FSM Blog and News

From the E.D.

December 18, 2019 By Janice Melmed

Maine’s forests are outstanding in so many respects – the economic opportunities they provide in the wood products and outdoor recreation sectors, the foundation for healthy fish and wildlife habitat and clean water, the cultural and historic values they hold, and their ability to refresh our lives with beauty and a sense of grandeur.

Maine’s forests are storing vast amounts of carbon.

Maine’s forests also store, or sequester, carbon and lots of it. Why should we care that Maine’s forests store large amounts of carbon? Carbon sequestration in forests helps to offset increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere such as occurs from forest conversion to other land uses, forest fires, and from other sources of human activity such as fossil fuel combustion. Trees and plants take up CO₂ from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and store it as carbon in their trunks, branches, foliage, and roots. Utilizing wood for construction and other durable materials also represents an enormous contribution to carbon storage.

Maine is known as the most heavily forested state in the United States with approximately 17.5 million acres of forestland. The trees in Maine’s forests store hundreds of millions of metric tons of carbon in just the portions of the trees that are above ground. Much more carbon is stored in the stumps and roots. And lots more carbon is stored in the forest soil. To understand the significance of these numbers, it is currently estimated that 50% or more of Maine’s total CO₂ emissions are being stored by Maine’s forests each year.

The Forest Society of Maine is proud to work with forest landowners, conservation partners and, with your help, to implement permanent conservation solutions that keep Maine’s forests as forests–storing carbon in the trees, soils, and wood products far into the future.

-Karin Tilberg

Published in FSM’s biannual newsletter, Forest View, fall 2019 edition.

Renewing LTA Accreditation

October 4, 2019 By FSM

FSM is currently renewing its Land Trust Alliance (LTA) accreditation. The Forest Society of Maine became a nationally accredited land trust in 2009 and attained accreditation renewal in 2014. Accreditation must be renewed every five years. Read more about accreditation.

There is an opportunity for the public to make comments and we invite you to participate. Learn more about the accreditation program or submit comments online or by email to info@landtrustaccreditation.org. Comments on FSM’s application will be most useful prior to our submittal date of November 14, 2019.

Moosehead Region Update

October 1, 2019 By FSM

Recently a request was submitted to the Maine Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) by Weyerhaeuser, a forestland owner in the Moosehead area, to dissolve the terms of the Moosehead Lake Region Concept Plan. The Concept Plan, which was approved by LUPC’s predecessor agency in 2009, re-zoned approximately 17,000 acres around Moosehead Lake for commercial, industrial, residential, and resort development. To date, no development has occurred.

As a result of the Concept Plan a working forest conservation easement was placed on more than 360,000 acres around Moosehead Lake. The Moosehead Region Conservation Easement (MRCE), finalized in 2009, permanently restricts development, sets standards for forest management and other uses of the land, and provides for permanent recreational opportunities. While the MRCE grew out of the Moosehead Lake Region Concept Plan process, any termination or modification of the Moosehead Lake Region Concept Plan does not impact or change the terms of the Conservation Easement.

In addition to the easement, the Plan helped add to and improve the region’s motorized and non-motorized trail systems. For example, public access was granted to more than 80 miles of snowmobile trails, and several hiking trails were built or updated. Like the easement, these positive impacts are permanent. LUPC has indicated its interest in involving the community in planning for the future of areas proposed to be rezoned. The Forest Society of Maine, with strong ties to the Moosehead region, will continue its partnership with the people of nearby communities as they assess the appropriate development and conservation opportunities into the future.

Map from Weyerhaeuser of the Moosehead Lake Concept Plan

The bee tree blooms

July 16, 2019 By FSM

When you step outside the FSM office right now, you’ll likely notice the sweet scent of the bee tree wafting on the breeze. There are quite a few bee trees, more commonly known as linden or basswood, in our downtown Bangor neighborhood. They’ve grown tall enough to shade the sidewalks and grace us with their pleasant scent for a week or so each summer. Clusters of whitish-yellow blossoms, five petals each with a pale green bract, cover the trees and will eventually produce little pea-sized nutlets. The blossoms are attractive to bees, which produce a particularly flavorful honey from its nectar.

In the wild Tilia americana can be found on rich sloping sites with good soil and moisture, often forming stands with sugar maples. The decaying trunks make excellent nest cavities for pileated woodpeckers, wood ducks, and other woodland species. Lightweight, highly workable, and fine-grained the wood is popular with woodcarvers as well.

Two linden trees in bloom, seen from FSM's window — View of the lindens (also called American basswood) from the FSM windows.

Roughly 8 weeks later…

The delicate flowers that covered the linden trees, sweetly scenting the air, have turned into tiny brown nutlets. These little roundish fruits/seeds have short hairs that give them a slightly fuzzy look. The clusters of fruits have replaced the numerous summer blossoms while the bracts (a modified/specialized leaf) are turning from a pale green to a soft yellowy-brown color as the fruit ripens. These seeds will be eaten by birds and small mammals and during the lean winter months the buds provide good browse for hungry birds and deer.

Fun fact: Several parts of the linden, namely flowers, leaves, bark, and wood, have medicinal uses for treating ailments such as coughs, headaches, muscle spasms, edema, and many other disorders. The young leaves and buds are considered edible, although we can’t vouch for their tastiness.

Reminder: It’s always prudent to make sure you have correctly identified species before attempting to use them and to seek advice from professionals before consuming such products.

Upta Camp: A Maine Tradition

June 24, 2019 By FSM

Four generations of Bernards: Barry, his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather at camp near Jackman, ME.

This story first appeared in the 2019 spring edition of Forest View, FSM’s biannual newsletter.

Ever heard the phrase “Upta camp”? It refers to one of Maine’s cherished traditions—spending time at camp. It’s such a pervasive part of Maine culture that even if you don’t have a camp, chances are you have visited a friend’s. There is an allure to being in the woods away from everyday life, and being at camp provides time to relax and “just be.” Often just enjoying the surroundings—the great outdoors—is the main activity. But make no mistake, there’s a lot that happens at camp: exploring, paddling, swimming, fishing, hunting, playing games, cooking, making memories with family and friends, and more.

For Barry Bernard, longtime FSM supporter, family camp traditions go back four generations. Particularly for Bill, Harry, and George Bernard, (his great-grandfather, grandfather, and father), spending time in Maine’s North Woods was about a sense of self-reliance, independence, and stewardship.

Barry was thrilled when he was finally invited to camp at age six. No one got a free ride though and he had to carry his own pack, which an uncle slyly filled with an increasing number of rocks each time they stopped for a break. Pranks included, time at camp was treasured and it was important to his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather that the land be treated with respect. They instilled the value of respecting the land in their children as Barry has done with his own daughters.

A love for the woods has also been passed down through the generations and Barry says, “it’s in my blood.” He appreciates that FSM keeps in mind the multiple values the woods provide when undertaking a conservation project. Barry states, “FSM looks to conserve the land but also protect a way of life.” That includes outdoor traditions that Mainers have been enjoying for decades.

Many of us seek remote corners of the woods for solitude or to spend time with friends or family, and a big part of FSM’s mission is ensuring that there will always be the opportunity for people to go to the woods and “just be.”