The FFMB approach helps landowners manage for high quality, mature forest habitat that benefits not only forest birds but many other species of forest wildlife. This project links FFMB to aquatic systems, with the goal of also improving habitat and stream connectivity for brook trout, Atlantic salmon, and other native aquatic species.
Why Central Maine?
This area — also technically identified as the Lower Kennebec Watershed — was identified by our funders, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, as a priority watershed for forest and river conservation projects. Seventy-three percent of the project area is made up of undeveloped blocks of upland forested habitat that are more than 250 acres, and 64 percent is in blocks of at least 1,000 acres. The area includes portions of Critical Habitat for Atlantic Salmon, extensive high value Brook Trout and diadromous fish habitat, and several Important Bird Areas and Beginning with Habitat Focus Areas of Ecological Significance.
Workshops
We will be offering FFMB workshops in the project area. Please join us to learn more about how you can manage for healthy fish habitat and a thriving bird community on your woodland.
Workshops are free and open to all landowners. For workshop information, contact Hannah Young at 207.781.2330 x219 or hyoung@maineaudubon.org.
Outreach Materials
We have developed several useful informational and online pieces to help you learn more about managing your woodland for birds, fish, and other wildlife.
- Forestry for Maine Birds: Forester Guide (PDF)
- A Woodland Owner’s Guide to Forestry for Maine Birds (PDF)
Visits from Woodland Professionals
Would you like a free visit from a woodland professional who can visit you on your property and make recommendations for next steps to get you on your way to planning for forest management? If you live in the watershed area, contact Hannah Young at 207.781.2330 x219 or hyoung@maineaudubon.org to be connected with a woodland professional in your area.
Financial Assistance
We have secured funding to help landowners pay for the cost of writing or revising management plans for their woodlands that incorporate the FFMB approach and focus on mature forest habitat. Funding will also be available for project implementation, including logging operations as well as Stream Smart culvert replacements and stream habitat improvement. Criteria for prioritizing awards are under development. Please contact Hannah Young at 207.781.2330 x219 or hyoung@maineaudubon.org to learn more.
Quick Survey for Lower Kennebec Woodland Owners
Are you a landowner in the Lower Kennebec Watershed? If so, we’d like to hear from you!
Maine Audubon is working with the Forest Stewards Guild and the Maine Forest Service to help woodland owners like you create and enhance bird and wildlife habitat. We can:
- Help answer your questions about wildlife habitat
- Connect you with knowledgeable forest management professionals
- Help pay for a new or revised forest management plan for your property
- Help pay for forest management practices that create or enhance wildlife habitat.
- Help you find other sources of funds for additional forest management activities
To learn more, please fill out a quick survey so we can learn a little more about you, your property, and how we can help with woodland management.
As a thank you for filling out the survey, we’ll send you an exclusive, limited edition vinyl 3” sticker featuring one of the three birds that you might find in your woodland.
For more information about Forestry for Maine Birds, look over our new Forestry for Maine Birds Woodland Owner’s Guide (PDF). Please contact us at ffmb@maineaudubon.org with any further questions.