HIDDEN BENEFITS OF MAINE’S FORESTS

Courtesy Of The Forest Society Of Maine

Whetherwe are hiking along an alpine peak, fishing cold waters for wild brook trout, boating across a calm lake, or mountain biking along a bumpy backwoods trail, we might notice cavities made by pileated woodpeckers, lush greens and blues of moss and streams, or high-pitched croaks of spring peepers.

But what we may not think about are the molecules of carbon stored in tree fibers and roots or the decades of tree rings that might one day show their texture in the bats of a major league baseball player.

The Forest Society of Maine (FSM) focuses its work on conserving Maine’s North Woods for all the ecological, economic, cultural, and recreational benefits they provide. It is likely that the observable benefits of Maine’s vast for - est landscapes are what we appreciate while spending time in Maine’s great forests—rich wildlife habitats, biodiversity in flora and fauna, clean water in rivers and streams, and extensive public access. But we might overlook the hidden benefits.

The North Woods are the largest contiguous forestland east of the Mississippi. They are home to climateresilient forests, and support Maine’s forest products industries. Among some of the hidden benefits of our forests are:

• Carbon sequestration and storage

• Watersheds and clean water

• Starlit skies

• Diverse forest products

Maine’s forestlands hold immense carbon-sequestering and carbon-stor - ing potential. Forests can play a major role in mitigating climate change by pulling in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing carbon. In fact, through current forest management practices, Maine already sequesters an amount equal to nearly 70% of its annual carbon emissions.

Nearly 90% of Maine is forested, making it the most forested state in the U.S. This lends to Maine being home to the darkest night skies east of the Mississippi. Maine’s forests also contain significant portions of seven out of ten of Maine’s major watersheds. Several FSM conservation projects have protected the headwaters of great rivers that flow through these watersheds.

Moreover, Maine’s forests provide a surprising range of forest products.

From swabs used in Covid-19 testing to insulation, and from Wabanaki-made woven baskets to the clothes we wear, the forest products Maine’s forests supply are critical for energy, infrastructure, and even health-related uses.

FSM-conserved lands are largely sustainably managed, working forestlands, allowing for conservation that supports Maine’s rich history in the forest products industry, public recreation, and the cultural and ecological values of our forests. But we can’t assume they will always be here. Development pressure and habitat fragmentation can erode the unique features of Maine’s forestlands. Permanently conserving Maine’s forests can ensure that both the obvious and hidden benefits of Maine’s forests exist far into the future!