Photo of Senator Hassan with Forest Society's President Jack Savage and Policy Director Matt Leahy by DJ Glisson, II/Firefly Imageworks.
As part of the Land Trust Alliance Advocacy Days 2026, Forest Society President Jack Savage and Policy Director Matt Leahy met with members of New Hampshire’s congressional delegation and officials from the U.S. Forest Service.
Advocacy Days is an annual opportunity for land trust leaders from across the country to engage directly with lawmakers and federal agencies—bringing local perspectives to national policy conversations.
This year, discussions focused on several priorities important to the Forest Society and our partners:
- Farm Bill Reauthorization: Conservation programs within the Farm Bill remain a critical source of funding for protecting working lands.
- Forest Conservation Easement Program (S.1050 / H.R.3476): This proposal would establish a new easement program within the Natural Resources Conservation Service to support long-term forest conservation.
- The Value of Open Space: We shared findings from our recent report highlighting the economic, environmental, and community benefits of conserved lands across New Hampshire.
Importantly, these conversations took place alongside the Forest Service’s reorganization announcement—an issue that continues to generate concern nationwide, particularly regarding the potential loss of scientific capacity and the future of research forests like Bartlett.
Finally, we were proud to remind our delegation that 2026 marks the Forest Society’s 125th anniversary. We look forward to welcoming them to upcoming events as we celebrate this milestone year.