Native Forest Network Responds to Plum Creek's Announcement

**For Immediate Release**

Group Not Satisfied with Plum Creek's Promise, Demand Preservation of Unique Forest

Contact: Logan Perkins: (207) 615-5158 or Emily Posner (207) 930-5232

July 28, 2008

While the Native Forest Network (NFN) is encouraged by recent developments regarding Plum Creek's harvest plans of the Big Wilson late successional forest in Elliotsville, Maine many concerns remain about the future of this particular forest and Plum Creek's role in the region in general. Following ecological assessments by Manomet and the Maine Department of Conservation's Natural Area's Program, the Seattle based corporation has decided to postpone its plans to harvest the unique 220 acre parcel near the Appalachian Trail. Native Forest Network supports the findings by these institutions and hopes to collaborate on future efforts to gather data in the region.

While this step by Plum Creek is essential to preserve the small remaining amount of Maine's late successional forests, Native Forest Network will continue advocating for full protection of the Big Wilson Forest and the North Woods until a comprehensive plan for preservation for the region has been developed. NFN calls for the following actions by Plum Creek:

• Immediately halt all timber harvest plans for the entire 1200 acre parcel that the 220 acre late succesional forest is a part of in order to fully assess which lands would act best as a buffer for the Big Wilson Forest.
• Commit to creating a contiguous, healthy ecosystem that supports the longevity of the Big Wilson Forest
• Immediately stop all further infrastructure construction in the area, including any temporary or permanent bridges over Big Wilson Stream
• Immediately identify and publicly share the location of all additional holdings of late succesional forests.
• Commit to a public and transparent negotiation process in regards to the Big Wilson Forest.

Only a few short weeks ago Plum Creek was fully prepared to devastate this unique and diverse late succesional forest. If it had not been for the efforts of many concerned local residents of the region and Native Forest Network, the public would not have been aware of this special place slated for destruction. Meg Gilmartin of NFN states, “recent actions around the Big Wilson Forest—a part of the Legacy Easement and Plum Creek's development proposal for Moosehead Lake—perfectly exemplify Plum Creek's disregard of its impact on the region's culture and environment.” Gilmartin goes on to say, “While its hopeful that Plum Creek is in talks with potential conservation buyers, there are still no guarantees about the preservation of this or other late-successional forests. Native Forest Network will not rest until Plum Creek has guaranteed the survival of this precious gem of forest.”

The Native Forest Network is an all-volunteer group of Maine citizens working toward the protection of all remaining native forests as sources of biodiversity, climate stability and cultural heritage. NFN will be hosting the fifth in their series of public hikes in the late successional forest on August 10^th from 11 am to 4 pm. The public is welcome to attend. Participants should meet at the Monson General Store on Rt.6/15 in Monson at 11 am and be prepared for steep, rough terrain, and crossing a large stream on foot.

Tyler's Photos of Big Wilson Ancient Forest

Plum Creek Haults Plans to Cut Big Wilson Old Growth

From the Bangor Daily News

Plum Creek Timber Co. officials said they are talking with several potential buyers interested in protecting a rare, 220-acre forest near Elliotsville containing trees older than the state of Maine itself.

Plum Creek has temporarily shelved any plans to harvest in what some people have dubbed the Big Wilson Stream "old-growth" forest. The company has been under pressure from some local residents and environmental groups to abandon plans to harvest on the land later this summer.

Mark Doty, Plum Creek’s regional resource manager, said Thursday that several "conservation buyers" have approached the company as a result of the attention. He declined to provide specifics, saying the negotiations were preliminary.

But Doty said Plum Creek is "certainly willing" to work with the buyers to protect the land.

"We’re going to work pretty hard at it," Doty said. "We want to work something out."

Located in Elliotsville Township south of Greenville, the property is wedged between Big Wilson Stream and a steep ridgeline that carries the Montreal Maine and Atlantic Railway tracks. That topography has deterred logging on the property, which explains why ecologists found many trees more than 150 years old and some as old as 250 to 300 years.

Two independent organizations — the Maine Natural Areas Program and Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences — conducted field surveys of the property in response to public concerns.

Representatives from both organizations said Thursday that while the land does not meet the definition of "old growth," it is rare in Maine to find such a sizable old forest with so many rich ecological qualities.

"We come across them on 15 to 20 acres," said Andy Cutko, an ecologist with the Maine Natural Areas Program. "But it’s uncommon to have a patch of 200 acres in the state of Maine."

The Maine Natural Areas Program, which is part of the state Department of Conservation, released a report Thursday calling the property "an excellent example of a late successional forest with characteristic old trees, stand continuity and a long history of natural processes."

One red spruce tree that was cored to determine its age was found to be 263 years old, while a 2-foot-diameter hemlock was found to be 174 years old. Even larger hemlocks and sugar maples measuring up to 3 feet in diameter were likely 200 to 300 years old, according to the report.

Both the Natural Areas Program and Manomet found some evidence of logging on the land but only in a few locations. The state report estimated that the limited harvesting likely occurred more than a half-century ago.

Andy Whitman, senior scientists at Manomet, said he has measured many large trees and surveyed a lot of older forests over the years. While he says he wouldn’t describe the forest as old growth, Whitman was impressed by the quality of this old forest.

"I haven’t seen many pieces of ground like this," Whitman said. "It’s rare, … and whenever you get something that’s rare, it is relevant to ask, ‘Do you do something special to protect this place?’"

Less than 2 percent of Maine’s forests are considered old, and less than 1 percent meet the definition of old-growth forest, according to state figures.

Whitman pointed out that there are no regulations in Maine restricting harvesting of even old-growth trees. Whitman, who is completing his report to Plum Creek, said it is important to balance the environmental benefits of preserving older forests with the economic realities facing many landowners and mills in Maine.

Alan Bray, a native of nearby Monson who used to hike and fish on the property as a young man, said he was pleased to hear that at least one conservation buyer was interested in the property. Bray, who lives in Sangerville, helped lead numerous hikes to raise awareness about the property.

"That’s exactly what I was hoping would happen," Bray said.

Several conservation groups, including the Appalachian Mountain Club and Roxanne Quimby’s nonprofit foundation known as Elliotsville Plantation, already own large tracts of land in the area. Plum Creek also has included the land in its 430,000-acre conservation proposal accompanying the company’s development plans for the Moosehead Lake region.

Upcoming Events

July 11 Public Presentation
Sangerville Grange Hall.
6:00 p.m.

Alan Bray of Sangerville and members of the Native Forest Network will make a short presentation on the Big Wilson Old Growth Forest slated to be clearcut by Plum Creek this summer.

Please bring an hors d'oeuvre and what you want to drink.

July 12 A Walk Amongst the Old Trees of Big Wilson Old Growth
meet outside of Monson General Store
11 am-4 pm

Guided public hike of the Big Wilson Old Growth. Please be prepared to cross a large stream (the Big Wilson). Bring Shoes that can get wet for stream crossing and that you can hike in. Please bring water and snacks!

for more info email nfnmaine@gmail.com