FAYETTE — A public tour is scheduled for 5-6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11, of an active sustainable timber harvest demonstration at Kennebec Land Trust’s Oak Hill property, located on Norton Road.
Maine forester Harold Burnett of Two Trees Forestry will review the rationale for, and the expectations of, the selective harvest on a portion of the property. Ron Dostie, an Augusta logger, will describe how to efficiently harvest trees without damaging residual ones and their underlying soils.
The trust purchased the land in 2021 to provide recreational opportunities, enable the prior owner continued access to a valuable sugarbush, and also demonstrate sustainable forest management, according to a news release from Burnett.
“This will be a great opportunity for other landowners to see ways in which they can support our communities and ensure that Maine’s forest products economies remain vibrant, while also generating income and protecting the forest itself and wildlife habitats,” said Burnett.
Over the next 25 years Burnett expects that the trust will rotate additional harvesting through 60 more acres while setting aside a block of the lot’s oldest trees as an ecological reserve. “There’s a lot that can be done on a property like this, and none of this is particularly unique, which is why I think it is a wonderful demonstration site,” he added.
The tour is co-sponsored by the Kennebec Woodland Partnership (tklt.org) and Local Wood WORKS (localwoodworks.org) For directions, visit tklt.org. Attendees should wear sturdy shoes/boots.
For more information, call Burnett at 207-377-7196 or the trust at 207-377-2848.
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