Poster Abstract Details

Author(s):
Patrick Lyons, Jessica Leahy, PhD

Affiliation:
University of Maine, Center for Research on Sustainable Forests

Presentation Type:
Poster

Topic Area:
The relationship(s) between land-use policies and ecological processes/disturbances along urban-rural interfaces

Abstract Text:
Family forests are defined as forested land ranging from 10 to 1000 acres. In Maine this accounts for over 5.7 million acres of land, representing 33 percent of the state's woodlands and approximately 120,000 owners. Unfortunately, over the past three decades numerous family forest landowners have subdivided or sold their land. From 1980 to 1995 the number of family forest landowners increased by twenty percent, though the overall acreage remained the same. “Highest and best use” practices of this land has been the impetus behind rapid parcelization and amenity-based development in Maine, particularly impacting lake shore properties. Despite the impacts family forest owners have on land-use change in Maine, they are a relatively under served landowner group. This poster examines the research being conducted on family forests stakeholders through the Center for Research on Sustainable Forests (CRSF) at the University of Maine. Faculty involved with the CRSF and members of organizations and agencies involved with forestry and forest owners in Maine were interviewed, totaling over sixty participants. Stakeholders were identified by the participating faculty of the CRSF and targeted because of their involvement with and knowledge of family forest owners. This poster highlights the fact that relatively little research has been conducted on family forests in Maine. The CRSF identifies family forests as one of three main research units in its mission and thus findings from the interviews will be critical in shaping future research and outreach that contributes to the sustainable management of the state’s family forests. Also, this poster emphasizes the importance of communication and participation among CRSF faculty and the numerous family forest stakeholders, underscoring how critical this is in creating research that is viewed as credible by all parties and salient to the needs of family forest landowners. How this will support a stakeholder driven initiative on sustainable family forests will be discussed.