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Cost-Share ProgramsSpecial Note: This program is currently facing a funding problem. There is money for forest management plans, but projects are on hold for now. If more funding is found, then the program will resume. Apply for a forest management plan through your local consulting forester or through the Maine Forest Service. This website will keep you updated about this and other programs as information becomes available. The 2008 farm bill has earmarked money to go to forestry programs in Maine. Trainings will be offered to resource professionals in the spring. I will post the information about the programs and what programs are available to you as soon as I attend one of these workshops. Stay tuned!
The government has programs in place to help you pay for the cost of implementing forest practices or services. The first section discusses the program and the various requirements of the WoodsWISE program. The second section discusses the various projects that this program funds and how much reimbursement is available. This information is taken directly out of the WoodsWISE manual. Please contact me for the technical details of each type of project. The first step that must be undertaken is having a forest management plan written for your property. What is the WoodsWISE program? The WoodsWISE program's aim is to help Maine's forest landowners make informed decisions based on stewardship principles about their forests, and thereby encourage the long-term sustainability of Maine's forests. If you own even a few acres of Maine's forests, your property is part of an important resource that can provide wildlife habitat, clean water, forest products, and other benefits to Maine communities as well as be a source of enjoyment and value to you, the landowner. WoodsWISE is a part of Maine Forest Service's "Be Woods Wise" program, a landowner education and outreach effort geared toward small landowners. The Be Woods Wise program offers brochures, fact sheets, a video, and an informative website, http://www.state.me.us/doc/mfs/fpm/wwi/wwi.htm. What does the WoodsWISE program have to offer? The WoodsWISE program offers incentives to help landowners get started in managing their land according to their objectives, with the help of a Licensed Forester. Financial incentives are available for:
Who is eligible?Maine landowners who own 10 to 1,000 forested acres statewide may be eligible. Ownerships of up to 5,000 forested acres may be eligible under certain circumstances. Landowners may be individuals, families, organizations, or businesses. Landowners who take part in WoodsWISE must sign a Stewardship Pledge and make a commitment to manage their land according to stewardship principles and abide by the requirements of the program, in return for receiving technical assistance and financial incentives of the program. At a minimum, landowners must maintain activities under the program for 10 years. How does the program work?Landowners may call the Maine Forest Service District Forester nearest you for more information and an application, or contact any Stewardship Forester - a private, Licensed Forester who is determined by MFS to be eligible to provide forestry services under the WoodsWISE program. The program works by what is called ़ost-sharing", in which:
What is a Forest Management Plan?A Forest Management Plan is a written document, prepared by a Stewardship Forester hired by you to define your land ownership objectives, provide a written description of the forest and related resources, and make recommendations for future activities (10 years or more) to help you achieve your goals. What are Projects?Forest Management Plans make recommendations to the landowner about activities to improve the forest and better meet their objectives. Certain activities that involve a cost to the landowner may be eligible for cost-sharing," including additional services from a Stewardship Forester. Check with the Maine Forest Service or a Stewardship Forester about Application Periods and eligible types of Projects. How much reimbursement do landowners receive under WoodsWISE?Reimbursement amounts for both Plans and Projects are based on the size and type of plan or project. Generally, payments are limited to 50% or less of the landowner's actual costs. Some practices pay as much as 75% of the total cost of the project within given limits. 2006 WoodsWISE Manual Practices and Rates Effective date: 01/01/2007
Section II.b Funding Allocations and Practice Priorities - Page 1 of 2 2006 WoodsWISE Manual Practices and Rates Effective date: 01/01/2007
*Forest Management Planning is funded primarily through the USDA Forest Services Forest Stewardship Program. Projects are funded primarily through the USDA Forest Services Forest Land Enhancement Program. Additional funds include the USDA Forest Service Stewardship Incentives Program, and the Maine Coastal Program. ** Landowners may not receive more than $5,000 per year in cost-share funding. ***designated watersheds: Eastern Coastal Rivers, Central Coastal Rivers, and towns in Maines Coastal Zone **** designated forest health area: Washington, Hancock, Waldo and Knox counties Section II.b Funding Allocations and Practice Priorities - Page 2 of 2
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