The University of Massachusetts Amherst Department of Environmental Conservation owns and manages 1,200 acres in Pelham known as Cadwell Memorial Forest. The primary goals of this ownership are to provide an outdoor laboratory for teaching, research, and demonstration in ecology, forestry, and natural resources management. These forests are located in the central hardwood region of southern New England but also include eastern hemlock and eastern white pine stands and several conifer plantations. This is a working forest, which includes the sale of timber and non-timber forest products from this property.

The Cadwell Forest was established in 1952 through the generosity of Mrs. Frank A. Cadwell. The 1200 acres were an assemblage of the numerous woodlots her late husband had owned and managed from 1899-1935. After acquiring Cadwell Forest in 1952, the University of Massachusetts began to manage the property primarily for teaching, research, and demonstration. Small amounts of open land were planted with conifers. In addition, a variety of research activities were conducted, including white pine direct seeding experiments and studies examining the relationships between gypsy moths, oak forests, and small mammals.