             |
Good Neighbors . . . these lands are managed for traditional recreational uses within a working forest. The opportunities offered by this land—the chance to ramble through the woods, alone with your thoughts, or to tramp up a wooded hillside with friends and renew your spirit before open mountain views, to paddle across the pond encircled by fiery fall foliage, or perhaps to ply your trade in the working forest— are built on the dedication and hard work of many partners. When these thousands of acres of privately owned land came up for sale in the 1990s, neighbors came together, united in a common vision of conservation for the land. The collaboration began with just the landowners and residents of Randolph and Jefferson, but the conservation idea quickly caught on with the leadership of the Randolph Foundation and gained the support of nonprofit groups, state agencies, legislators, and the federal government. Each group brought their own perspectives and talents to the table and worked through the many challenges of acquiring and conserving this special land. The results are yours to discover: the Randolph Community Forest and the Pond of Safety Tract of the White Mountain National Forest. Today, these lands are managed for traditional recreation uses within a working forest. The trail network winds through the Randolph Community Forest and the adjacent White Mountain National Forest. Although under different jurisdictions, the lands are managed similarly, with an emphasis on allowing a variety of activities while conserving the forested landscape for the future. The Town of Randolph has developed
a Stewardship Plan that describes the landscape and resources
of the Community Forest and the mix of activities the The Randolph Mountain Club (RMC) is responsible for all hiking trails in the Community Forest. RMC has a long history of maintaining many miles of trails in the northern Presidentials and the Crescent Range, which now includes caring for the new trails connecting the Community Forest with the Pond of Safety in the White Mountain National Forest. The U.S. Forest Service joined the conservation partnership by acquiring the land extending between the Pond of Safety and the Community Forest boundary on Crescent Ridge. The White Mountain National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan directs the mix of activities allowed on the land. The Pond of Safety Tract is managed as a working forest with a scenic area designation around the pond. This management approach complements the goals of the Randolph Community Forest and continues the traditional uses of the land. Although formal plans document and set the course for managing this land, it is important to remember that the plans—the Stewardship Plan for the Randolph Community Forest and the Management Plan for the surrounding White Mountain National Forest lands—are built with the energy, vision, and input of many individuals. All have joined in a partnership for conservation. The Randolph Community Forest Project On December 4, 2001, the Town of Randolph took title to a 10,000-acre tract of land and became the owner of the largest town forest in New Hampshire. For the Town, this was the culmination of a multiyear effort to preserve more than 13,000 acres strategically located between two sections of the White Mountain National Forest (WMNF) lands. The effort was initiated by the Town of Randolph and involved the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the Trust for Public Lands, and the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands. The creation of the Randolph Community Forest (RCF) had widespread local backing, as demonstrated by the attendance and tone of North Country residents from Randolph, Jefferson, and neighboring communities at numerous meetings and discussions, and by the overwhelming success of the Randolph Foundation in raising funds from area residents and businesses. It also received important financial support from national charitable institutions and the State of New Hampshire’s Land and Community Heritage Program (LCHIP). Funds for the outright acquisition of the additional 3000 acres, which lies within the White Mountain National Forest’s proclamation boundary, came from the budget of the USFS, and that land became part of the Kilkenny division of the WMNF. The USFS also contributed to the acquisition of the remaining 10,000 acres by the Town of Randolph through its Forest Legacy Program, which funded the purchase of a conservation easement held by the State of New Hampshire. The easement ensures that the land will be used only for traditional forms of outdoor recreation, for sustainable timber harvesting, and for the protection and enhancement of habitat for wildlife and plant life. One of the most dramatic and unique locations protected by the project is the Pond of Safety, an area long popular with both local residents and visitors to the region. The pond is actually located within the new addition to the WMNF, but access to it runs through the Randolph Community Forest.With the Forest in place, the Randolph Mountain Club constructed two new hiking trails during the fall of 2002. The Underhill Path and the Four Soldiers Path form a new loop that provides hiking, skiing, and snowshoeing in an area rich in cultural and natural history.
|