Dr Michael Cline Memorial Forest Dedication on Saturday, October 27

The Public is Invited to the Dr Michael Cline Memorial Forest Dedication

on Saturday, October 27 at 2 PM on the White Pine Trail off of bald Hill Rd in Albany NH.

The public is invited to the Dr Michael Cline Memorial Forest Dedication on Saturday, October 27 at 2 PM on Bald Hill Road in Albany, NH.

A short dedication program will be followed by a guided hike on the newly established White Pine Trail. Cookies from The Old Village Bakery and fresh cider form the White Mountain Cider Company will follow.

The trail head is located on the left near the base of Bald Hill Road in Albany, approximately one mile before the Nature Learning Center.  A sign will be posted to designate the parking area.

“The dedication of the newly acquired 93 acres on Bald Hill Road is a perfect opportunity to honor Mike. A passionate environmentalist, forester, and educator, Mike would be thrilled with the opportunities that exist with this new land acquisition.” states Lori Kinsey, Tin Mountain’s current Executive Director.

Dr Michael L Cline served as the Executive Director of Tin Mountain Conservation Center since 1998 where he poured his heart and soul into growing the organization. His vision was far reaching and his accomplishments included the purchase of land on Bald Hill Road in Albany and the oversight on the construction of the Nature Learning Center, an environmentally sustainable building using local woods and a solar heating system as well as a solar photo voltaic system for electricity. Over his tenure at Tin Mountain numerous grant funds and over $2,000,000 was raised in support of Tin Mountain’s mission. These funds supported programs including school programs, adult and family programs, and the research and intern program developed in 2010 to study forestry practices and their effects on migratory and resident birds and brook trout habitat.

Prior to his time at Tin Mountain, Mike worked at Maine Audubon. While there he worked on one of his proudest accomplishments, the passing of the Forest Practice Act in Maine, which regulated forestry practices throughout the state. He was a unique forester with an ability to conservatively manage forests and an eye for how a cut would affect wildlife and the ecosystem in general.

Dr. Cline managed numerous cuts on the 1200 acre Bear Paw Lands in Center Conway.  These were designed with the research program in mind studying the effects of timber harvesting on avian species. This living laboratory has been used for the past ten years by over 20 research interns collecting data on the variety of bird species found on these lands.

Mike was also an excellent teacher of both children and adults.  He taught the weekly MESA, Maine Environmental Science Academy, programs for a number of years sharing his love of trees in particular.   His love for plants was made even more apparent through the completion and publication of his book Shrubs of the Northern New EnglandForest in the fall of 2016.

 The Dr Michael Cline Memorial Forest is owned by Tin Mountain Conservation Center with a conservation easement on the land held by Upper Saco Valley Land Trust.  The land will be permanently protected from development, and will be managed as a working forest and also provide recreational and educational opportunities. Tin Mountain Conservation Center and Upper Saco Valley Land Trust worked together to  raise monies for the purchase of the 91-acre Bald Hill Road parcel in Albany jointly as part of the Pine Hill Project.Funding from New Hampshire’s Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP), was instrumental in the successful completion of this land conservation project. LCHIP is an independent state authority that provides matching grants to New Hampshire communities and non-profits to protect and preserve the state’s most important natural, cultural and historic resources.

Plans for the parcel include exploring the newly developed White Pine Trail with school groups, summer campers, and our Nature Program Series programs.  It is open to the general public in all seasons.  There are some unique features located on the trail including mountain laurel, a black gum swamp, pitch pine, and a other unique trees and plants.  It is also home to a variety of wildlife including moose, black bear, barred owls, and scarlet tanagers.

Trail markers mark the trails on both The Rockwell Sanctuary and the Dr. Michael Cline Memorial Forest comprising a continuous 233 prime acres for native flora and fauna.

Special thanks to Susan Goodwin the beautiful handmade White Pine Trail markers, Mike Tamulis for painting the clay markers and Chris Tanguay, of Maine Dry Stone, and his son Odin for the granite memorial stone.  We are also appreciative of   Tin Mountain’s current and past trustees, staff, supporters and community members for theirunwavering dedication to the organization’s mission, cause and vision.

Tin Mountain Conservation Center is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit environmental organization serving the greater Mount Washington Area for over 30 years. It’s mission is to promote an appreciation of the natural environment among children, adults, and families through hands-on programs in the schools, at camps, and in the community and to demonstrate responsible stewardship of natural resources through land protection, research, sustainable forestry, agriculture, and energy.  The Tin Mountain Nature Learning Center is located on 1245 Bald Hill Road in Albany, NH. For more information contact 603-447-6991, visit the website at www.tinmountain.org or Friend Tin Mountain Conservation Center on Facebook.