Federal and State Agencies Work Together for Maine's Private Forest Landowners

BANGOR, Maine – May 27, 2009 -- The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Maine Forest Service (MFS) have renewed a collaborative agreement between the federal and state agencies for a third year.

The agreement will allow the two agencies to work together in assisting Maine family forest owners in making informed decisions about their woodlot management.

“Neither NRCS nor MFS have all the tools and resources needed to effectively help Maine’s small forest landowners improve their forest management,” Juan Hernandez, state conservationist for NRCS in Maine, said, “but together we have all the tools needed.

“Therefore, NRCS and MFS have agreed through a renewed agreement that the effectiveness of the programs of both agencies will be enhanced substantially by coordinating efforts and combining resources,” he said. ”The MFS serves as a technical service provider for our agency.”

“Both agencies are here to serve Maine family forest owners, and we both want to do the best we can,” Alec Giffen, MFS director, said. “This agreement allows us to continue using a variety of resources to provide optimal service for the improvement of forest management.”

The two agencies have a mutual interest in helping to bring about the conservation and wise use of forest lands, water, wildlife, and related resources, the officials said.

With more than 17 million acres of timberland, 90 percent of the state forested, and 95 percent of the forest land privately owned, statewide forest inventory and analyses show that Maine’s 180,000-plus family forest owners require resources to improve the condition of their forests.

Such resources can help them: improve habitat conditions for wildlife; reduce problems with and susceptibility to outbreaks of insects and diseases; insure implementation of Best Management Practices to protect water quality; and improve forest stand quality and stocking levels to enhance productivity.

The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill), which became law on May 22, 2008, expanded accessibility to some conservation programs for forest landowners/managers, through such programs as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, Conservation Stewardship Program, and Forest Stewardship.

In September 2008, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the National Association of State Foresters, the National Association of Conservation Districts, NRCS and the U.S. Forest Service to strengthen cooperation among the parties to provide coordinated interagency delivery of forestry-related conservation assistance to private landowners nationwide. The Maine agreement between NRCS and MFS is a continuation of that cooperation.

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; forest management activity plans; providing access Roads, forest trails and landings; forest stand improvement; tree and shrub site preparation, establishment and pruning; and upland wildlife habitat management.

Giffen noted that private forest landowners who want to apply for EQIP first must have a forest management plan. “The WoodsWISE Incentives Program, a program of the MFS, provides cost-share assistance for these plans,” the MFS director said. He urged private forest landowners to contact MFS Landowner Outreach Forester Andy Shultz at 207-287-8430 for more information on the program.

As a technical service provider, the MFS will provide technical services for certifying forest management plans, conservation practices or a combination of practices.

Private forest landowners should call or visit their local USDA Service Center to find out which resource concerns are being addressed in their area, and begin the planning process and complete the necessary paperwork. USDA Service Centers are listed online at http://offices.usda.gov,  or in the telephone book under United States Government, Agriculture Department. General program information is available on the Maine NRCS website at www.me.nrcs.usda.gov.

Maine NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program website
National Environmental Quality Incentives Program website

Maine NRCS Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program website
National Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program website

Maine Forest Service