Portals:NRCS Maine

From Wikiagro.com

WoodsWISE

Woods Wise Incentives to Stewardship Enhancement

An incentives program for Maine’s small family forests

WoodsWISE utilizes funds from the Forest Stewardship Program, the Environmental Quality Improvement Program, and other support provided by the USDA Forest Service and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

What is the WoodsWISE program?

The WoodsWISE program’s aim is to help Maine’s forest landowners make informed decisions based on stewardship principles about their forests, and thereby encourage the long-term sustainability of Maine’s forests. If you own even a few acres of Maine’s forests, your property is part of an important resource that can provide wildlife habitat, clean water, forest products, and other benefits to Maine communities – as well as be a source of enjoyment and value to you, the landowner.
WoodsWISE is a part of Maine Forest Service’s “Be Woods Wise” program, a landowner education and outreach effort geared toward small landowners. The Be Woods Wise program offers brochures, fact sheets, a video, and an informative website, http://www.state.me.us/doc/mfs/fpm/wwi/wwi.htm Even more, Maine Forest Service District Foresters can assist you in learning more about your woodlot, and if need be, helping you identify a private consulting forester that can work with you.

What is a Forest Management Plan?

A Forest Management Plan is a written document, prepared by a Stewardship Forester hired by you to define your land ownership objectives, take an inventory of your forest and related resources, and make recommendations for future activities (10 years or more) to help you achieve your goals.

What are Practices?

Forest Management Plans make recommendations to the landowner about activities to improve their forest and better meet their objectives. Certain activities may also be eligible for cost-sharing, including additional services from a Stewardship Forester. Financial assistance for these activities is administered cooperatively by the Maine Forest Service and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Check with the Maine Forest Service, your Stewardship Forester or a USDA Service Center about eligibility and application procedures.