A note from Carl about presenting at the IUFRO Landscape Ecology Conference:
Part of the NALMC mission is to not only work cooperatively with our neighbors, but also to create a model of collaboration that can be used by other groups in other regions. It was a great honor and privilege to represent NALMC at the International Union of Forest Research Organizations, a distinguished international small scale forestry conference at U-Mass Amherst on September 27, 2012. The idea of private landowners cooperating with one another is a topic that is gaining traction worldwide. The NALMC store was enthusiastically received and when folks have asked "where is the NALMC region," I have answered, "NALMC is everywhere; it is an idea without borders." After attending this conference, I understand the truth of this statement.
Although those of us in the NALMC neighhborhood are always learning new ways to cooperate, the notion of neighbors talking to one another (the basis of NALMC's ideology) is more meaningful today because we have lost some of our sense of connection to where we live and to the natural world. After attending one day of this forestry conference, I returned to New Hampshire humbled and with a renewed sense of the importance of our work.
A letter from David Kittredge regarding NALMC's presence at the conference:
Our international guests from around the world have headed home, and I have a chance now to thank you very much for playing such an important role in our conference at UMass. Between September 24 and 27, we hosted at UMass over 90 people from 18 countries at a conference dedicated to Small Scale Forestry. Researchers from places as seemingly different as Finland and Malaysia came together to share research experiences, methods, and results on the small scale forests and forestry they study their respective countries. As you can imagine, the trees, soils, products, and climate can be different, but the common thread of relatively small forests and their management challenges brought us all together.
Out final session of the conference on Thursday morning was an important one. We wanted to give participants the opportunity to learn from the first-hand experience of landowners themselves. Researchers had spoken amongst themselves for three days and exchanged information, but we viewed this session on Thursday morning as a wonderful way to share some New England wisdom and experience directly from landowners. Thank you very much, Carl, for a wonderful and inspiring presentation outlining the history and vision of NALMC! I think you can tell from the questions and discussion that followed that the scientists were quite interested to learn more from your experience. Knowledge and learning are not products of scientists alone, and I was thrilled to see the way those assembled researchers learned and were inspired by your presentation.
Our conference was a very successful research and exchange opportunity for scientists from Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Japan, and other countries. The pictures, information, and memories will influence the way they approach small scale forestry in their own countries. Thank you very much for generously providing your time and experience for an important part of our conference. I was both pleased and proud of the way the experience worked, and am grateful to you for the role you played.
David B. Kittredge
Professor and Extension Forester
Moving forward - the next phase of NALMC
In order to build off the information provided by the Ecological Assessment completed in 2009 and the recent addendum (click to here to browse these defining documents about the NALMC neighborhood) a sub-committee was formed to explore future directions for NALMC. With the support of the Steering Committee, this sub-committee has begun to outline an Ecosystem Forestry Plan. Where the Ecological Assessment and Addendum provide a fascinating snap-shot of the neighborhood in its current state, this Plan hopes to articulate a successful and balanced future for the NALMC ecosystems as well as outline stewardship ideas and goals to help the neighborhood remain a flourishing example of mindful small scale forestry.
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