This semester has been unusual to say the least. From COVID to a death in family and having to travel back home mid-semester, it’s easy to say that it could have been easier for me. But I am so incredibly grateful to have been able to attend school in person this semester. Learning about the history of the land, and being in person for lectures was the highlight of my year.
Learning about the land use history of the Centennial woods was fascinating. When the forests were old growth, the Abenaki used the land as their homes. In the height of land clearing, cattle and sheep grazed the woods. Walking through the woods today you can see remnants of barbed wire from cows moving through the trees, old stone walls to corral sheep, and concrete walls from old ROTC bunkers. The forest had a complex history. In an attempt to conserve this natural biosphere, UVM bought parts of the woods throughout the 1970’s. Now we have the incredible woods we see today.1
Today, the land is used for education, recreation, and conservation. There are bridges and footpaths throughout it to create a place to hike and relax, as well as markers for trees for us to study.
The Centennial woods are similar to French Creek here in PA. French Creek was close to Hopewell furnace, where trees were cleared to burn for charcoal. Much of the trees in French Creek grew after the height of deforestation. Today, the park is recreation based, and shows many remnants of the old land use.2
Citations
- Poleman, W., & Brooks, C. (2020). NR 001 Lectures. Lecture.
- 2. French Creek State Park. (2020, January 06). Retrieved December 05, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Creek_State_Park