Outcome Based Forestry

“During the recent Forest Practices Act rulemaking process, it became clear to both the Maine Forest Service and a number of stakeholders that we have reached the limits of what a command and control regulatory framework has to offer. Command and control regulation has many limitations and may result in unintended consequences, such as forest fragmentation and premature harvesting to recover equity in a forest investment. The Maine Forest Service believes that the state should begin to focus more on outcome-based forestry regulation, on the premise that this approach will do more to promote, stimulate and reward excellent forest management yet still provide a baseline of regulatory protection for critical public resources.” (Maine Forest Service, 1999 State of the Forest Report).

For more information about Outcome Based Forestry:

• Maine Forest Service report to the Legislature’s Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee, 11 March 2020 (PDF)
• Maine Forest Service report to the Legislature’s Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee, 20 March 2019 (PDF)
• Maine Forest Service report to the Legislature’s Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee, 28 February 2018 (PDF)
• Maine Forest Service report to the Legislature’s Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee, 28 February 2017 (PDF)
• Maine Forest Service report to the Legislature’s Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee, 29 February 2016 (PDF)
• Maine Forest Service report to the Legislature’s Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee, 27 February 2015 (PDF | 6.3 MB)
• Maine Forest Service report to the Legislature’s Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee, 13 November 2013 (PDF | 8.2 MB)

Outcome Based Forestry statutes

• Outcome Based Forestry statutory summary (PDF)
• Outcome Based Forestry legislative history (PDF)

Maine sustainability standards (PDF)

Outcome based forestry technical panel

 
• Panel member bios (PDF)
• Panel member statements to the Legislature’s Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee, 22 November 2013 (PDF)

Irving Woodlands

• Outcome Based Forestry in Maine - 2023 Working Forest Report (PDF)
• 2023 Renewed Outcome Based Forestry Agreement with Irving Woodlands (PDF)
• 2022 Forest Stewardship Council certification public summary report (PDF)
• 2017 – 2042 Forest Management Plan J.D. Irving Northern Maine Woodlands Public Summary (PDF)
• Strong Roots Sustainable Future: 2018 Outcome Based Forestry in Maine (PDF | 11.7 MB)
• 2018 Renewed Outcome Based Forestry Agreement with Irving Woodlands (PDF)
• Strong Roots Sustainable Future: 2017 Outcome Based Forestry in Maine (PDF | 3.73 MB)
• 2016 Amendment to Outcome Based Forestry Agreement with Irving Woodlands (PDF)
• Renewed Outcome Based Forestry Agreement with Irving Woodlands (PDF | 2.33 MB)
• Irving Woodlands and Outcome Based Forestry (PDF | 3.25 MB)
• Panel comments on Irving Woodlands 2013 Outcome Based Forestry Report March 2014 (PDF)
• Outcome Based Forestry agreement with Irving Woodlands (PDF | 2.37 MB)
• First annual technical panel report for Irving Woodlands (PDF | 3.76 MB)
• Forest Stewardship Council certification public summary report (PDF)
• Forest Stewardship Council certification page
• Crosswalk of Maine sustainability standards and Irving Woodlands FSC certification (PDF)
• Irving Woodlands Forest Management Plan public summary (PDF)

Katahdin Forest Management

• 2020 Outcome Based Forestry Agreement with Katahdin Forest Management (PDF | 1.58 MB)
• Amendment 1 - Outcome Based Forestry Agreement with Katahdin Forest Management (PDF)
• 2015 Outcome Based Forestry Agreement with Katahdin Forest Management (PDF | 1.32 MB)
• Report fo Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee on Outcome Based Forestry Agreement with Katahdin Forest Management (PDF)

Seven Islands Land Company

• 2022 Outcome Based Forestry Agreement with Seven Islands Land Company (PDF | 1.54 MB)
• 2017 Outcome Based Forestry Agreement with Seven Islands Land Company (PDF | 1.13 MB)

Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL)

• Renewed Outcome Based Forestry Agreement with BPL - 2023 (PDF)
• Renewed Outcome Based Forestry Agreement with BPL - June 2018 (PDF | 11 MB)
• Report on Activities during 2017 (PDF)
• Panel comments on Bureau of Parks and Lands Outcome Based Forestry 2013 annual report – 03 June 2014 (PDF)
• Outcome Based Forestry agreement with BPL (PDF | 1.20 MB)
• First annual technical panel report for BPL (PDF)
• Crosswalk of Maine sustainability standards and BPL SFI certification (PDF)
• Sustainable Forestry Initiative certification public summary report (PDF)
• BPL Integrated Resource Policy and Management Plans