Vermont forester restores 175 acres, creating a pond, rich vegetation and a 100-tree orchard

Vermont forester Ethan Tapper bought 175 acres of degraded woodland in Bolton, Vermont, in 2017 and began restoring its ecosystem. The property, which he named Bear Island, had been affected by decades of logging, invasive plant growth and soil erosion. Over the following years, Tapper selectively cut trees, removed invasive vegetation, planted acorns and repaired damage left by earlier land use. He also transformed a rubbish-filled clearing into a pond, where frogs and salamanders appeared within months. The woodland now features a diverse forest understory, habitat for several bird species and an orchard containing more than 100 fruit trees. His work has turned the property into a long-term conservation project focused on improving forest health and habitat diversity.How a Vermont forester spent nine years restoring a damaged forestWhen Tapper acquired Bear Island, the property reflected its history as pastureland and a woodlot. Earlier logging had removed many healthy trees, leaving behind diseased and poorly formed growth. Eroded logging roads crossed the land, while a clearing once used for timber storage was littered with rubbish.Tapper began by selectively removing trees to ...