The Forest Society of Maine (FSM) held its annual meeting in Presque Isle in June. This was the first time the organization has held its annual meeting in Aroostook County, but according to Alan Hutchinson, FSM’s executive director, they will be back.
“Our annual meetings are always special because we hold them in communities near forestlands we have helped conserve and we build in opportunities for board members to visit those lands, meet with landowners, and spend time in nearby communities,” said Hutchinson.
Two of the society’s board members, Mike Kelley of Presque Isle and Sue McCrum of Mars Hill, helped make this visit a success, Hutchinson added.
The FSM is a statewide land trust working with owners of productive forestlands to help keep forests as forests for the many benefits they provide. It has a special focus on Maine’s North Woods, with a goal of helping sustain the ecological, economic, cultural, and recreational values of those lands. Since 1984 FSM has worked with dozens of landowners throughout Maine to help conserve one million acres.
Using the Hampton Inn in Presque Isle as a base, the board of directors and staff were able to get a first-hand look at how forest products and outdoor recreation help support the vitality of Aroostook County. They toured the J.D. Irving state-of-the art softwood sawmill in Nashville Plantation and the Maine Woods Company certified hardwood sawmill in Portage.
On the second day they toured Irving Woodlands’ lands near the Fish River chain of lakes in the morning, and in the afternoon visited properties in Van Buren that the society has helped conserve through conservation easements. The first stop of the afternoon was the Van Buren Water District’s Violette Brook conserved land, where an FSM easement keeps this important watershed undeveloped ensuring good water quality and public recreational opportunities for generations to come. The second visit of the afternoon was to Craig and Nancy Troeger’s 2,055 acres of forestland that is managed in an exemplary manner for wildlife, recreational opportunities and high-quality timber.
The day concluded with the opportunity for the board and staff to meet with local business owners and community leaders over dinner. The purpose was to gain a better understanding of how Maine’s forestlands help sustain communities in Aroostook County and how the FSM can continue to help.
The three-day event concluded with the group’s annual business meeting at the Hampton Inn.
To learn more about the FSM and its forestland conservation work, visit fsmaine.org or call the Bangor office at (207) 945-9200.
