USDA and State Agency Working Cooperatively with Private Forest Landowners

Bangor, Maine - February 11, 2008 – The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has signed an agreement with the Maine Forest Service (MFS) to cooperate in the delivery of technical and financial assistance to Maine’s family forest landowners in developing forest management plans and implementing forest conservation practices on the ground.  This agreement establishes a partnership of technical expertise between NRCS, MFS and a network of private consultants known as Stewardship Foresters.   

The purpose of this collaborative effort is to encourage active, sustainable forest management using the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), WoodsWISE, and other related conservation programs. These programs provide financial assistance for forestry practices such as Stewardship Planning, Access Roads, Forest Trails and Landings, Forest Stand Improvement, Tree and Shrub Site Preparation, Tree and Shrub Establishment, Tree and Shrub Pruning and Upland Wildlife Habitat Management. 

“This partnership taps into the skills of each party and will result in more efficient delivery of natural resource conservation on forest lands being funded through NRCS programs,” said Sally Butler, Forester for NRCS in Maine. 

“This agreement will bring together the combined strengths of two agencies and support working relationships between forest landowners and consulting foresters to get good work done on the ground”, said Andy Shultz, MFS Landowner Outreach Forester, who coordinates the WoodsWISE Program. This program has a long history of providing assistance to private woodlot owners who hire Stewardship Foresters.

For additional information, contact the NRCS office at your local USDA Service Center or your local MFS District Office.  For additional NRCS program information and for a list of NRCS offices, visit www.me.nrcs.usda.gov.  WoodsWISE  program information, including a statewide list of Stewardship Foresters, is available at www.state.me.us/doc/mfs/fpm/wwi/wwi.htm.

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