Prudent Maine forest practices

Your editorial on forest practices (BDN, Aug. 27) was thoughtful and right on target. You are correct that the rules must be designed to accommodate changes in the forest.

State regulation of clearcutting and regeneration is an important milestone in Maine. Our goal is to design rules which will lead toward a forest of improved quality, diversity, value, wildlife habitat, and appearance. These rules will reflect regional variations in forest conditions, land ownership patterns, and other factors as outlined in the law. That is a tall order and the rules likely will need to be adjusted over time, as the effect of the rules on the forest is analyzed.

We have plans to monitor the results — and can adjust the rules if necessary in the future. Importantly, we have created the capability to gather and analyze the best data that has ever been compiled on Maine forests. But just gathering information is not enough — it needs to be put in usable form and made available to landowners and the public so they have the best available information with which to base forest management decisions.

Some of the accomplishments we have made in gathering and distributing informatlon include:

Creation of the Forest Information and Referral Service (FIRS) to gather and make available information on the forest to the general public.

Establishment of an 800 number to provide information to landowners and others interested on how to manage woodlands, comply with environmental laws, improve habitat and other important features of forest use. Call 800-367-0223.

Required all landowners and loggers who harvest more than 50 cords in a year to notify the state of their activity and report the total cut at the end of the year. This will glve us the data to accurately monitor changes in the forest and wood supply.

The Forests for the Future program conducted studies of existing forest practices and the conversion of forest land to other uses.

Arranged to obtain complete aerial photography of the entire state in 1991. This will give us current baseline information from which to monitor change in the forest.

Worked with the U.S. Forest Service to create a statewide forest health monitoring network.

Analyzed, in conjunction with the Maine Science and Technology Commission, the Extension Service, the university, and the Maine Forest Products Council, existing and potential secondary manufacturing in Maine.

The public has a great stake in a healthy, productive forest. This administration has made significant progress in providing information and assistance for proper forestry incentives for public access, analysis of long-term needs and accurate data for sound policy decisions. The forest industry, environmental groups, sportsmen, wildlife managers, and all Maine people are equally concerned that the rules properly address the lmportant principles of sound management.

Flexibility and the need to make adjustments over time are necessary. But we recognize that one person’s flexibility is another person’s loophole. This will require a careful balance. We wlll work with all interests to monitor the impact of these rules to ensure that Maine’s forests have a bright future.

C. Edwin Meadows Jr. is commissioner of the Maine Department of Conservation.