The Maine Forest Service: 135 years of stewardship

COURTESY OF THE MAINE FOREST SERVICE

With almost 90% of the state forested, it may be hard to believe that Maine woodlands have been harvested for over 300 years. However, over 17 million acres of Maine forests stand as a testament to the benefits of responsible stewardship. Long before the state’s founding, they have been integral to a web of natural resources that shape the culture, economy, and identity of the people who live here. For 135 years, the Maine Forest Service (MFS) has worked alongside these forest stewards to protect that legacy.  

“Maine is the most forested state in the nation. Everybody here depends on our forests,” said MFS Director Patty Cormier. “They’re part of all our lives, whether we realize it or not.”  

In the earliest days of what would become MFS, Forest Commissioners’ Reports provided an overview of wildfires and fire prevention, reflecting the agency’s core mission. Foreshadowing evolving needs, these reports also discussed forest health and conditions and provided stewardship advice for landowners.  

Today, the MFS Forest Policy and Management Division (FPM) is dedicated to helping landowners and others steward Maine’s forests. Providing accessible, reliable, and objective guidance is core to its mission.  

“Our cornerstone is providing information on everything related to trees and forests,” FPM Division Director Morten Moesswilde said. “We assist folks in the field every day: a logger who wants input on their operation, private consulting foresters who need another set of eyes, and especially woodland owners of every background. We offer technical guidance to anyone.” 

From Fort Kent to Kittery, the Division’s ground efforts are led by District Foresters. These 12 professionals work in every Maine community, meeting with landowners, loggers, foresters, nonprofit organizations, students, and community members to inform and inspire science-based stewardship. The heart of the work is a “walk-and-talk,” an in-person meeting that helps define and reach landowner goals. 

“Some people want woodlands to provide income, and others just want a quiet place to take a walk,” said District Forester Julie Davenport, who serves across Franklin and Kennebec counties. “My job is to help them understand their property, determine what could work, and connect them with the people and information they need to make that happen. Ultimately, I hope to make connections between people and forests that last.”  

The forests being managed today took root generations ago. Tending them requires a long-term perspective. MFS also anticipates changes and promotes policies that support landowners and businesses far into the future. Through research, monitoring, and targeted program management, MFS informs decision-makers and the public about forest conditions and their impact on forest products, recreation, water quality, and wildlife. 

Today, Maine’s forests face new challenges as the state’s population and people’s connections to the woods change. Climate change and shifts in global forest products markets are also shaping how forests are managed and how they support local jobs and communities.

“Maine is facing issues that require thoughtful approaches that draw from deep perspectives,” Cormier said. “Fortunately, we have a 135-year-long history of rising to the challenge of protecting our forests, forest economy, and the people that depend on them.”