04-06-26 Protecting Old Growth Forests
with guest Nathan Cornell, Co-founder and President, Old Growth Tree Society
Old growth forests have been disappearing at an alarming rate around the world due to clear-cutting. These undisturbed natural forests host rare ecosystems of native plant and animal diversity. Old growth forests store more carbon than younger forests and other landscapes. They are more resistant to wildfire, prevent flooding, and have an extensive underground mycorrhizal network that makes them more resilient to pests and disease.
Nathan Cornell is the Co-founder and President of the Old Growth Tree Society. He learned to identify Old Growth forests from arborist and Old Growth Forest expert Matthew Largess, who studied under Dr. Bruce Kershner, a renowned old growth forest authority. Since 2020, Cornell has been a leading voice calling for protection of Rhode Island’s remaining Old Growth forests and rare ecosystems.
After realizing no other state environmental group was trying to protect forests and biodiversity on public land, Cornell co-founded the organization with ecologist Rick Enser. The OGTS aims to pass legislation to preserve Rhode Island’s natural landscape. In addition to his forest advocacy work, Cornell served a term on the Warwick School Committee as the youngest person elected to a public office in Warwick’s history.
Note: Four days after this interview, the proposed legislation 2026 – H 7914 was heard by the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee. Seventy-six people submitted written testimony supporting the bill – more than any other RI environmental bill so far this year. People and groups testifying in support included an ISA-credentialed Arborist, an Ecologist, Defenders of Animals, Volunteer Services for Animals, the Rhode Island Nursery and Landscape Association, the Tiverton Land Trust, the North Smithfield Land Trust, the Pawtuxet River Authority, Restore The Northwoods, and the Old Growth Forest Network.
INFORMATION RESOURCES
Learn more at the Old Growth Tree Society – https://www.saveriforests.org/
Contact Cornell to get on OGTS’s email list – ncornell.ogts@gmail.com
Review the text of the Natural Forest Protection Act https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7914.pdf
Read A Guide to Forest Carbon in the Northeast – https://www.northeastforestcarbon.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/FORESTCARBON-compressed.pdf
Check out OGTS’s recommended reading – https://www.saveriforests.org/recommended-reading
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