Responsible Forestry

From the beginning of AMC’s Maine Woods Initiative, responsible timber management has been a key element of the project, along with backcountry recreation, land conservation, community economic development, and environmental education.  We recognize that the wood products industry is one of the foundations of the local economy and will remain so for a long time. It is not our goal to replace timber harvesting with wilderness-based recreation, but to integrate the two. It is our hope that this combination can provide an array of benefits and options for innovative conservation and demonstrate that conservation is not an “either-or” proposition that pits wilderness against timber.

AMC’s primary goals for our timber management program are to maintain a significant portion of the property in a natural condition; provide a high level of protection to ecological, scenic, and recreational resources; create a more mature forest that resembles the region’s natural forests; increase carbon storage in the forest by harvesting conservatively; and promote the growth of high-quality sawtimber. AMC’s managed forests serve as a “green endowment,” the income from which helps offset the costs of owning the land and supports other MWI programs. AMC works with Huber Resources Corporation, a forestry consulting business based in Old Town, ME. Together with the help of local logging and road maintenance contractors, AMC’s 100,000-acre ownership has become an important part of the regional forest products economy. Our focus on responsible forest management and its integration with purpose-built recreation infrastructure continues to demonstrate innovative approaches to building both ecologic and economic resiliency in the 100-Mile Wilderness region.

AMC’s forest management is Forest Stewardship Council® FSC® - C008922 certified, the global leader in responsible forest certification.

Click here for a short video featuring AMC’s Forest Ecologist Dr. David Publicover on our approach to forest management.