Trees. They give us shade when it’s hot and are home to many species of birds, insects, and animals, providing them (and us) with food and shelter. New Hampshire is fortunate to have the second-highest percentage of forest cover in the country (84 percent) after #1 Maine (89 percent). We are also fortunate to have a brilliant palette of colorful trees gracing the landscape at this time of year. With the leaves changing color in response to the shorter and colder days of fall, chlorophyll production that was giving leaves their green color during summer slows down and then stops, revealing gorgeous reds, yellows, and browns in the leaves. Trees also help sequester (store) carbon in the ground, helping to reduce the effect of greenhouse gases that are harmful to Earth’s atmosphere.

But did you know that the beautiful monarch butterflies also need trees for shelter? They roost in maple trees and conifers, and as caterpillars, need access to milkweed pods that provide toxins to protect them from predators after they go from cocoon to monarch. If you want to help monarch butterflies continue their important role in our ecosystem (the monarch population has declined by 80 percent over the past 20 years), you can participate in the UNH milkweed pod collection program. Once milkweed pods dry out and turn grey or brown, the seeds can be harvested and delivered to the Sullivan County Conservation District offices in Newport for distribution around the state to improve the milkweed cover, which is the primary host plant for monarchs.

Cornish has several large tracts of uninterrupted forestland, predominantly consisting of hemlock hardwood-pine and Appalachian oak-pine, along with other hardwood trees. Fortunately, a large number of the private landowners of these forests have protected them with conservation easements; and the Cornish Town Forest also contributes to this important preserved forest area. Many forest management plans are in place to maintain forest health for sustainable harvesting, recreation, and wildlife. Because these large blocks are adjacent to each other, mammals with large ranges can be found here like moose, black bear, bobcat, coyote and fisher cat.