The Governor’s Task Force on Wood to Energy was established to identify, evaluate and promote the economically advantageous use and development of sustainable alternative energy resources and technologies for buildings by capitalizing on the abundance of Maine’s forest resources. The Task Force has worked over the last several months to evaluate the economic, environmental and public health impacts of forest-based energy alternatives and provide recommendations to reduce energy costs, reduce reliance on foreign oil, develop and preserve new and existing markets and ensure the responsible stewardship of Maine’s forest resources. For more information on Maine’s Wood to Energy initiative, or to view the report, please visit the Wood to Energy website at: http://www.maine.gov/doc/initiatives/wood_to_energy/html
State and Municipal Firewood Programs
With skyrocketing heating oil prices and winter drawing near, many of us are considering the switch to wood based fuels such as firewood, pellets or woodchips. To assist citizens in the effort to obtain firewood, several states and a few municipalities have announced the availability of firewood harvesting on public lands. The Maine Department of Conservation’s Bureau of Parks and Lands has for several years run a program allowing the public to cut firewood on State’s Public Lands for a fee. Available wood is marked and cut in areas designated by the Public Lands Foresters. Designated areas for this program are generally within 100 to 200 feet of existing woods roads on Public Lands. All wood cutting permits and practices comply with the Bureau’s sustainability and forest certification standards.
Vermont recently announced the availability of a similar program called ‘Wood Warms’ to assist citizens in obtaining firewood. Jonathan Wood, Commissioner of Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation noted that wood cut this late in the year is not safe to burn this heating season. Firewood cut now should be split and stacked for drying to use in the 2009-10 heating season.
Several cities and towns are also exploring the option of allowing residents to cut firewood on town owned forests. Some cities, such as Bath, Maine have made firewood available for many years from municipal forestry operations. Wood from trees damaged by storms, or that have to be removed for safety reasons are turned into cordwood and made available on a first come first serve basis to low income families for a marginal fee. When considering offering such a program, cities and towns should first work with a forester to establish a forest management plan on town owned woodlots. Project Canopy offers cost-share grants annually for municipalities to develop forest management plans in accordance with Maine Forest Service Woods Wise standards.
Many more resources are available online on the following websites:
State firewood programs and safety guidelines:
www.maine.gov/doc/initiatives/
wood_to_energy/firewood_heat.html
www.vtfpr.org/energy/for_energy_reshealth.cfm
Municipal firewood programs:
www.na.fs.fed.us/Spfo/pubs/misc/
utilizingmunitrees/Municipalities.htm
www.dovetailinc.org/reports/pdf/DovetailUrban0108ig.pdf
Invasive Insects on the Move
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
Ferry Beach State Park ranger Janet Mangion discovered hemlock woolly adelgid while pruning trees along the park access road in late June. Since then Maine Forest Service entomologists have been working with park personnel to determine the level of infestation and how to address areas such as trails that are at high risk of spreading the adelgids. Survey results indicate a low-level, spotty presence of the adelgid in the park. Park rangers have pruned infested hemlock material likely to be encountered by hikers, picnickers and other park users. An integrated management approach will be developed as we gain a better understanding of the extent of this infestation. This infestation is several towns removed from the generally infested area, and intensified surveys of hemlock stands in Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Arundel and Biddeford are underway. Readers in the area are encouraged to look for signs of the adelgid on hemlocks they encounter. Look for sessile, white woolly masses on the undersides of hemlock twigs, attached at the bases of needles. Report any suspect findings to the Insect and Disease Lab at: (207) 287-2431; 50 Hospital Street, Augusta, ME 04330.
Emerald Ash Borer
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed the presence of the emerald ash borer (EAB) in the Montérégie region of Quebec.
EAB does not spread quickly on its own. In fact, it is most commonly spread when people move infested materials. Moving these materials, such as firewood, even just a few miles away can spread the emerald ash borer to new areas.
Residents and visitors alike have a responsibility to protect our eastern forests and can play a key part in helping to control the spread of EAB by not moving firewood, logs, branches, nursery stock, chips or other ash wood.
Asian Longhorned Beetle
The Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), a pest of hardwood trees including maple, birch and horse chestnut, was recently discovered in Worcester, Massachusetts. An astute resident of the Greendale section of Worcester reported the sighting, and it was confirmed by entomologists from USDA APHIS-PPQ in early August.
