Our History
The Beginning
In 1974, ̽̽ (̽̽) Board of Trustees established ̽̽ Natural Areas System. By this action, the board recognized ̽̽’s responsibility of leadership in the identification, protection, and management of important natural areas on its lands. The resolution passed by the board establishing the Natural Areas System states “that these University owned lands be preserved to the greatest extent possible in their natural condition, and be used for educational and scientific purposes insofar as such uses are compatible with the preservation of their natural character.” The Natural Areas System has emerged as the institution’s premier assemblage of field sites supporting and demonstrating excellence in research, education, and community service.
A Steward for the Future
Dr. Hub Vogelmann, a ̽̽ professor and prior chair of the botany department, was key to identifying and conserving these Natural Areas. He wrote two books titled “Natural Areas in Vermont” and identified sites across the State with great ecological value and advocated to the ̽̽ Board of Trustees to establish the ̽̽ Natural Areas. Vogelmann was also known by many as the one who established Vermont’s “environmental ethos”.
He founded the ̽̽ Field Naturalist Program and co-founded the Vermont Chapter of the Nature Conservancy to help protect Shelburne Pond and to preserve thousands of acres of ecologically significant land across Vermont. He was an active researcher and steward of alpine areas and was instrumental in creating the Green Mountain Club’s summit steward program and established long-term forest monitoring on Camel’s Hump. His studies on Camel’s Hump documented the impact of acid rain on Red Spruce. Senator Patrick Leahy used Vogelmann’s research to make the case to establish amendments to the Clean Air Act to limit acid rain pollution in 1990. Vogelmann was a founding member of the Vermont Natural Resources Council, and advocated for the creation of ACT 250, Vermont’s nationally renowned land-use law.
Vogelmann also created an inventory of important natural areas throughout Vermont. In 1974, he lobbied the ̽̽ Board of Trustees to establish a Natural Areas System at the University. The board adopted his recommendation and passed a resolution stating “…that these University-owned lands be preserved to the greatest extent possible in their natural condition and be used for educational and scientific purposes insofar as such uses are compatible with the preservation of their natural character.” These areas included sites that were identified by Vogelmann as ecologically significant, ranging from the alpine tundra at the top of Mount Mansfield, to his favorite fishing hole at Shelburne Pond, to Colchester Bog on the shores of Lake Champlain. In addition to the ̽̽ Natural Areas, Vogelmann outlined many other Natural Areas that the State of Vermont has prioritized and conserved due to his vision.
Our Future
The Natural Areas Center is partnering with the State of Vermont Natural Areas, Mount Mansfield State Forest, and Camels Hump State Park to utilize these properties as monitoring hubs where research, education, and stewardship activities take place.
