Forest landowners across Maine have expressed interest in earning credit for carbon offsets, but it’s difficult to know whether one’s land is eligible, how many offsets it can earn, and what those offsets are worth.
Read MoreOn an unusually warm and sunny February afternoon Steve Chandler, his wife Natalie, and his cousin Charlie completed what has been a tremendous act of generosity – the transferring of over 2000 acres of woodland in New Gloucester to Maine Woodland Owners. This is by far the largest gift we have received and has set the stage for exciting growth for our land trust program.
Read MoreMaine has set ambitious climate change goals for the next 25 years. Forests may be able to play a role in meeting these goals.
Read MoreUnderstanding why different species grow where they do – the concept of the forest site or habitat –can be challenging. Just because a tree is growing in a particular spot, does that mean it “belongs” there and will thrive? Generalizations like “hardwoods are limited to deep well-drained soils” or “conifers dominate both saturated and droughty soils where hardwoods will not grow” are helpful, but the reality is more complex.
Read MoreYou probably have been reading a lot about the value of wood structural materials as ways to store carbon, thus slowing the accumulation of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. This would be one benefit of building larger structures with advanced wood composites instead of steel and concrete. So, it is often asked, how much carbon does get stored in a new house? How much CO2 emissions can be saved by using wood to replace other building materials? This can get confusing very fast.
Read MoreWhen foresters use the term silvics, we are referring to characteristics of tree species that define their life history, growth, response to its environment, and ecology.
Read MoreThe State of Maine has set ambitious goals to reduce carbon emissions in the next 25 years. But what role do forests play in the grand scheme of things?
Read MoreWith the donation of the Towle property in Hollis, the Maine Woodland Owners land trust has conserved over 10,000 acres.
Read MoreATV Task Force submitted their recommendations to sustain Maine’s ATV activity.
Read MoreMaine Woodland Owners board members Doug Baston and Nate Webb are representing wildlife and woodland ownership views on the Maine Climate Council’s Natural and Working Lands Working Group.
Read MoreWe’re in an era where “climate shaming” has become fashionable. Don’t eat meat! Don’t fly anywhere! Now comes a local writer urging us not to use our woodstoves, because of its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
Read MoreDespite very challenging weather conditions our annual Forestry Field Day, held on Saturday September 7th, went off without a hitch.
Read MoreTom Doak, Maine Woodland Owners Executive Director, has been appointed to serve on the Task Force on All-Terrain Vehicle Trail Initiatives, and will represent the interests of woodland owners as the group works to develop a set of recommendations for the 2020 Legislature.
Read MoreBy Maxwell McCormack In last month’s issue, Lloyd Irland hit the nail squarely on the head. White pines had a banner year for production of
Read MoreWhen they had the opportunity to retire Maine Woodland Owners members Steve and Jo Laurich decided that their next move would be to realize a life goal: becoming stewards of their own woodlot. Their pursuit of a home on several acres of land isn’t a typical story of seeking rest and relaxation at the end of a career. The two were committed to spending this next stage of their lives working in the woods – but it had to be the right property.
Read MoreAfter recent staffing restructuring, Maine Woodland Owners is pleased to announce the hiring of Jennifer Hicks as its new Director of Communications and Outreach.
Jenn comes to the organization from Teens To Trails where she served as its Development Coordinator. Previous to that, Jenn was the Executive Director of Pemaquid Watershed Association which recently merged with Damariscotta River Association to become Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust.
Read MoreHarold Burnett has joined Maine Woodland Owners as its staff forester, a part-time role. Executive Director Tom Doak said, “Harold is a very experienced forester and well-known in the forest community. He will be a great help in managing our growing Land Trust.” Burnett took up his work recently and hit the ground running. Harold said, “I’ve laid out timber sales in Lamoine and Sullivan, begun familiarizing myself with the Penobscot and Winn woodlots, flagged boundaries in Standish, in advance of a blazing project, checked in on a harvest operation in New Gloucester, and conferred with several new, potential woodland donors to our Land Trust.”
Read MoreOur new location is 8 Mulliken Court in Augusta – a house converted into office space. We occupy the entire building. The new office borders Western Avenue, with a large sign that’s highly visible.
Read MoreThere are at least 1,850 bills this year at the Maine State Legislature, and the statutory adjournment date is June 19. Maine Woodland Owners has been actively lobbying on a number of bills that would impact woodland owners, including a Tree Growth Tax Law amendment, abandoned roads and ATV use.
Read MoreThe pace of action at the State House is picking up. While many bills have yet to be printed, a number of those of interest to woodland owners have been dealt with, or are pending. Here are some of the issues we’ve been dealing with:
Read More