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WoodsWise East:
Family Woodland Owners Improving Forest Bird Habitat and Restoring Fish Passage in eastern Maine
Many woodland owners want to maintain or improve wildlife habitat in their woodlands. The WoodsWise East program offers information, incentives, and assistance to help family woodland owners identify and improve habitat for forestland birds and Maine’s iconic cold water fish species – the Eastern Brook Trout.

This program is available to woodland owners in Maine’s eastern and coastal watersheds (PDF | 7.3 MB)
Woodland stewardship often includes working with professional foresters to assess forest conditions and develop a management plan. The WoodsWISE Incentives program offers cost-share assistance for forest management planning known as a Woodland Resource Action Plan (WRAP). Landowners in the project area are eligible for additional funding for new or upgraded management plans to address wildlife habitat conditions and needs.
WoodsWise East is a partnership of Maine Forest Service with Maine’s Dept. of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, Maine TREE Foundation, Maine Tree Farm Program, and the Forest Stewards Guild.
Additional Resources:
Species information: Birds - Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife
Species information: Wild Brook Trout - Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife
Maine Stream Habitat Viewer – DIFW Beginning with Habitat
Forestry For Maine Birds – Maine Audubon
Stream Smart Crossings – Maine Forest Service
Stream Barrier Rapid Assessment Form (pdf)
Fisheries Enhancement – Maine Forest Service
Find your local Maine Forest Service - District Forester
Maine Forest Service Calendar of Events
WoodsWISE East – Incentives – LIMITED TIME OFFER
Woodland owners who own between 10 and 1000 acres in eastern Maine (PDF | 7.3 MB) may be eligible for additional funding to receive:
- A new Woodland Resource Action Plan (WRAP)
- An existing plan, updated to meet WRAP specifications
- A WRAP Amendment to address additional needs (see specifications).
Plans are written by private, Stewardship Foresters and will contain additional information on upland bird habitats and stream habitats on your property.
Applications for WoodsWise East funding will be accepted from April 1 to August 14, 2023, and will be approved on a first-come-first-served basis. All other requirements of MFS’s WoodsWISE Incentives program will apply.
Cost-share rates:
Eligible plans |
WoodsWise East - Additional Incentives |
|
|
---|---|---|---|
Code |
Component Description |
Max % |
Max payment |
FMP-11a |
WWE WRAP (10-50 ac) |
75 |
$400 |
FMP-11b |
WWE WRAP (51+ ac) |
75 |
$8/wooded acre |
|
|
|
|
FMP - 12 |
WRAP amendment (e.g. for habitat assessment, silvicultural operations plan, upgrade to CAP-106 or TF standard) |
75 |
$4/wooded acre |