Twenty-three new volunteers have joined the New Hampshire Coverts Project following a 3 1/2-day training workshop at the Barbara C. Harris Conference Center in Greenfield. Among the participants were several Monadnock region residents, including Doug Bonin of Rindge, Meg Deschenes of Peterborough, Anne Fischer of Sharon, Chris Madden of Hancock, Hannah Proctor of Francestown and Jim Rothnie of Jaffrey.
The Coverts Project—named for a “covert,” or a thicket that shelters wildlife—trains volunteers to promote wildlife conservation and sound forest management. Workshop sessions included field trips and lectures on managing land for wildlife, forest stewardship, and community-based habitat conservation.
Participants came from a variety of professional backgrounds, including nursing, firefighting, the arts and natural resources. Many are landowners or members of town conservation commissions, united by a shared commitment to land stewardship and conservation.
Nearly 500 trained Coverts volunteers now serve throughout New Hampshire, helping to educate the public about forest management and wildlife habitat. The program is coordinated by UNH Cooperative Extension in partnership with the New Hampshire Fish & Game Department, with additional support from the New Hampshire Division of Forests & Lands.
For information, contact Haley Andreozzi at haley.andreozzi@unh.edu or visit nhcoverts.org.