Sell the Trees

Harvard has recently come under attack from preservationists who are concerned that it may sell a 99-acre tract of land in Hamilton, Mass. According to local advocates, Harvard has been involved in talks with a non-profit, the Trustees of Reservations, that has expressed interest in buying the land, which is part of University holdings known as the Harvard Forest.

Part of the dustup revolves around Harvard’s fidelity to the bequest that deeded the land to the University in the first place. It specifies that the tract be maintained as an “experimental station in forestry for the benefit of all persons and institutions in New England.” Another concern is that the non-profit would have to sell a small portion to developers to finance the deal. Nevertheless, while we are sympathetic to the desire to preserve woodlands in Massachusetts and the need to remain true to donors’ bequests, we think the locals’ concerns are a bit overblown here. We see no reason that Harvard itself must continue to own and maintain the land. As long as groups such as the Trustees of Reservation are interested in preserving the tract, then Harvard should be allowed to sell it to them, under the condition that it continues to be used as an experimental forestry station. Harvard is not necessarily the only institution that can ensure that the land is properly maintained; it may not even be the best choice in this regard.

While professors and students are allowed to do research at the Matthews plantation, as the portion of the Harvard Forest in question is known, keeping it may not be the most efficient use of University resources. The money earned from its sale might be better used to fund some other important research. The tract is less than four percent of the total Harvard Forest, the bulk of which is in Petersham, Mass. If, as some Hamilton residents allege, Harvard has determined that selling the land and investing the money in research in another part of the forest would be a better use of resources, then we see no reason to question that judgment.

Nevertheless, we believe that Harvard ought to do more to promote student awareness and utilization of the rest of the forest. In addition to research facilities, the Petersham forest also contains housing and meeting space available for student groups and classes to reserve for a fee. We believe these and other recreational and educational resources at the forest are sadly underutilized; the University should do more to publicize them and make them more accessible to students.