I am writing regarding your “Forest Management” plan to “Benefit Wildlife.” I object to the notion that this cut has been designed to benefit wildlife.

I studied forest management at UNH as part of my Wildlife Management studies. The logging operation going on at Tucker Brook Town Forest violates several basic principles of forest management.

Large, downed, and standing dead trees contribute to the health and biological diversity found in wild forests. They provide substrates for the germination and development of plants, habitat for a variety of decay organisms like mushrooms, runways for the movement of terrestrial animals, structure that serves as hunting and resting perches, erosion reduction from storm flows and much more. The general recommendation is to leave three or four large downed trees and two to three girdled trees per acre. In addition, “substantial, diverse, young growth” is to be left behind to allow regrowth of a diverse habitat.

A cut to benefit wildlife will consist of multiple, 1-2 acre clearings for sunlight to reach the ground which starts and supports new growth. The shrubs and young trees (secondary succession species) coming in provide multiple sources of food and cover.

The Tucker Brook cut is a swath clearcut. It is leaving nothing behind per acre except stumps. The eliminatination without restraint of the entirety of a dominant tree species (Hemlock) in a forest is not driven by any wildlife management principle, but by sheer greed for profit. Managing the forest by cutting down the forest is management to maximize lumber profits, not benefits to wildlife nor forest health.

Finally, I note that cutting down trees during a climate crisis is akin to hitting the gas pedal as the car swerves toward a cliff. Trees are currently the only means available to mitigate a climate disaster, yet 86% of carbon segregation is allowed to be lost to logging. This is simply incomprehensible and disgraceful – and our descendents will pay dearly for your profiteering.

You are not getting away with anything. We see what you are doing and we will continue to call you out.