MFS Documentary Highlights Exemplary Stewardship
The Maine Forest Service has launched a video documentary series called Profiles of Woodland Stewardship. These short videos, now available online, portray true stories of Maine’s woodlands and the people who care for them. The landowners profiled are model stewards; their woodlands are visible demonstrations of woodland conservation applied on the ground. Each story shows the interaction of actively managed woodlands with resource professionals, recreational users, and the local community. The stories illustrate by example the concept of the “Stewardship Storyline,” where stewardship is seen as a series of steps.
First in the series is a pair of videos profiling the Portland Water District and the Town Forests of Falmouth. The videos are posted on the MFS You-Tube site and via the MFS “Profiles of Woodland Stewardship” web page. Upon request, MFS will send DVD copies to interested woodland owners and other parties, at no charge. Profiles of Woodland Stewardship videos are also available to public and community access television stations.
Those profiled in the series are also using the DVDs as part of their community outreach. Nearly 30 people came to the Falmouth Library on a Saturday last December to watch the first public showing of the Falmouth Forest video.
Attendees included members of the Falmouth Conservation Commission, the Falmouth Town Council, local trails committee and land trust, as well as community members. The audience applauded the 13-minute documentary about Falmouth’s town forests, while MFS Landowner Outreach Forester Andy Shultz and District Forester Ken Canfield were on hand to answer questions from the group about forestry and woodland management.
Following the film, Bob Shafto, Falmouth’s Open Space Ombudsman, the only one in the state, led a discussion about the overall forest management plan for a skidder bridge shows best practices against erosion. MFS Documentary Highlights Exemplary Stewardship Falmouth’s publicly owned woodlands. The plan takes a balanced approach; some areas will be managed for habitat diversity and timber, others left “forever wild” and all open to an extensive and growing recreational trail system. Kelly Boland, a wildlife biologist with US Fish and Wildlife Service built on the discussion to describe the need for early successional habitat in southern Maine, explaining how it benefits a suite of species, particularly New England cottontail.
Rene Noel, the private consulting forester who advises Falmouth on forest management and harvesting matters was also there to describe the specifics of the FMP. The majority of the attendees embarked on a post-discussion field trip to view some of the sites proposed for harvesting.
This spring, on May 6, over 25 people gathered at the Magic Lantern Theater in Bridgton for the first public showing of the Portland Water District Profiles of Stewardship video. Bridgton is located in the heart of the Upper Presumpscot River watershed, which includes Sebago Lake, the drinking water supply for the greater Portland area.
Prior to the viewing of the film, there were short presentations by Anna Donahue, the Oxford County District Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service; Jim Norris, a representative of the Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine; Andy Shultz, for MFS; and Brie Holme, water resource specialist for the water district. Huey Coleman, the Portland-based filmmaker who shot and edited the Profiles video series, was also present. Ken Canfield, MFS District Forester for York and southern Cumberland Counties, shows growth rings in a tree cookie to local schoolchildren during Falmouth Forest Days.
The 17-minute video, which shows how the PWD actively manages its woodlands around Sebago Lake primarily to protect drinking water quality, and also for timber, recreation and wildlife, drew enthusiastic applause. A Q&A session afterwards helped connect woodland owners with professionals and programs. MFS District Foresters Shane Duigan and Merle Ring made connections with local woodland owners for future walk-and-talks. It was especially gratifying to have a young family (husband, wife, and young child) in the crowd. They are brand new to Maine and to woodland ownership; as a result of attending the showing, they are ready to take the next step and meet with Shane Duigan, their local MFS District Forester.
The Falmouth profile was also a centerpiece of the 2013 Maine Arbor Day Celebration. Over 50 people from towns and cities around the state saw how Falmouth manages town forests for recreation, education, wildlife and timber. Attendees took copies of the DVD home, with plans to show it in their local communities.
As time and resources allow, MFS plans to document more stories featuring the full spectrum of woodland owners across the state. Anyone with thoughts or ideas about the series, especially potential funding sources, is encouraged to contact Andy Shultz at 287-8430, or e-mail: info@maineforestservice.gov.
To access the videos, go to: http://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/policy_management/profiles_stewardship/index.html
A skidder bridge shows best practices against erosion.
Ken Canfield, MFS District Forester for York and southern Cumberland Counties, shows growth rings in a tree cookie to local schoolchildren during Falmouth Forest Days.