Upcoming Events
Saturday, June 21st at 10 am (weather date June 22).
Goshen, VT. RSVP for exact location.
This is a moderately strenuous hike around the beautiful Silver Lake, up to Chandler Ridge, and to the Dutton Brook area. We'll get a chance to discuss the Northern Escarpment burn project planned in that area (and our region's relationship to fire more generally), as well as the Dutton Brook tree cutting/herbicide application project. Expect a 3-4 hour outing with approx. 6-7 miles of hiking and 1000 ft of elevation gain/loss. Maybe we'll get a chance to see bald eagles and some of the other wildlife that frequent the area.
Tuesday, July 1 at 5:30pm. Rain Date July 2.
Bolton, VT. RSVP for exact location.
We'll meet at the Honey Hollow trailhead and take an evening walk to this less-popular corner of Camel's Hump, visiting the beautiful cascades on Preston Brook and some of the many stands slated to be logged in this watershed over the next 11 years under the Camel's Hump State Park management plan. We'll get the chance to discuss timber harvest plans for Camel's Hump and other Vermont state lands, existing policy for state lands, and the expanded protection that is possible under the Vermont State Wildlands Act. Expect up to 3-4 miles of walking with approximately 500 ft of elevation change.
Saturday July 26 at 10am. Rain Date July 27.
Chittenden, VT. RSVP for exact location.
We'll meet at a trailhead near Chittenden Reservoir and visit some inspiring stands of old forest on our way to North Pond, a remote mountain pond near the spine of the Green Mountains. Along the way, we'll give you the latest on the massive Telephone Gap logging project that threatens much of the old and mature forest that make this area so special. Expect 5-6 miles of hiking with approximately 1200 ft elevation change.
Saturday August 2 at 10am. Rain Date August 3.
Gorham, NH. RSVP for exact location.
The Great Gulf Trail is a stunning and high reward hike into White Mountain National Forest history, ecology, and current management issues. For the first mile, we'll follow the gently undulating trail across and along the West Branch of the Peabody River, enjoying the spectacular and rare old-growth forest along this wild-and-scenic eligible river. The next mile and a half climbs gradually, then steeply up to Prospect Rock and a gorgeous view of the Great Gulf and the Presidential Range. The total elevation gain is 933 ft, and the round trip distance is 5 miles. We will pause along the way to enjoy the scenery and to discuss the WMNF's planned timber harvest in this beautiful old forest, which Standing Trees litigated in March of this year.
Saturday August 23 at 11am. Rain Date August 24.
Warren, NH. RSVP for exact location.
Lake Tarleton is one of the largest, cleanest, and least developed bodies of water in the White Mountains. We'll explore the lake on canoes, discuss the community-driven process that added this area to the White Mountain National Forest in the 1990s, and show how the Tarleton logging project threatens to undo the protection that the local community sought for this area. We'll also update you on litigation filed by Standing Trees against the Tarleton and Peabody West logging projects. Canoes and other equipment supplied courtesy of Kingswood Camp.
Past Events and Recordings
Thursday, April 24th, 12:45 - 2pm
Vermont Law and Graduate School Multicultural Center at 164 Chelsea Street, South Royalton, VT
Online via Zoom webinar and recording
Join conservation biologist Rick Enser, retired director of the Rhode Island Natural Heritage Program, to learn about the importance of biodiversity, unpack the ways that the term is co-opted and abused, and investigate how misleadingly-named state Wildlife Action Plans are designed to set “biodiversity” conservation priorities that focus on commodity-driven management actions like logging to increase populations of game animals.
Timber Industry Myths in the Era of "Log Baby Log"
Wednesday, March 26th, 2025, Zoom Webinar and recording
Join ecologists Bart Bouricius, Cheryl Joy Lipton and Bill Stubblefield for a deep dive into the effects of logging on forests, and discussion of pro-logging spin. We explore narratives coming from the timber industry, government agencies, and some academics that suggest our forests can only be made healthy by cutting them, and the myth that simply letting our forests develop naturally is irresponsible. We cover the science of the climate, biodiversity, and hydrological impacts of timber harvesting, compare natural disturbances to those caused by logging, and give you the backstory on how timber industry myths have developed over time
Vermont Wildlands Act: Everything You Need to Know
Thursday, March 20th, 2025, Zoom Webinar and recording
Listen in for an in-depth online discussion of the Vermont Climate Resilience and State Wildlands Act. We hear from Duxbury Selectboard member and wildlands advocate Jamie Ervin, and Standing Trees staff Zack Porter and Bob Galvin on how the Wildlands Act fits into the current policy landscape, why it makes sense to increase safeguards for state lands, and the profound benefits of old forests for flood protection, climate mitigation, clean water and biodiversity. We’ll also give you a run-down on how to contact your Vermont legislators to show your support for this bill.
Federal Public lands Round-Up: One Month of the Trump Administration in New England and Beyond
Wednesday, February 19th, 2025, Zoom Webinar and recording
We hear from Blaine Miller-McFeeley of Earthjustice and Zack Porter of Standing Trees to make sense of the Trump Administration's attacks on public lands, and what we can do to protect these invaluable public resources. We discuss the national situation, field your questions, and make connections to the Green and White Mountain National Forests, where Standing Trees and Earthjustice are actively working to stop destructive and unnecessary logging projects.
