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Maine Forest Service

In this issue...


Maine Forest Service at Fryeburg Fair

Join Maine Forest Service at the Fryeburg Fair to ask questions or look for information about Maine’s forests and forestry. Forest Rangers, District Foresters, and forest health specialists will be on hand at various times and throughout the fair. Stop by and say hello!  

fryeburg

FRA – Forestry Forum Meeting

DATE:Thursday, October 10, 2024  

TIME: 

  • 5:00 - 6:15 PM - Social “Hour”
  • 6:15 – 7:00 PM – Buffet Dinner
  • 7:00 – 8:00 PM – Forum Speaker and Discussion 

LOCATION:  Jeff’s Catering -15 Littlefield Way, Brewer, Maine 

Funding Opportunities and New Markets  Maine Entrepreneur Resource Corps (MERC) – Emily Braley MERC provides grant funding to help Maine businesses hire expert consultants for specific, time-limited projects.  MERC, administered by the Maine Technology Institute, provides half of a project’s cost (up to $20,000) for Maine businesses to hire experts to help with a wide range of issues, including marketing, branding, public relations, information technology, manufacturing, sales, grant writing and business analysis.  This is a great opportunity to get resources to help your business grow.  

USFS Wood Innovation Grants – Eric Kingsley In late October, the U.S. Forest Service will open applications for Wood Innovation grants, which have recently been used by Northeast forest industries to improve firewood processing, develop a new OSB mill, install a combined heat and power system at a sawmill, and purchase a lumber grading optimizer.  Kingsley will discuss what this year’s funding is expected to look like, and discuss ways this could help your business or firms you work with.  

New Maine Markets – Eric Kingsley Maine now has a new biochar manufacturing facility operating in Enfield, and insulation being made from wood fiber manufactured at the former paper mill in Madison.  Serious efforts are underway to develop biofuel manufacturing projects, a new Oriented Strand Bard (OSB) mill, and a number of other new wood-using industries.  A status report on all of these projects will be provided, as well as a discussion about how the state is building upon the work done by FOR/Maine to identify and attract new manufacturing. 

NOTE – This Forum will immediately follow the Society of American Foresters, Maine Division’s Fall Meeting, and we will be having a joint social hour, starting around 5:00 PM.

The cost is $30 for Members and $40 for Non-Members - Payable at the door.  Payment via cash, check or credit card is accepted. The Industrial Forestry Forum is open to everyone and FRA membership is encouraged but not required.  

To register or for more information, please simply send the names of attendee(s) or contact Erik Kingsley at 207.233.9910 or [email protected] by Tuesday, October 8, 2024


Beech management and control in the context of beech leaf disease

DATE: October 22, 2024 (Rain date: October 23) 

TIME: 9:30AM to 1:00PM 

LOCATION: Varney Memorial Building (24 Veterans Highway, Brooks, Maine) and nearby woodlots

HOST: The New England Forestry Foundation and E D Bessey and Son  

This event is intended to educate foresters, landowners, loggers and other natural resource professionals about the threats posed to American beech health and survival by the combined pressure of the beech bark and leaf diseases, about experimental approaches to maintaining beech in the landscape, and also about silvicultural, mechanical and chemical treatments to reduce dominance of diseased beech in working forests and promote a more diverse and resilient composition.  

Transport to the field portion of the event will take place in personal vehicles. 4WD is a plus and if participants with 4WD vehicles can take in other participants to visit the field sites, this will be greatly appreciated.  

Participants in this event are eligible for 4 Continuing Forestry Education (CFE) credits (Category 1) from the Society of American Foresters. 

Please register so event coordinators may play for group sizes. 

Register


Sustaining Ash Partners Network (SAP-Ne) Kick Off Webinar

DATE: Wednesday October 2 

TIME: 09:30AM to 11:00AM 

LOCATION: Digital Webinar 

HOST: Forest Stewards Guild  

You’re invited to register for the Forest Stewards Guild’s Sustaining Ash Partners Network (SAP-Ne) kick-off webinar event! Join the launch of our network to promote a collaborative approach to ash preservation in the Northeast, with a morning of learning and dialogue with experts across Tribal Nations, academic, governmental, and private organizations. 

The preservation of ash in the face of emerald ash borer (EAB) is a growing concern. Contributing to this forest health challenge, it is often increasingly difficult to work across boundaries and respond at the scales needed to develop lasting solutions. To address this need, SAP-Ne supports a regional response to EAB through education, outreach, and engagement with diverse forest stewards across the Northeast (i.e., Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and Massachusetts) by encouraging landscape level actions to sustain ash, sharing stories of hope, and amplifying the cultural significance of ash among Indigenous peoples. 

Our first kick-off webinar will: 

  • Announce our multi-year network goals; 
  • Explore western scientific and Indigenous perspectives on ash stewardship; 
  • Share experiences to inspire and engage forest stewards in ash preservation; 
  • Identify gaps in regional training and resources which SAP-Ne will aim to fill; and 
  • Serve as a call to action to address the ecological, social, and cultural impacts of EAB. 

Our speaker lineup includes: 

  • Anthony D’Amato, Professor and Forestry Program Director, University of Vermont 
  • Richard Silliboy, Basketmaker and Vice Chief, Mi’kmaq Nation 
  • Caitlin Cusack, Forester, Vermont Land Trust 
  • Les Benedict, Environment Division Assistant Director, Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe 

Following the plenary talks, attendees will be invited to participate in breakout sessions, led by program partners from their associated state (i.e., ME, NH, VT, NY, MA), where participants will have the opportunity to share their concerns, lessons learned, and resources/training opportunities and/or needs. 

This event is approved for 1.00 SAF Category 1 Continuing Ed Credit. 

Our network is supported by the USDA Forest Service Landscape Scale Restoration program. 

If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Swanwick at [email protected]. 

Register


Future of Brown Ash Meeting

DATE: Tuesday, October 8 & Wednesday, October 9 

LOCATION: UMaine Orono, Wells Conference Center and live streamed on Zoom 

HOST: John Daigle, Ash Protection Across Wabanakik Lab and Professor of Forest Resources 

A two-day gathering at University of Maine, Orono (view lodging options here), to inform people about current research about brown ash forests and to reconvene and widen the community of people who care for brown ash. We will also be hosting a community dinner on Indian Island on the night of October 8th. This event is open toBasketmakers, Tribal Nation members and employees, APCAW participants, private forest landowners, researchers, state and federal employees, nonprofit partners, foresters, loggers, Canadian partners and beyond. Please view the agenda for more information.

Registration is free. 

Register


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