The Asian Longhorn Beetle is an invasive species native to China. It was first discovered in the U.S. in New York in 1996, and has also been found in Chicago and New Jersey. The beetles cause damage by tunneling within the trunks and branches of trees, disrupting the sap flow and weakening and eventually killing them.
This pest attacks a wide variety of hardwood trees, particularly maples, and is considered a serious threat to the nursery, lumber, wood products, maple syrup, and tourism industries in our state. If it became established over a large area, it could also significantly disrupt the forest ecosystem.
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, and the City of Worcester are partnering with the U.S. Forest Service and USDA APHIS-PPQ to coordinate a management plan to eradicate this species in Massachusetts. First steps include a survey of the area to determine the extent of the infestation, and regulatory management to prevent movement of host trees and wood out of the infested area. Infested trees will need to be removed and destroyed, and susceptible host trees may need treatment to prevent further infestations.
After nearly five years in the clear, Illinois insect experts are bracing for the possibility of a new infestation of Asian longhorned beetles. Scientists confirmed that a single specimen discovered in the parking lot of a Deerfield shopping mall was the distinctive tree-killing bug. Plant and pesticide specialists from the U.S. and Illinois departments of agriculture are trying to determine whether the beetle somehow survived eradication efforts five years ago or if the recent finding represents a new infestation. To help answer that question, they are inspecting hardwood trees—including maple, willow, elm and birch—within a half-mile radius of where the insect was found.
Woodlot Management Adult Education Course
The Maine Forest Service sponsors several woodlot management courses throughout the state each year. Two courses will be offered this fall through the Jefferson field office and the Jonesboro field office. Both offer an introduction for people interested in learning more about our forest resource, and forest management. Topics covered include forest management planning, tree and plant ID, forest measurements, compass and GPS skills, wildlife management, working with consulting foresters and professional loggers, common tree pests and diseases, forestry rules and regulations and much more! Course locations and dates:
Tuesdays from 6 to 8 PM, starting October 7th, Sumner High School in Sullivan. Contact Steve MacDonald, Maine Forest Service District Forester for Washington and Hancock County, by phone 441-4924 or email stephen.macdonald@maine.gov to find out more.
Mondays from 6:30 to 8:30 PM starting September 22nd, Medomak Valley High School in Waldoboro. Contact Morten Moesswilde, Maine Forest Service District Forester for Knox, Lincoln and Waldo Counties, by phone at 549-9003 or email morten.moesswilde@maine.gov to find out more information about this class.
Invasive Plant Management When Chemicals Are Not an Option
The Maine Forest Service in cooperation with the Good-Will Hinckley School, USDA Forest Service and the Maine Nature Conservancy will be holding an invasive plant identification and control workshop Tuesday, September 16th, 2008 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Good Will-Hinckley School in Hinckley, Maine. This workshop will provide participants with an introduction to identification of common upland invasive plants. Participants will also be introduced to non-chemical strategies for invasive plant control. Anyone with an interest in invasive plants is encouraged to attend. Workshop is free and includes a field session so please bring appropriate field clothing. Pre-registration is required: to register please e-mail Keith Kanoti at keith.kanoti@maine.gov or call 287-2428.
September
6 Identifying Maine Mushrooms, 9 AM-3 PM. Pine Tree State Arboretum, Augusta, ME. Contact PTSA FMI at 207-621-0031 or visit the website at www.pinetreestatearboretum.org
6 Green Development and Low Impact Forestry, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM. Old Woods Farm, Tenants Harbor. FMI visit the Georges River Land Trust website at www.grlt.org or call 594-5166
10 Maine Licensed Arborist Exam, Augusta. FMI call Debbie Davis at 287-3891
17 Paying for urban tree care webcast. 11 AM. Details at www.unri.org
October
National Neighborwoods Month. Visit http://actrees.org for more information, to sign up and to learn how your community can be eligible for mini-grants for event promotion.
4 Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival, Abromson Auditorium, USM, Portland. Information at www.cascobay.org, or by calling the Friends of Casco Bay at 207-799-8574
12-14 New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture Annual Conference. Holiday Inn by the Sea, Portland, ME. FMI visit http://newenglandisa.org or call 800-617-487015 Resources for green communities’ webcast. 11 AM. Details at www.unri.org
If you would like to put your community’s activity on the calendar, please let one of the editors know by the 15th of each month.