Woods Wise Wire - March 13, 2018

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Woods Wise Wire


In this issue:


What’s a Woodlot – and what do I do if I have one? – Belfast

Even a small woodland can have impressive trees that offer wildlife habitat, beauty, and other values.

A talk at the Belfast Library on Monday evening, March 19th, from 6:00 to 7:30 will give landowners a short introduction to the wooded areas of their property. If you’re not sure if you have a “woodlot” or not – this presentation is for you. 

Waldo County is nearly 80% woodland –or “woods”, “forests” or sometimes “woodlots.” Most of that is owned by individuals and families in small parcels – that together make up the fabric of our landscape. If part of the land you own is covered by trees, there are a number of resources, options and decisions open to you. What’s most important to you – firewood? Wildlife habitat? Snowshoeing? Mushrooms? In this introductory presentation, Morten Moesswilde, District Forester with the Maine Forest Service, will talk about the most common considerations for landowners with 2 to 200 acres. He’ll highlight 7 “Hallmarks of a Well-Managed Woodland” and point to activities that landowners can participate in, and sources of information. (An April 26 woodland stewardship event on “Tending the Forest” will include a field exercise in silviculture - if, when, and how to manage forest vegetation.) 

The Belfast Library presentation will also include an update on the Browntail Moth (BTM) situation in the midcoast. Browntail moth is a non-native insect pest whose range has been expanding in recent years, and last year was found in several locations in Waldo county. BTM has toxic hairs that persist in the environment and can cause a severe rash. Pruning winter cocoons from oak, apple, pear and other trees, before April leaf-out, is by far the most effective and least expensive means of reducing populations. Winter surveys have identified additional occurrences in Waldo county. 

For more information: Morten Moesswilde, Maine Forest Service, 441-2895 or morten.moesswilde@maine.gov

Photo caption: Even a small woodland can have impressive trees that offer wildlife habitat, beauty, and other values. 

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Waldo County Woodland Stewardship Field Tour – Morrill

A small cable skidder, with a careful, skilled operator, is still a good option for sustainable harvesting.

Waldo County Soil and Water Conservation District and Maine Forest Service are continuing a series of short field tours to highlight forest stewardship and conservation in Waldo County. These events are open to landowners, foresters, loggers, and others interested in the stewardship of small woodlands, and offer a brief, two-hour opportunity for observation, questions, and discussion. 

Wednesday, March 21th, 3:30-5:30 p.m. (note time change) – 133 N. Main St., Morrill. Our March event will be a post-harvest review of a fall 2017 logging operation – what was the plan, how did it work, what are the results. This operation with a chainsaw and small skidder contrasts with an earlier tour involving a cut-to-length harvest system. Planning is often critical to achieving the goals you have for your woodland and for the harvest itself – here we’ll look at things in retrospective. The forester and landowner will be present to provide context. Our hosts are the folks at Century Farm in Morrill, 133 N Main St (route 131, approximately 0.8 miles north of the village center/general store). Meet at the farm. 

Save the date: Thursday, April 26th, 3-5. Tending the Forest - Which Trees Do I Cut? The heart of forestry is vegetation management or “silviculture” - deciding if, when, and which trees to remove, in a commercial or non-commercial harvest. But what if timber production is not a priority? We’ll start with understanding how different tree species live, how forests grow, what creatures live there – and consider options for actively managing the forest cover to promote non-timber and timber values of the forest. Then we’ll do a forest “marking” exercise in a couple of locations. Foresters often mark trees to communicate which trees are to be cut as part of harvest planning – here’s a chance to participate. Hint: it’s easier before the leaves come out! Location TBA. (This presentation will be a field follow-up to a 3/19 presentation at the Belfast Library: “What’s a Woodlot, and what do I do if I have one?”) 

These events are free and open to the public. They will involve being outdoors/walking in the woods and will occur rain, snow, or shine, so please dress for field conditions. If driving is hazardous due to weather, please call to confirm. Parking is often limited, so please consider carpooling if you can. For more information contact Aleta McKeage, Technical Director of Waldo County Soil and Water Conservation District at 218-5311 or Morten Moesswilde, Midcoast District Forester with the Maine Forest Service, at 441-2895.

Photo caption: Once the most common equipment in the woods, a small cable skidder, with a careful, skilled operator, is still a good option for sustainable harvesting.

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