Reflections from the 2025 Northeastern Old-Growth Conference

By OGFN Executive Director Sarah Adloo

This September, the Old-Growth Forest Network had the joy of gathering among a community of scientists, land stewards, writers, artists, policymakers, and forest lovers at the 2025 Northeastern Old-Growth Conference. Held this past September at Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf campus in Ripton, Vermont, the conference’s theme this year was Wildlands and Old-Growth Forests: A Vision for the Future. 

It’s hard to believe that just a few years ago, Old-Growth Forest Network’s fantastic volunteers and staff were out on a hike and came upon the idea of reviving the eastern Old-Growth Conference, which had last been held almost two decades years prior. This spark grew into the 2023 conference held in New Hampshire, which exceeded all expectations; thankfully the momentum continued on one state over, with Vermont hosting the 2025 Conference focused specifically on the Northeast. As a lead organizer and sponsor, we were honored to collaborate with a great group of partners to bring the vision to life: Northeast Wilderness Trust, Woodlands, Wildlands, Farms, and Communities (WWF&C), University of Vermont, Middlebury College, Harvard Forest, VT Forests, Parks and Recreation, and VT Fish and Wildlife.

The OGFN Team, from left to right: Great Lakes Regional Manager Leona Addie, Intermountain West Regional Manager Ashley Martens, Southeast Regional Manager Ciera Wilbur, Development Director Kayla Green, Founder Dr. Joan Maloof, Board of Directors Secretary Lea Sloan, Northeast Regional Manager Sarah RobbGrieco, Executive Director Dr. Sarah Adloo

Over 250 gathered under the blush of fall hitting Middlebury’s Bread Loaf Campus to hear key keynotes presentations from notable old-growth forest leaders and sessions ranging across ecology, policy, Indigenous perspectives, poetry, and stewardship. For the first time, there was also a virtual option that allowed folks across the country to tune into the talks. OGFN’s Founder Joan Maloof’s shared the beginnings and growth of OGFN through her talk “The Vision and Development of the Old-Growth Forest Network”. For many who listened, it was a reminder that great things, such as the Network, its community of thousands across the country, and beautiful ideas that emerge such as this conference, begin with individuals deciding to take bold action for what they believe is precious and important. 

Conference attendees got a taste of the northern forests that were the focus of the many talks through field trips, forest bathing, and workshops, including cultural practices such as ash pounding for basket materials and tree measurements through LiDAR technology. This conference also gave us the opportunity to present Northeast Wilderness Trust’s President and CEO Jon Leibowitz with OGFN’s Forest Advocate Award for his work spearheading the forever-wild protection of over 100,000 acres.

We are deeply grateful to the support from the sponsors, volunteers, and other lead organizers of this conference to create a warm space for the many people who share the goal of protecting, cherishing, and learning more about old-growth forests to exchange ideas and generate new collaborations. Though OGFN operates at the national level, building reciprocal relationships with our land and forests happens regionally, locally, and requires exchange and collaboration among different members of a community. 

Old-growth shouldn’t be a rarity nor a novelty, but instead be a main character in discussions of rewilding and wildlands and their role in the health and future of both people and the landscapes on which we depend. The Northeast Old-Growth Conference plans to return in the coming years, but we believe every region deserves a gathering like this. If you are outside of the Northeast, we encourage you to look around at the people working to protect and care for old-growth forests, go out on a hike together, and imagine how you can come together to start up your own region’s Old-Growth Conference.

OGFN Staff sharing the organization’s mission with forest enthusiasts