Forest stewardship award
recognizes Irving Woodlands
AUGUSTA — Governor Paul R. LePage recently presented Irving Woodlands, LLC with the prestigious 2015 Austin H. Wilkins Forest Stewardship Award at a Blaine House event.
The award recognizes people or organizations that stand above their peers to further forestry, forests, or forest land conservation in the state of Maine. Started by the Maine TREE Foundation in 2004, it is the only award in Maine that recognizes stewardship of the working forest. Representatives from several organizations were on hand, including the Maine TREE Foundation.
J.D. Irving has been a presence in the County for 65 years, and just a year ago, on Oct. 2, 2014, Irving Forest Products opened the new Ashland Sawmill in Nashville Plt. The $30 million facility brought 60 new jobs to the area.
“Maine’s working forests are a vital part of our past, present and future economy,” said Governor LePage. “I am pleased to publicly recognize Irving Woodlands, LLC for their exemplary management of working forests.”
Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) Commissioner Walt Whitcomb and Sherry Huber, Executive Director of the Maine TREE Foundation, also commended Irving for their lasting impact on Maine’s forests.
“Irving Woodlands, LLC serves as an outstanding example of how Maine forests can be professionally managed to achieve greater productivity,” said Whitcomb. “The company serves as an example on how to achieve productive yields while providing public access to private lands for outdoor recreational opportunities like hiking, fishing, hunting, trapping and snowmobiling.”
Named after one of Maine’s longest contributing professional foresters, the Austin H. Wilkins Forest Stewardship Award is the only award in Maine that recognizes stewardship of the working forest.
