Spitzer Demonstration Forest<\/h1><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>When Lydia Spitzer donated over 1,350 acres of conserved forestland in 2009, a new realm of educational possibilities appeared – the ability to not only talk about sustainable practices but to test those practices in real life and show the results.<\/p>\n
Located in East Charleston, VT, our 1,475 acre property is accessible from the main NorthWoods facility, as well as from several trailheads around the property. This diverse acreage encompasses natural communities ranging from forested wetlands and beaver ponds to upland northern hardwoods and mixed forests and includes 1,800 feet of undeveloped shoreline along Echo Lake.<\/p>\n
The landscape is influenced both by a land use history of brief agriculture and intensive logging and by our northern latitude, which results in a transition forest with elements of northern hardwoods and boreal softwoods. Common wildlife species include moose, fisher, bobcat, and less common ones like rusty blackbird and black-backed woodpecker have also nested on the property.<\/p>\n
Above all, our forest is an educational tool for you<\/b>– landowners, forestry professionals, and anyone curious about managing a healthy forest ecosystem. With that in mind, we\u2019ve added informational signs and trailside access to many of our forest management areas.<\/p>\n
Use the links below to explore our demonstration sites\u2026 or come by for a hike, and see them in real life. Our management plan<\/a><\/strong> includes detailed goals, stand descriptions, and our silvicultural schedule.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%272048%27%20height%3D%271463%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%202048%201463%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%272048%27%20height%3D%271463%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" "\\"Benefactor")
<\/span>Benefactor Lydia Spitzer cuts the balsam fir garland to formally inaugurate the Spitzer Demonstration Forest in February, 2013.<\/h4>
Left to Right - Nancy Engels, Jayson Benoit, Meghann Carter, Lydia Spitzer, and Sam Perron.Photo by Bethany M. Dunbar, courtesy of the Chronicle <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/span>Demonstration Sites<\/h1><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"Demo-Site-Map\"](\"https:\/\/www.northwoodscenter.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/Demo-Site-Map.png\" "\\"Demo-Site-Map\\"")
<\/i> <\/a><\/i> <\/a><\/i> <\/a><\/i> <\/a><\/i> <\/a><\/i> <\/a><\/i> <\/a><\/i> <\/a><\/i> <\/a><\/i> <\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Forestry for the Birds: Variable Density Thinning<\/a><\/h3>\nForestry for the Birds: Crop Tree Release with Gap Creation<\/a><\/h3>\nInvasive Species Management Area<\/a><\/h3>\nVernal Pool Protection Area<\/a><\/h3>\nPine Plantation Conversion<\/a><\/h3>\nCrop Tree Release<\/a><\/h3>\nPre-Commercial Thinning<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Affiliations and recognition from other organizations help make the Spitzer Forest what it is today- a sustainable, educational, multi-use working forest. Over 96% of our forest is enrolled in the Vermont Use Value Appraisal<\/a><\/strong> (also called Current Use) program, allowing the land to be appraised at a reduced rate based on a commitment to maintain it as undeveloped working forest. Approximately 1,360 acres are protected under a conservation easement held by the Vermont Land Trust<\/a><\/strong>, and 11 acres along the Clyde River are under easement with The Nature Conservancy<\/a><\/strong>, a further commitment to the future protection of this intact forest. The entire 1,475 acre Spitzer Forest is enrolled in the American Tree Farm System<\/a><\/strong>, the nations oldest certifier of privately owned forestland. Most recently, the Forest Guild<\/a><\/strong> accepted the Spitzer Forest into their Model Forest program which recognizes the “places, people, and relationships that foster sustainable forest management and demonstrate successful silviculture”.<\/p>\nThere’s always something new happening in the Spitzer Demonstration Forest! Follow us on Facebook<\/a><\/strong>, keep an eye on upcoming events<\/a><\/strong>, explore the links below, or come for a hike to our demonstration sites- we hope to see you out there!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/lite-youtube><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Forest Management Plan<\/h2>\n
