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Natural Climate Change Solutions Report Released

Click Here for the Report and Fact Sheets Available on the NCS Webpage

Maine’s greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals reflect the evidence of current and potential future harmful impacts climate change could have on the state’s people, ecosystems, and economy. Natural climate solutions (NCS), such as reducing tillage intensity, planting perennial grasses and trees, and setting aside land that sequesters carbon or limits GHG emissions can affect near-term GHG mitigation goals in cost-effective ways and enhance long-term ecosystem services. This report is part of the larger Maine Natural Climate Solutions Initiative project which seeks to: (1) assess current practices to determine the degree to which foresters and farmers are using NCS; (2) determine the most cost-effective NCS for Maine; (3) understand key barriers of adopting NCS; and (4) generate information about which practices can be implemented on a broader scale.

Maine Carbon Task Force Group Seeks Input

The Forest Carbon Task Force aims to develop a voluntary program for small-to-medium size woodland owners in Maine who want to utilize their land for long-term storage of carbon, a process known as carbon sequestration.

The Forest Carbon Task Force is now finalizing its recommendations to the Governor. As the Task Force considers possible strategies, they invite your feedback by September 17 on the draft report.

A pdf of the latest version of the Task Force’s report can be accessed here. The Task Force invites you to share your reactions to the draft strategies. Please consider these general questions:

1) Which recommendations seem particularly promising to you?

2) What is missing?

3) Do any of these recommendations concern you, and if so, why?

Please send written comments to tom.gordon@maine.gov by September 17.

For more information about the Maine Forest Carbon Task Force’s work to date, please go to https://www.maine.gov/future/initiatives/climate/climate-council/forest-carbon-taskforce

Thank you, and we look forward to your feedback.

Amanda Beal, Commissioner, Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Co-Chair

Save the Dates

Year 2 FCCI-FSG Webinar Series: Addressing Forest Climate Change in Maine

How will Climate Change impact the different forest types found in Maine? Join the University of Maine’s Forest Climate Change Initiative and the Forest Stewards Guild as we try to answer this question in a series of webinars and tours that focus on specific forest types found throughout the state. This series is building on the success of our 2020 Science and Practice Forum and 2020-2021 Science & Practice Webinar Series.

Session 1: Penobscot Experimental Forest [Spruce-Fir]:Webinar Oct 27; Field Tour Oct 29
Session 2: Holt Research Forest [Oak-Pine]: Webinar Dec 1; Field Tour Dec 3
Session 3: Schoodic Institute [Coastal]: Webinar Feb 23, 2022; Field Tour Feb 24, 2022
Session 4: Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust [Mixed Hardwood]: Webinar Apr 27, 2022; Field Tour Apr 29, 2022

For more information visit: crsf.umaine.edu/fcci-webinars/