History of Adaptation Forest

Adaptation Forest is located in the Northern Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts. The area was originally inhabited by the Mohican people, who lived in the region for thousands of years prior to European settlement. In addition to growing crops such as corn, beans, and squash, the Mohican people hunted and fished in the forests and rivers of the region, and they used the land for gathering wild fruits, nuts, and berries. The first European settlement in the region was established in the mid-1700s in what is now Williamstown. The European settlers brought their own agricultural traditions and began to clear the land and cultivate crops.

The larger Berkshires region became an important timber production area, reaching a peak in the early 20th century. However, the unsustainable practices of clear-cutting and over-harvesting eventually led to environmental degradation and a decline in the timber industry. This decline impacted towns that rose to prominence as manufacturing and milling hubs, such as North Adams. More recently, the entire area has seen a resurgence due its cultural offerings (e.g. MASS MoCA, The Clark Art Institute, Tanglewood & Jacob's Pillow), abundant natural amenities and close proximity to the Boston and New York metropolitan areas.

The prior owner of the forest had owned it for nearly half a century and conducted logging activities on multiple occasions. Within the last decade, portions of the property were “high-graded,” a selective harvesting technique, that removes only the most valuable timber and leaves the rest in the woods.