During a panel discussion at the recent Local Wood Works conference in Augusta, a consulting forester posed this question to the woodland owners in the room: “What is the most important information that I as a forester can give you about your woodlot?” To which the ready reply was, “Tell me what it’s going to look like!” Data about basal area and estimates of growth and yields are all very useful, of course, but what most woodland owners care most about are not silvicultural statistics. What will their woods look like right after a timber harvest or road construction job is over, or in five or ten years?

Obviously it can be hard to predict the future, and even harder to show a picture of that future forest condition. One tool that can help is called Picture Post. Picture Post is a web site maintained by the University of New Hampshire that allows anyone to upload a series of digital pictures taken from a single place in 9 different directions. Place the camera on a small platform mounted on a 4x4 post, and point and shoot to the 4 cardinal directions and one in between each of those (North, Northeast, East, etc.) The ninth direction is facing straight up. The 8 horizontal shots provide a panoramic 360 degree view of the surrounding woods; the upward looking shot shows tree crowns and canopy conditions. The website has information about purchasing a top plate or building your own. It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive, just durable enough to remain in the woods for an extended period of time.

Since a picture is worth 1,000 words, this type of long term monitoring can speak volumes, and help your family members and other woodland owners envision what the woods will look like in the future.

As always, you can call the Maine Forest Service for more information or assistance at (800) 367-0223 (in state) or (207) 287-2791, or e-mail forestinfo@maine.gov.