The Center seeks to create knowledge and understanding about the Northern Forest. Working across for states, we have developed a knowledge base about the region and our specific program areas that we are pleased to share. If you want to know when new resources become available, be sure to sign up for the Northern Forest News Digest.
Annual Reports
The Northern Forest Center is a regional innovation and investment partner creating rural vibrancy by connecting people and economy to the forested landscape. Our annual reports summarize the impact of our efforts to support community revitalization and destination development, catalyze a modern wood heat economy, bring innovation to the wood products industry, create Community Forests and more.
Annual Report 2020: Live the New Forest Future
Annual Report 2014
Annual Report 2013
Annual Report 2012
Annual Report 2011
Annual Report 2010Maps
Northern Forest Region
Northern Forest Counties
Northern Border Regional Commission Counties
Additional Maps
Northern Border Regional Commission Demographic Maps from 2016, produced by the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy.
Educational Attainment
Household Income
Population
Population Trends
PovertyUniversity of New Hampshire GRANIT, in partnership with the UNH Carsey Institute, produced regional maps to inform the Sustainable Economy Initiative’s work.
Physical Map of the Northern Forest Region
Post Secondary Education Locations
Modern Wood Heat
Wood Products
Company Culture & Organizational Development
Community Forests
Economic Impacts of the 13 Mile Woods Community Forest
A Community Investment Strategy
Needs & Resources for Creating & Managing Community Forests
The Status of Community-Based Forestry in the United States
Tourism
Regional Strategy
The Center, often working with partners, has compiled data and analysis of economic trends and public policy as part of several projects. Links to those resources are gathered here.
An Overview of Biomass Thermal Energy Policy Opportunities in the Northern Forest Region
Sustainable Economy Initiative full report
Sustainable Economy Initiative
Northern Forest Lands Council 10th Anniversary Forum
Northern Forest Wealth Index: Exploring a Deeper Meaning of Wealth
The Northern Forest Wealth Index represents an effort to identify and assess the core assets and values important to the Northern Forest’s overall wealth/well-being. It builds on the region’s emerging identity by looking beyond debates and exploring a deeper meaning of regional wealth—one which considers the well-being of the Northern Forest’s communities, its culture, economy, educational systems and environment.
The Wealth Index presents a snapshot of the Northern Forest as a place defined by shared community, cultural, economic, educational and environmental assets. Indicators, which come from a wide variety of state and national sources, are based on county level data related to 27 Northern Forest counties.
Carbon & Water Resources
Selling CarbonWe've compiled links to useful websites, publications, tools and information to complement Selling Forest Carbon: A Practical Guide to developing forest carbon offsets for Northeast forest owners. Forest Carbon Resources
Other Publications
HandMade in the Northern Forest: A guide to fine art and craft traditions in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York
HandMade in the Northern Forest lists 365 artisans and craftspeople, galleries, craft marketplaces, special attractions, restaurants and historic inns, organized into 13 driving tours across the Northern Forest. Each chapter includes a cultural heritage profile, sidebar articles, locator maps and interesting “tidbits” about locations along the way to highlight the region’s heritage and sense of place. Published in 2006.
At Home in the Northern Forest
At Home in the Northern Forest explores the sense of place in the Northern Forest through interviews with residents from varied backgrounds, ideologies and professions. At Home features stories, quotes and striking photographs that describe life in the rural communities of the Northern Forest, from Maine through New Hampshire and Vermont to New York.
Author Laura Tam spoke with foresters, economic development professionals, inn managers, wildlife biologists, loggers, shopkeepers, teachers and many others to discover how they are connected to the people, landscape and heritage of the 30-million acre region known as the Northern Forest. Published in 2001.
Sample pages: Introduction [180 KB] Chapter 1: People [244 KB] Chapter 2: The Land [184 KB] Chapter 3: Culture & Identity [196 KB]
What’s In a Name
What’s in a Name traces place names, and the stories behind them, to understand human connections with the Northern Forest landscape and how they changed over time. By conducting research into the written record and drawing on the experience of long-time local residents, elementary and high school students uncovered and recorded the stories behind scores of place names in the Baskahegan region of eastern Maine. Published in 2000.
Sample pages: What's In a Name: Natives [164 KB] What's In a Name: Settlers [148 KB] What's In a Name: Loggers [188 KB]
Wood Ways Film
The Center collaborated with the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts to produce the video Wood Ways: Conserving Culture and Nature in the Northern Forest. The 30-minute video profiles traditional crafters and the work they do.