In a true sign that spring is just around the corner, the N.H. Division of Forests and Lands and the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests have announced the topics and presenters for this year’s Cottrell-Baldwin Environmental Lecture Series.
The first in the series begins takes place on Tuesday, March 17 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Henry I. Baldwin Environmental Center at Fox Forest in Hillsborough. For four consecutive Tuesday evenings in March and April, experts in their fields will address a wide range of topics related to the New Hampshire’s forested landscape, from an historic landslide and what came after to changing risks to forest health, plus tracking winter mammals and a look at more than a century of forest conservation.
“This year brings an eclectic mix of speakers making observations on New Hampshire’s forests as winter winds down and mud season approaches,” said Inge Seaboyer, program forester at the Caroline A. Fox Research and Demonstration Forest, which is managed by the NHDFL.
Dave Anderson, senior director of Education for the Forest Society added “We look forward to greeting new and old friends, as we honor our tradition of providing free evening programs which celebrate the forests, wildlife and history of New Hampshire.”
The complete 2026 Cottrell-Baldwin Environmental Lecture series takes place March 17-April 7, from 7-8:30 p.m., at Fox Forest’s Henry I. Baldwin Environmental Center, 309 Center Road in Hillsborough.
This year’s topics and speakers are:
- “One Disaster at a Time: The History of Crawford Notch,” Elizabeth Peel, N.H. Historic Sites Bureau, March 17
- “The State of Forest Health in New Hampshire,” Kyle Lombard, Bill Davidson and Ryan Crandall, N.H. Forest Health Bureau, March 24
- “Winter Mammal Tracking in New Hampshire,” Susi Spikol, Harris Center for Conservation Education, March 31
- “New Hampshire Forests – Past, Present and Future: 125 Years of Protecting New Hampshire Landscapes and Landmarks,” Dave Anderson, Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, April 7
Full descriptions of each lecture are available on the events section of the Forest Society’s website, forestsociety.org/events.
There is no cost to attend the lectures and walk-ins are welcome, but registration in advance is appreciated. As Anderson notes, “Having folks let us know they’re coming is a big help so that we can make sure we have enough seating and be prepared for those who do decide to join us on the spur of the moment.”
The Cottrell-Baldwin Lecture series honors the environmental and scholarly legacies of Hillsborough residents Annette and William Cottrell, as well as that of New Hampshire’s first research forester, Henry Ives Baldwin. Directions to Fox State Forest can be found at nhdfl.dncr.nh.gov/contact-us.
New Hampshire's Division of Forests and Lands is part of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. NHDFL’s mission is to protect and promote the values provided by trees, forests and natural communities. This mission is accomplished through responsible management of the state’s forested resources; by providing forest resource information and education to the public; and through the protection of these resources for the continuing benefit of the state’s citizens, visitors, and forest industry. Learn more at nhdfl.dncr.nh.gov.
The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests is a private, non-profit statewide land conservation trust and forestry organization established in 1901. The Forest Society currently holds more than 750 conservation easements statewide permanently protecting more than 135,000 acres of New Hampshire’s landscapes. The Forest Society also owns 200 forest reservations constituting more than 64,000 acres in more than 100 New Hampshire communities. Learn more at forestsociety.org.
