Benjamin H. Beckwith
20 Fernald Drive #12
Cambridge, MA 02138

Representative David Rogers
State House Room 134

Dear Representative Rogers,

I recently joined the Friends of Alewife Reservation’s campaign to save the Silver Maple Forest and am deeply concerned about the future of this vital floodplain forest surrounded by the Alewife Reservation’s wetlands, owned by O’Neil properties as I support keeping the Silver Maple Forest standing. I thank you for your efforts to preserve this forest. I look forward to an eventual permanent conservation of this land.

As you know the forest has great biodiversity and value to endangered species of animals and plants. With this biodiversity, it is also valuable to humans for environmental study. Beyond the environmental considerations, this land is also vital for natural flood resistance in this time of increasing frequency of storms of greater intensity and impact.

I understand that this property is in imminent threat of being clear cut by O’Neil Properties and will be continuing to inform, appeal to and pressure city and state officials to prevent this. I appreciate your continuing for in behalf of the Silver Maple Forest in Belmont on the Cambridge and Arlington border.

Sincerely,

Ben Beckwith