Project Canopy

Did You Know...that your District Forester can help you decide which trees are best for firewood?

Have you ever heard this poem?

It can be found in the 1973 edition of “Forest Trees of Maine.”

It’s as true as ever – getting your wood in early so it will dry, as well as knowing what kinds of wood you’re burning, make a big difference in how much heat your woodpile produces. Whether you cut  your own wood, or order it from a dealer, getting it in between now and spring will give it a full season to… well, season!

That 1973 publication from the then “Maine Forestry Department,” now Maine Forest Service, also has a number of tips on which trees to cut on your own land if you’re wanting to harvest for firewood. If you don’t happen to have a copy, you can also ask your District Forester. They’re more than happy to come out and visit your woodlot and share all sorts of advice on harvesting, management and habitat. These “walk and talks” with a district forester are free - prepaid by your tax dollars. Find your District Forester here.

 - Kim Ballard, Project Canopy

Rallying ‘round the Presumpscot

MEDIUM/Lauri Munroe-Hultman - What does the ideal dam removal and river restoration look like? There’s no such thing as perfect, but the Saccarappa Falls project in Westbrook, Maine, comes close. Not that it was easy…or quick.

“This project has gone on for so long it’s become a way of life for me,” said Michael Shaughnessy, president and co-founder of Friends of the Presumpscot River, who has been advocating for fish passage on the waterway for more than 20 years. “For the last year, I was concerned it wouldn’t happen — right up until the headwall was broken.”

Over the last two decades, a coalition of public and private entities, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has worked tirelessly to restore the river to free-flowing, re-opening habitat to migratory fish and expanding opportunities for recreation. Thanks to this latest project, nearly complete, migratory fish have access to five more miles of the Presumpscot River…and the community benefits as well. Read more...

There's a Curious Effect Urban Trees Might Have on Depression, Study Finds

SCIENCEALERT/David Nield - There's already a long list of reasons to like trees, we know. Warding off depression could be the latest entry on that list, based on a study of 9,751 residents in Leipzig, Germany.

For a more consistent measure, researchers used antidepressant prescriptions rather than self-reporting to gauge the mental health of communities, and then cross-referenced these statistics with the numbers of street trees in each area.

They reported that more local foliage within 100 metres (328 feet) of the home was associated with a reduced likelihood of being prescribed antidepressants – findings that could be very useful indeed for city planners, health professionals, and governments. Read more...

Bark Bits

Cumberland working to weed out invasive species in Town Forest

Communities Save Money Planting Large Bare Root Trees

How Insects Spend the Winter

ICYMI: Maine Forest Service Issues Emerald Ash Borer Emergency Order

Upcoming Opportunities

Project Canopy Community Forestry Grant Application Period Now Open!

Project Canopy Assistance Grants are available to state, county, and municipal governments, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations for developing and implementing community forestry projects and programs. Grant applications will be due to the Maine forest Service at 5:00 pm on Friday, March 12, 2020. All grants require a 50% match from the grant recipient in cash or in-kind services. Click here for more information and to apply.

Feb 17 - Webinar: Successful Safety Culture, 1PM. 

Mar 5 - Webinar: Benefits and Costs of Natural Climate Solutions in Maine - Forestry, 2PM.

Mar 9 - Webinar: Invasive Woody Plant Management – Part 2 of 2, 2PM.