On the Way to 10 Million Certified Forest Acres in Maine

Baskahegan Company, of Brookton, Maine, recently achieved Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) forest management certification for its entire 101,000-acre ownership.

Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), an FSC-accredited certifier, audited the Washington and Penobscot County forestland during the summer and fall of 2004. “Our SCS evaluation team confirmed that Baskahegan is a conscientious land steward as well as a civic-minded organization, and we are very pleased to be able to issue an FSC-endorsed certification of exemplary forest management,” said Dr. Robert J. Hrubes, SCS Senior Vice-President.

Company President Roger Milliken, Jr. said the Company had chosen to undergo the certification process to gain recognition for its multi-generational approach to forest management. “We wanted to be judged against the highest ecological standards,and to be challenged to become even better stewards of our family’s lands. FSC certification is an ideal vehicle for this. I am grateful to our highly-motivated forestry staff for laying the groundwork for this significant achievement.”

The certification of Baskahegan’s lands expands further the certified forestland base in Maine. “The Baskahegan holdings push certified forestland inventory in Maine to more than 7 million acres,” said Governor John Baldacci. “We are seeing more demand each year for products made from certified wood fiber and solid wood. This decision by Baskahegan helps keep Maine in the forefront of national certification efforts.”

The Forest Certification Initiative, begun by Governor Baldacci in 2003, has a goal of 10 million certified acres by 2007. The total area of FSC-certified forestland in Maine is now 1,637,327 acres.

After analyzing the Company’s policies and management plan, SCS auditors spent several days in the field reviewing all aspects of Baskahegan’s forest management. The evaluation team highlighted, among other findings, that Baskahegan’s management of the land for high-value forest products is consistent with the protection of natural values such as watersheds, fisheries and biodiversity. “Baskahegan staff members are highly trained, motivated and very experienced. They exhibit an exemplary approach to assessing environmental impacts associated with their operations, due in large part to their close working relationships with ecological experts, their in-depth understanding of the history of the land base, and their sensitivity to restoring more natural forest conditions,” said Mike Ferrucci, a professional forester and president of Interforest, LLC,who was retained to serve as SCS Lead Auditor on the project.

The Baskahegan Company was founded in 1920. This family-owned business is a non-industrial forest landowner of approximately 101,000 acres, the majority located in northern Washington County, Maine. Baskahegan is a recognized leader in Maine’s forest products industry, well known for the quality of its silviculture and its commitment to managing for timber while respecting the natural dynamics of forest ecosystems. Baskahegan pioneered the use of low-impact Scandinavian harvesting systems in the state. Roger Milliken, Jr. has been recognized by the New England Chapter of the Society of American Foresters with its Integrity in Conservation Award. He has served as Chair of the Maine Forest Products Council, Chair of the Maine Chapter of The Nature Conservancy and as a public member of the Land for Maine’s Future Board.

In related news, The Conservation Forestry Network, a partnership between the Open Space Institute, Interforest, and The Conservation Fund, is promoting the application of ecological forestry through a series of management training workshops. These workshops target practicing foresters from the public, private and nonprofit sectors, and explore forestry practices that maintain biological diversity and ecological services and achieve economic return.

Four workshops will be held across the country this year. Dr. Jerry Franklin, one of the world’s most prominent ecologists, has developed a core curriculum that will stress place-based and customized approaches to harvesting through a mix of new science, case studies, discussion and site visits.

For more information on locations of the workshops, curriculum, or to register:
www.osiny.org/conservationforestry

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