When Lydia Spitzer donated over 1,350 acres of conserved forestland in 2009, a new realm of educational possibilities appeared – the ability to not only talk about sustainable practices but to test those practices in real life and show the results.<\/p>\n
Located in East Charleston, VT, our 1,475 acre property is accessible from the main NorthWoods facility, as well as from several trailheads around the property. This diverse acreage encompasses natural communities ranging from forested wetlands and beaver ponds to upland northern hardwoods and mixed forests and includes 1,800 feet of undeveloped shoreline along Echo Lake.<\/p>\n
The landscape is influenced both by a land use history of brief agriculture and intensive logging and by our northern latitude, which results in a transition forest with elements of northern hardwoods and boreal softwoods. Common wildlife species include moose, fisher, bobcat, and less common ones like rusty blackbird and black-backed woodpecker have also nested on the property.<\/p>\n
Above all, our forest is an educational tool for you<\/b>– landowners, forestry professionals, and anyone curious about managing a healthy forest ecosystem. With that in mind, we\u2019ve added informational signs and trailside access to many of our forest management areas.<\/p>\n
Use the links below to explore our demonstration sites\u2026 or come by for a hike, and see them in real life. Our management plan<\/a><\/strong> includes detailed goals, stand descriptions, and our silvicultural schedule.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Left to Right - Nancy Engels, Jayson Benoit, Meghann Carter, Lydia Spitzer, and Sam Perron.Photo by Bethany M. Dunbar, courtesy of the Chronicle <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> Affiliations and recognition from other organizations help make the Spitzer Forest what it is today- a sustainable, educational, multi-use working forest. Over 96% of our forest is enrolled in the Vermont Use Value Appraisal<\/a><\/strong> (also called Current Use) program, allowing the land to be appraised at a reduced rate based on a commitment to maintain it as undeveloped working forest. Approximately 1,360 acres are protected under a conservation easement held by the Vermont Land Trust<\/a><\/strong>, and 11 acres along the Clyde River are under easement with The Nature Conservancy<\/a><\/strong>, a further commitment to the future protection of this intact forest. The entire 1,475 acre Spitzer Forest is enrolled in the American Tree Farm System<\/a><\/strong>, the nations oldest certifier of privately owned forestland. Most recently, the Forest Guild<\/a><\/strong> accepted the Spitzer Forest into their Model Forest program which recognizes the “places, people, and relationships that foster sustainable forest management and demonstrate successful silviculture”.<\/p>\n There’s always something new happening in the Spitzer Demonstration Forest! Follow us on Facebook<\/a><\/strong>, keep an eye on upcoming events<\/a><\/strong>, explore the links below, or come for a hike to our demonstration sites- we hope to see you out there!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/www.northwoodscenter.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Garland-Cutting-Photo-by-Bethany-M.-Dunbar-Courtesy-of-the-Chronicle_cropped.jpg\" "\\"Benefactor")
Benefactor Lydia Spitzer cuts the balsam fir garland to formally inaugurate the Spitzer Demonstration Forest in February, 2013.<\/h4>
Demonstration Sites<\/h1><\/span>
<\/i> <\/a><\/i> <\/a><\/i> <\/a><\/i> <\/a><\/i> <\/a><\/i> <\/a><\/i> <\/a><\/i> <\/a><\/i> <\/a><\/i> <\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Forestry for the Birds: Variable Density Thinning<\/a><\/h3>\n
Forestry for the Birds: Crop Tree Release with Gap Creation<\/a><\/h3>\n
Invasive Species Management Area<\/a><\/h3>\n
Vernal Pool Protection Area<\/a><\/h3>\n
Pine Plantation Conversion<\/a><\/h3>\n
Crop Tree Release<\/a><\/h3>\n
Pre-Commercial Thinning<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Forest Management Plan<\/h2>\n
![\"Read](\"https:\/\/www.northwoodscenter.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/2015FSIplan-229x300.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"View](\"https:\/\/www.northwoodscenter.org\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/2015-11x17-NorthWoods-UVA_EQIP-Parcel-Map-194x300.png\")
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