Forest Operations Notifications Going All Online in January 2021


June 9, 2020

For over 30 years, the Forest Operations Notification (FONS) system has been paper-based. Landowners and managers submit paper copies to the Maine Forest Service (MFS); data is entered by hand; acknowledgment letters printed and mailed; FONS filed, etc. Repeat the process with amendments. Then paper copies of landowner harvest reports are sent out at the end of the year. More paper, more data entry, more filing. That's all about to change.

Starting in January 2021, FONS will become Forest Online Resource Tool (FOResT), and it will be all online. Landowners, Designated Agents, Foresters, and Loggers will need to create individual accounts in FOResT to participate in harvest notifications.

Screen shot of Landing Page of FOResT

Some important features include mapping of Forest Operations Notification activities, digital signatures, automatic notification of all parties named on a notification, and automated, end of year landowner reports.

"The Maine Forest Service has a rich history of ensuring that Maine's forests continue to provide a full range of benefits to present and future generations of Maine people," Maine Forest Service Director Patty Cormier observed. Part of that effort is maintaining a notification database for harvest activity in Maine. This database helps the Maine Forest Service develop and advocate for activities that encourage the sound, long-term management of Maines forests, and to provide reliable, timely and accurate information about the forest resource. This new online harvest notification system will provide for ease of access, and ready information for forest practitioners. We at the Maine Forest Service are happy to offer this online service for your convenience.

MFS currently is testing the system with a small set of users to identify and fix glitches before the system goes fully live. We will continue to offer additional information, including how-to videos, as the year progresses.

For now, you dont need to do anything. Just be aware that paper FONS are going away soon.