The mission of Bear-Paw Regional Greenways is to permanently conserve a network of lands that protects the region’s water, wildlife habitat, forests and farmland. Natural lands provide habitat for native wildlife and plants and “ecosystem” or “natural” services such as water quality protection, groundwater recharge, and flood control. They can also provide for food and other natural products as well as recreation and tourism. The region is rich in natural resources but they are at risk.
Bear-Paw’s goal is to safeguard irreplaceable water resources, important wildlife habitat and travel routes, and productive forests and farms; securing a region of scenic beauty and rural character where diversity and quality of life are sustained. To accomplish this, Bear-Paw must work closely with the region’s landowners, member towns, and other conservation partners.
At the current rate, the region’s population will double in less than 40 years. Development reduces, fragments, and degrades habitats that are essential for wildlife and fish; contributes to water pollution; alters natural sediment flows; and puts more people and property at risk from natural hazards. Water, in particular, is vulnerable to the cumulative impacts that are associated with development.
Bear Paw's Conservation Plan identifies and describes those areas that include the region’s most important ecological, biological, and water resources. Using the results of a natural resource inventory completed in 2003 along with information from the NH Wildlife Action Plan, Bear-Paw identified where to focus its conservation efforts.
With this information Bear-Paw determined that the most effective way to conserve the region’s water, wildlife habitat, forests and farmland is through the protection of its large unfragmented forests, riparian areas, and important agricultural soils and farms since they present the best opportunity to conserve the most important natural areas in the region. These areas provide “greenways” and “blue ways” between and within the natural lands in and outside the region. The Plan will also allow Towns and other organizations in the region to help protect and conserve a network of land and water to sustain the region.
The conservation plan also discusses the voluntary conservation strategies and land use planning tools that can be used to protect these areas. Bear-Paw’s focus is on permanent land protection, but there will probably never be enough resources available to conserve all of the unprotected conservation areas identified. However, thoughtful planning of the location, density and design of development within the region that minimizes harmful impacts while allowing for a reasonable level of development can complement regional land protection efforts. Land use planning can guide economically and environmentally sustainable development in a way that maintains the region’s ecological functions and natural services, as well as its prosperity.
Outreach and education must be an important part of the effort. Natural systems are complex and interconnected. Effective land conservation, land use planning, and voluntary land use practices depend on an understanding of the complex interrelationships among water, land, air, and all living creatures, including humans, and the interaction among multiple activities that affect entire systems. This Plan and outreach efforts will help improve understanding of the natural environment and cultivate a broad public stewardship ethic.
Finally, the Plan is meant to complement others that address the conservation of natural resources in the region. Results from the New Hampshire Wildlife Action Plan (WAP), the Plan for New Hampshire’s Coastal Watersheds, and local master and open space plans were integrated into the description of the focus areas identified. In that way, areas of common interest can be easily identified; facilitating the formation of partnerships within the region.
The plan can be downloaded by clicking on the links below (PDF files).
Bear-Paw Plan Chapters 1-3
Bear-Paw Plan Chapters 4-6
Appendix A Unfragmented Forest Focus Areas
Appendix B Riparian Focus Areas
Appendix C Unfragmented Forest and Riparian Focus Area Maps - Candia
Appendix C Unfragmented Forest and Riparian Focus Area Maps - Deerfield
Appendix C Unfragmented Forest and Riparian Focus Area Maps - Epsom
Appendix C Unfragmented Forest and Riparian Focus Area Maps - Northwood
Appendix C Unfragmented Forest and Riparian Focus Area Maps - Nottingham
Appendix C Unfragmented Forest and Riparian Focus Area Maps - Raymond
Appendix C Unfragmented Forest and Riparian Focus Area Maps - Strafford
Appendix D Excerpts from Municipal Plans
Appendix E NH Wildlife Action Plan and the Coastal Plan
Appendix F Grant Programs and Other Partners
This project was supported by funds from the sale of the Conservation License Plate (Moose Plate) under the NH State Conservation Committee grant program.
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