Informational Links

This list of external links gives additional contact information for many other organizations and agencies that can offer specific help and information.

The Web is a great resource for information. We hope you will find this page useful. We have tried to give you the most useful information relating to forest land ownership that is available. In the ever changing Web, these links cannot possibly be a complete listing, so if you discover a web page that you think other members and visitors be interested in let us know.

Annual Events

SWOAM Events Page, list of statewide events throughout the year

January

Agriculural Trade Show, Augusta

Swoam Annual Meeting
2011 Presentation: Small Woodland Owners Role in Maine’s Energy Wood Market
2011 Presentation: Future Uses of Wood –What Every Woodland Owner Should Know 2011 Presentation: Putting Public Roads to Bed in Maine: Abandonment vs. Discontinuance – Can the laws be improved?

April

State of Maine's Sportsmen's Show, Augusta

August

Forest Heritage Days, Greenville

September

Forestry Field Day, Brunswick
Common Ground Fair, Unity

October

Fryeburg Fair, Fryeburg

November

Higmo's Sawmill Days, Brunswick
Low Impact Forestry Workshop, Unity

Equipment

Chainsaws:

Oregon Chain's Chainsaw Safety Page
Oregon Chain's FAQs
UMaine Chainsaw Safety
Safety, Operation, Felling Techniques
British Columbia Falling and Bucking Safety

Equipment:

Aazel Corporation
Aazel Corporation, Inc. of California has been supplying quality hand pole saws and pruners for over 60 years. They sell professional quality equipment through major distributors.

Tractors:

Antique Tractor's Home Page
There are many resources for antique tractor enthusiasts on this page, including parts for antique tractors.
Small Tractor FAQ
Very good tractor resource.
Union Farm Equipment
We feature a Tips section for general tractor knowledge and we have a newsletter for our readers to stay up to date. Our product lines include Echo Chain Saws, Vintage Ford Tractor parts, Kubota and New Holland tractors as well as winches, log arches and safety apparel.

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Extension Services

Michigan State University Extension (search "forest")
Tremendous references for forest, farm and family. You could spend all day reading here.
Taking Care of Your Forest
University of Maine Cooperative Extension has put together this helpful site to assist small woodland owners.
UMaine Cooperative Extension
UNH Cooperative Extension Forestry Publications

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Forestry and Trees

Crop Trees
Last fall in a joint Mid Coast and Penobscot chapter meeting on the land of Brooks Mills the group was treated to viewing a forest managed for high value crop trees. The following link will take you to an article written by Roger Monthey USDA Forest Service-State and Private Forestry. The article covers in a few minutes what it has taken a lifetime to achieve and it's well worth reading.
Forest Stewardship: Planning for beauty and diversity
From N.C. State U. Forestry Department.
Forestry Field Handbook
From the Nova Scotia government. Complete technical handbook.
Forestry Home at About.com.
Worth the trip!
How to Identify a Tree
From about.com
Know Your Trees Test
From TreeLink.org
Maine Forest Service
Michigan Apples
Ohio's Trees
Brief descriptions of the Buckeye state's trees.
Steve Nix's Alabama Forestry Links
Some good stuff.

Forest Products:

Independent Sawmill & Woodlot Magazine
A magazine for woodlot owners and sawmill operators.
Logging and Sawmilling Journal
An online magazine of logging and sawmilling.
Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station
Maine Forest Products Council Forest and Paper Industry Lobbying Group
Maine Wood Products Association Home Page

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Government/Environmental Sites

Government Sites:

Maine Association of (Soil and Water) Conservation Districts
Maine State Home Page
Maine State Legislature
Maine Department of Conservation
Maine Forest Service
Maine Forest Service District Foresters
Maine Forest Service - What is Ailing My Tree/Shrub/Forest
Maine Geological Survey
Maine GIS & Mapping Data
Maine Landowner Relations Program
Maine Legislative Session Page
Maine Natural Areas Program
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
US Forest Service Durham, NH
US Forest Service: Woodland Owners Guide to Internet Resources: States of the Northeast"
US Forest Service Northeast region

