Conserving Maine's Oldest Forests

USFS-funded NEFF pilot that pays Maine commercial/large forest landowners to defer timber harvest in late-successional and old-growth (150+ yr) stands, and cost-shares (~70%) intensified silviculture (spruce planting, thinning, crop-tree release, beech control) on younger stands to maintain wood supply. Negotiated agreements covering at least several hundred acres each; 3–5 deals expected.

Maine forestland owners with late-successional/old-growth (150+ year) stands, prioritizing LSOG forests that were included in a multi-year or operational harvest plan before the project announcement; each agreement will impact at least several hundred acres.

Negotiated harvest-deferral payment (by timber value and duration) plus ~70% cost-share of silvicultural intensification; pilot limited to 3–5 agreements.

Published amounts: The amount of the deferral incentive will be negotiated individually and will depend both on the timber values present and on the duration of the deferral. Silvicultural incentives 'are intended to cover 70 percent of the full cost' of practices.

Contact NEFF Senior Forester Brian Milakovsky (bmilakovsky@newenglandforestry.org); agreements negotiated individually.

Deadline text on the page: pilot; 'This grant provides an opportunity to experiment with three to five “deals”'