Preserving the Pine Tree State: Help Protect Our Forests

Forests make Maine the beautiful place we love to live, work, and explore. They clean our air, protect our water, and provide homes for countless animals. Over 90% of Maine is forested, the highest percentage of forest cover in the country, which provides the foundation for biodiversity within our forest ecosystems as well as our economy.  

March 21 was declared the International Day of Forests in 2012 and celebrates and raises awareness of the importance of all types of forests. This year, forests and foods is the theme, celebrating the crucial role of forests in food security, nutrition and livelihoods. Forests play key roles in soil fertility, protecting water resources, and offering habitat that fosters biodiversity, while also providing food, fuel, income, and employment. They are essential for the survival of forest-dependent communities, particularly Indigenous Peoples, and contribute to climate change mitigation by storing carbon. 

Forests are a vital source of energy, providing wood for cooking, playing a key role in agriculture by hosting pollinators and acting in soil enrichment, climate regulation, and biodiversity conservation. In addition, forested watersheds supply freshwater to more than 85% of the world’s major cities.  

Within our local forests, the Land Trust has been observing the increasing presence of invasive species in recent years, from the rapid conversion of the understory into dense thickets of invasive honeysuckle to mortality due to Hemlock Woolly Adlegid. As invasive species thrive, we see a decline in native biodiversity, which directly impacts food sources and habitat for wildlife. What if the Pine Tree State was instead known as the bittersweet basket or the honeysuckle sea? With a little extra time, there is a chance these forests will be able to adapt on their own and continue to provide our communities with their presence. 

The International Day of Forests is a time to celebrate the incredible role forests play in our lives and engage in activities to celebrate and support this vital natural resource. Whether it’s a walk in the woods at Crystal Spring Farm where the Land Trust released 500 predator beetles last spring to combat Hemlock Woolly Adlegid, or a visit to Tarbox Preserve where we partnered with the American Chestnut Foundation in 2020 to plant chestnut seedlings, local conserved lands are a great place to be cognizant of the role forests play in our lives. 

Our forests are resilient, but they need our support. Here are a few simple ways you can make a difference:  

• Identify and remove invasive plants: Familiarize yourself with early-detection, invasive plants like Japanese stiltgrass, mile-aminute vine, report them with photos to horticulture@maine.gov, and volunteer with local land trusts or conservation commissions to remove these and established invasives like Asiatic bittersweet from public lands. See the Maine Invasive Plant Field Guide for help.  
• Replace ornamental invasives in your yard with native species that are beneficial to native pollinators. 
• Use Local Firewood: When camping, avoid transporting firewood to prevent the spread of invasive pests by purchasing firewood locally. Check Firewoodscout.org for local options. 
• On your next drive through our beautiful state, listen to this podcast: Sustainable forest management and the nexus of climate change, biodiversity and nutrition. 
• To get involved with BTLT’s invasive species removal efforts, sign up for our volunteer e-newsletter today! 
• Support the Land Trust’s efforts to continue to conserve and care for your local forests by renewing your membership. 

Every small action adds up to create a larger impact. By working together, we can help Maine’s forests continue to thrive for generations to come.