Environmental Sites

American Chestnut Foundation
Home Page of the American Chestnut Foundation.
American Tree Farm System
Home Page of the Tree Farm organization.
Forest Society of Maine
Kennebec Woodland Partnership
Maine Audubon Society
Maine Coast Heritage Trust
Maine Environmental Policy Institute
Maine Land Trust Network
Maine Tree Farm System
Maine Tree Foundation
Foundation that supports Project Learning Tree, the Maine Tree Farm Committee, the Certified Logging Professional Program, and a number of other activities including annual teacher tours.
National Woodland Owner's Association
The Nature Conservancy, Maine Chapter
The Trust to Conserve Northeast Forestlands

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Maps, Surveying and Boundaries

Maps:

Delorme's
Web site has some online mapping and routing capabilities.
Microsoft's TerraServer Project.
Aerial photos of much of the US. Topographic maps too. Amazing!

Surveying:

Land Surveyors Reference Page
Maine Society of Land Surveyors
Surveying Terms Glossary
For when you really need to be reminded that a Rod is 16.5'

Boundaries:

Magnetic Declination Calculator.
Put in your property's location (lat/long) and this will give the magnetic deviation from 1900 to present. Very useful for those old metes and bounds property descriptions. (If you can figure out when the compass readings took place!)
Boundary Line Information
Good Information Sheet on Boundary Lines From the Maine Forest Service

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Miscellaneous Information

Cooperative Forestry Research Unit (UMaine)
Hiking Links
With a good Maine representation.
Maine Bowhunters Association
Bowhunters/Landowners Information Program
Maine Constitution, Statues and Laws
Where to go when you need to see what the laws really are.
Maine Professional Guide Association
Maine Snowmobile Association
The Maine Sportsman Magazine
Maine Weather from NOAA
Find current and recent weather from the nearest airport along with forecasts. If you care about the weather, this and the MEMA site (above) are a good place to find what you are looking for.
Natural Resource Education Center
Their vision is to seek to promote long-term conservation of the North Woods through public education about land stewardship and sustainable resource management. Their mission is to: 1) educate and inform people about the Moosehead region’s natural resources of the past, present, and future; and 2) to be the primary source that people rely on to understand the culture, natural history and uses of the North Woods.
The Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development Land Use Toolbox
Northern Forest Alliance
Northern Woodlands Magazine
Sportsman's Alliance of Maine
Viles Arboretum
Western Mountains Alliance
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Safety

Safety Works! Website
British Columbia Falling and Bucking Safety

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Taxes

Establishing Basis (book value)
Establishing Basis – powerpoint slides
Federal Income Taxes
This Forest Landowners Guide is very good. You might want to focus on Chapters 4, 5, and 6. All information can be downloaded for free.
Federal Tax Tips for Forest Landowners for the 2010 Tax Year
Federal Tax Tips for Forest Landowners for the 2010 Tax Year
Forest Landowners Tax Council
The Forest Landowners Tax Council (FLTC) is an independent, national non-profit organization dedicated to providing an effective and unified voice for non-industrial, private forest (NIPF) landowners on federal tax issues.
Maine Revenue Services Tree Growth Tax Law Bulletin #19
Maine Revenue Services: Forest Type Valuations:
Maine – Tree Growth Application and Schedule:
Maine – The Tree Growth Tax Law (36 MRSA §571 to §584-A):
Maine Tree Growth Tax Information
National Timber Tax Website
Property Taxes - Current Use Programs
Tax tips for forest landowners
Tree Growth Property Tax Program

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Trail Design

Recreational Forest Trails: Plan for Success (.pdf file)
NC Cooperative Extension Service. Excellent publication on trail building, be sure to print it for future reference.
Trail Design and Maintenance
From California State Parks and Recreation