SEEKING PROFESSIONAL FORESTRY ASSISTANCE

Why consider a written forest management plan? Landowners who are clear about their values and goals for owning land and forest, and who have begun to see and understand their woods are well positioned for securing additional help. A formal forest management plan prepared by a licensed, professional forester is the next step-up in taking care of your forest.

Managing forestland for the long-term is a complex job requiring information from the field about conditions in your forest. You need good information about your forest regardless of what you wish to manage for; wildlife, aesthetics, timber production, recreation, soil and water conservation, non-timber products, or, for all these values and features in your forest.

You may need professional help with particular forest activities; boundary lines, habitat improvement decisions, tree growth tax qualification, timber stand improvements, recreation trails, planned timber harvests, financial-tax-estate planning to name a few. A forest management plan organizes field information into useful strategies that will inform the decisions you need to make about taking care of your forest over the longer term.

A forest management plan is simply your roadmap about what to do, when and where out there in your forest. Information about forest conditions and management strategies in the written plan should reflect and connect with your forest values and goals. Most plans cover a 10-year period. A forest management plan will inform you and improve the decisions that you have to make concerning your forest.

How do you approach securing the services of a consulting forester? Taking Care of Your Forest makes a couple things very clear. First, know what your values and goals are about. Second, begin to see and understand the character of your forest. These two tasks will serve you well in seeking out a forestry professional that will work with you in behalf of your interests through a forest management plan for your woods.

Like any professional, a licensed, consulting forester is there to understand and address your needs and aspirations. Likewise, he or she is there to provide you with good information about your forest, and to work with you to help you achieve your goals and objectives for owning land and forest. But, who is the right one for you?

Your task is to seek out a licensed professional who understands your values, your needs concerning your forest, and who really demonstrates hearing your ideas about your forest. It won't cost you a dime to talk things over, uncommitted, with a couple foresters to get a feel for who is best suited to you. Discuss fees. Ask for references to other clientele they serve. In the end you must choose a relationship with a consulting forester you feel comfortable with, one who will work well with you, addressing your needs and serving your interests in taking care of your forest.

You can get a list of licensed, professional foresters who provide forest management services in your county or region, by contacting the Maine Forest Service Information Center at 1-800-367-0223. Also, they can connect you with the MFS District Forester in your region, who will provide you with additional information about forest management planning.  Gordon Moore is the district forester in this region and can be reached at 207-695-3721 or by email mailto:gordon.moore@state.me.us

SWOAM, Small Woodlands Owners Association of Maine, is available to provide information and field consultation to SWOAM members, to help them get started in developing a forest management plan. SWOAM also has regional membership chapters, conducts meetings and field tours, and disseminates a statewide newsletter. Contact SWOAM at 1-877-467-9626 or by email mailto:information@swoam.com  or visit their website http://www.swoam.com.

Additional information and forestry videotapes are available through your county office of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Here in Piscataquis County you can reach Extension by at 1-800-287-1491 or by email CESPSQ@umext.maine.edu.

Best wishes, and may you realize your aspirations for taking care of your forest…

Roger Merchant, Extension Educator, UM Cooperative Extension, Piscataquis County Office

Paul Miller, SWOAM Forester, Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine

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Last Modified: 01/11/08
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