Matt Warner will serve as a panelist at the New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association's 2015 Timber Talks, Monday, July 27 at 6pm in Hillsborough. He will present on the "History and Purpose of the Endangered Species Act," discussing the Northern Long Eared Bat and exemptions within the interim 4(d) rule.

In April, 2015, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) listed the Northern Long-Eared Bat (NLEB) as a "threatened" species under the Endangered Species Act. The severe population decline of the NLEB, native to N.H. and 37 other states, has been caused predominantly by a fungal disease known as White Nose Syndrome. The USFWS also adopted an interim 4(d) rule which exempts incidental “take” of a bat during certain activities such as timber harvesting.

The NHTOA is a non-profit statewide coalition of landowners, forest industry professionals, government officials, and supporters who work together to promote better forest management, conserve our working forests, and ensure a strong forest products industry.