FSM Blog and News

Get FSM’s Spring Newsletter

May 7, 2026 By Kassie

In our recent mailed spring Newsletter, we featured an article on headwaters – where the water comes from – and FSM’s headwater conservation projects. Here’s an excerpt:

“Headwaters have many roles. They are natural filters of sediment and contaminants; they collect and disperse nutrients that feed organisms downstream. They absorb rainfall, slow runoff, and reduce flood risk. Headwater ponds and wetlands store water, helping to maintain river flow during times of low water and drought. […] FSM’s work is uniquely suited to headwater conservation for Maine’s largest and most famous rivers, because the origins of these rivers are deep in Maine’s North Woods.”

Want to read more? Email us at info@fsmaine.org to make sure you get a mailed copy of our newsletter.

📷 Photo taken at Moosehead region conservation easement, a vast easement that conserves headwaters for both the Penobscot and Kennebec Rivers

Celebrating our Accreditation

April 28, 2026 By Kassie

We’re celebrating 17 years of being an accredited land trust! After a rigorous verification process by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Forest Society of Maine has proven that we have sound finances, practice ethical conduct and responsible governance and can ensure lasting stewardship. This marks our 3rd renewal of our accredited status.

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards and are committed to excellence, continual learning, and improvements.

Thanks for joining us on Earth Day!

April 24, 2026 By Kassie

A huge thank you to Bob Duchesne and everyone who joined us on Earth Day to see his “Maine is Weird” talk at the Bangor Public Library. He gave an insightful presentation that shared historical reasoning for some of Maine’s most beloved land features, as well as some of his fantastic bird photos!

An additional to thank you to everyone who participated in our Earth Day fundraising campaign. We were able to meet the goal and unlock $1,000 to support conservation in Maine.

Thank you, and we hope you enjoyed your Earth Day!

22 Gifts by Earth Day to Unlock $1,000

April 22, 2026 By Kassie

🌲🌎 Happy Earth Day from Forest Society of Maine!

Globally, Forests provide tens of millions of jobs, are a vital part of the food chain, and over 28,000 species of forest plants are used in medicines. With approximately 89% of its land covered by forests, Maine is the most forested state in the U.S.

With your help, FSM can continue working to keep it that way. Today, we will receive $1,000 if we make it to 22 gifts, thanks to a generous match from an anonymous donor. We’re already halfway there! We hope you will consider making an Earth Day gift to FSM today to help us reach 22 gifts to unlock our match. Your generosity today helps us conserve forestlands in Maine to ensure that they can be enjoyed by current and future generations.

Can’t give today? Here are some other meaningful ways to take action for Earth Day.

🌎 Find an Earth Day event near you! Community cleanups, tree planting, town hall meetings, community organizing, and much more. Find a map of events at EarthDay.org.

♻️ Commit to one eco-friendly habit this month. Commit to using reusable bags only, taking shorter showers, or cleaning up litter when you take a walk.

🌱 Share our mission! Share our posts or tell someone why our work to conserve Maine’s forestlands matters.

Your support helps sustain the movement for a healthier planet. We’re truly grateful for your help. Thank you for celebrating Earth Day with us in such a meaningful way.

Give today: https://www.fsmaine.org/give

600 Acres Conserved in Glenburn

April 13, 2026 By Kassie

Great News!! Last week, FSM closed on a conservation easement on 600 acres just outside of Bangor. A former landowner, whose family had owned the land for more than 100 years, sat down with us and told us his family’s history with the land.

According to him, his father and relatives built the last kiln to work in Glenburn in 1935. They did the brick work themselves and the resulting kiln looked like a brick beehive with two metal doors and a smoke hole on the top, with vent holes all the way around. It was 20 feet across, stood 18 feet high, and held 10 cords of wood. This wood came from trees on the nearby land that were cut by hand, then sawed into four-foot length logs.

The kiln was closed when family members were drafted into WWII. After the war, the demand for charcoal had lessened to the point that there was no longer a need for these local kilns. Today, only remnants remain.

FSM’s work to conserve Maine’s forestlands permanently prevents development, helping to ensure that historic landscapes and structures like these remain. A tremendous thank you to everyone who helped make this project a success.