservation: The New Hampshire chapter of the Nature Conservancy seeks a dynamic, experienced fundraiser to write fundraising proposals. This New Hampshire-based position is responsible for researching, editing and writing grant proposals seeking individual, foundation, corporate, and government support.
A successful candidate will build long-term relationships with key foundation staff and work to connect TNC trustees with foundation and corporate principal leaders; work with staff to identify fundable priority work and match needs with grant funding opportunities; track and monitor activities of grant funded programs to ensure compliance with donors' requests; produce all required reports. This position is located in Concord, N.H. << Learn more about this employment opportunity >>
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