Seeing the Forest and the Trees

By Veronica Burns

Newcomers to this rural town are often asked, “What brought you to Norfolk?” In the case of Hans Carlson, the recently appointed director of Great Mountain Forest (GMF), it was to work with local canoe builder Schuyler Thomson in 1987.

Carlson, who was born and raised in central Massachusetts, has always had a love for the outdoors, and rural Norfolk appealed to him. He worked with Thomson until 1992 when he left to complete his degree at the University of Vermont. He also took time off to lead wilderness trips to northern Quebec. He continued his studies, gaining a master’s degree in environmental history at Vermont, followed by a Ph.D., also in environmental history, at the University of Maine, in Orono. He then taught at various schools, including Mansfield University in Pennsylvania and the University of Minnesota.

He came back to GMF in 2013 as a researcher and project manager, working closely with then executive director Paul Barten. “Paul saw his potential,” says Betsy Gill, chair of the GMF Board of Trustees, “and we all saw his enthusiasm. Needless to say, we were thrilled he was available to us at the right time.”

Carlson was appointed director last month. “Great Mountain Forest, all 6,300 acres of it,” says Carlson, “is a big institution run by a small group of people, and the depth of their experience and their skills is something pretty special.” He adds how lucky he feels to be doing a job he loves with talented people whom he also really likes. “The legacy of GMF is great and the people are fantastic.”

He has learned a lot from riding around GMF with Jody Bronson, who has a wealth of information to share. “That’s an important part of my education,” says Carlson. “There’s nothing like going out and experiencing the forest.”

A unique blend of working forest and land preservation, GMF has passed from being privately owned to nonprofit status. The costs involved in the working forest operation are continually rising. For that reason, says Carlson, “we need community involvement and we are working to develop that.”
Current GMF programs will continue, including the kids’ programs and the lectures. More effort will be put into the intern program. Carlson notes that when Ted Childs and Darrell Russ were running the forest, they had a number of summer interns. “This is a valuable learning experience. The interns get to do everything. I see the intern program as a wonderful link between the children’s programs, our work as foresters and outreach to the community.”

Plans are also being considered for an educational woodlot, which could become a practical, hands-on workshop for those who have some property and are not sure what to do with it or how to proceed. “People could come and learn how we do things,” says Carlson. “It’s not just cutting trees, but thinking about the watersheds and the habitat, seeing the whole picture. Remember, everything in New England has been worked over at least once, if not two or three times. So you need to know the ecological history of your property to better understand it.”

Carlson compares GMF to the farm-to-table movement. “People like to know where their food is coming from, and I see local forestry in the same way. You should know where your wood is coming from.”

The new director is happy and willing to discuss it all. “I want to get to know people. I would like to know how they view GMF. It has been part of the town for so long, and I am interested to know what people’s perceptions are.” To that purpose, Carlson will gladly welcome visitors to the GMF center on 200 Canaan Mountain Road.

Photo by Andy Williams: Hans Carlson on Debsconeag Lake in Maine.