Your Woodland: A Stewardship Storyline

Where can I get good advice about what to do with my woodland?

Group photo of the Kennebec Woodland Partners
A group of people standing in the woods talking.
MFS District Forester providing information to a landowner.

A cornerstone of the stewardship path is seeking advice from resource professionals. Each of the Kennebec Woodland Partners offers a distinct set of tools, information, and strategies to help you identify and achieve your goals for your woodland.

Often, working with a licensed forester is the first step. The Maine Forest Service District Forester for Kennebec County is available to meet woodland owners to “walk and talk” in and about their woods. The Maine Forest Service’s Landowner Outreach Forester is also always ready to answer your questions and help you determine what Stewardship Steps may be right for your woodlot.

Another local resource is the Small Woodland owners Association of Maine (SWOAM), which offers an informative, Maine-based newsletter as well as local chapters that host workshops and discussions about woodland ownership.

If your property includes farmland, the Kennebec County Soil and Water Conservation District (KCSWCD) and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources can help you protect soil and water quality while actively utilizing your land. KCSWCD can also tell you about cost-share programs that will assist you in caring for your land. The Maine Drinking Water Program provides resources that can help your community protect the quality of your drinking water.

For information on and a list of Master Loggers, contact the Trust to Conserve Northeast Forestlands, which administers the Master Logger program. To learn how wood from your woodlot plays a role in Maine’s economy, visit the Maine Forest Products Council, which advocates for policies that ensure a sustainable future for Maine’s forest-based economy.

Perhaps you are thinking about how to keep your woodland intact so that it can be enjoyed by future generations. A local conservation organization such as the Kennebec Land Trust, the Sebasticook Regional Land Trust, the Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance, or the SWOAM Land Trust can help you find the right tools to accomplish these goals. The Forest Society of Maine also maintains a knowledge base of information about conservation easements, as well as other tools for municipalities and larger units involved in managing the forest landscape.

As you plan your next Stewardship Step, you can use this resource guide and the list of Partners to find additional information and good advice about your woodland. Long-term planning for your forestland will benefit you and your family and contribute to the well-being of your community.

Have questions? Contact a partner!