WoodsWISE Resilience Program

What is Resilience?

Forest resilience measures how well forests adapt and respond to changing conditions. A resilient forest can resist disturbances, such as intense windstorms, or recover after insect outbreaks. While some trees or species may be lost, the forest ecosystem endures.

Information for Landowners

Landowners interested in participating in the program should contact their District Forester for a site visit. To enroll in the program, landowners must work with a Resilience Forester. Use the list here to find a Resilience Forester in your area.

Information for Foresters

Foresters interested in working with landowners in the program must complete a Resilience Forester training with the Maine Forest Service.

Timeline

This is a grant-funded program, expected to run through December 2029.

Eligible Landowners

Landowners eligible to enroll in the program must have 10 or more forested areas. Eligible landowners include individuals, families, tribal governments, local governments, non-profits, and other private owners.

Eligible Practices

The program covers three categories of practices: early stand tending, regeneration support, and forest health.

Early Stand Tending Practices:

• Pre-commercial thinning: Reducing the number of trees in young or sapling-sized forest:
• Early commercial thinning: Reducing the number of trees in a forest where part of the trees can create a commercial forest product
• Crop tree release: Removing trees to favor those of the preferred form, vigor, or species

Regeneration Support:

• Regeneration management to promote tree regeneration: The intentional removal of trees to create space and resources for regeneration (seedlings, sprouts, or established small trees).
• Tree planting: Planting tree seedlings to meet landowner objectives
• Regeneration protection: Temporary tree cages or exclosures to protect small trees or seedlings from animal browsing.

Forest Health Practices:

• Sanitation cutting: Removing specific trees or tree species to reduce the threat of diseases, insects, fungi, or other health concerns
• Invasive plant control: Using mechanical or chemical methods to remove invasive plants

Financial Incentives

This is a reimbursement program for landowners. Landowners may request reimbursement for expenses incurred at multiple points throughout the program. Eligible expenses include planning costs, forester time, and practice implementation. Reimbursement is based on Not-to-Exceed rates for each eligible expense.

Underserved Landowners

Underserved landowners, as defined by the US Department of Agriculture, are eligible for an 80% reimbursement rate. All other landowners are eligible for a 60% reimbursement rate. US Department of Agriculture definitions for historically underserved landowners can be found HERE.

To Learn More

To learn more about the WoodsWISE Resilience Program, contact Nicole Rogers, Maine Forest Service Landowner Outreach Forester by phone: 207-446-3418 or by email Nicole.s.rogers@maine.gov