FSM is using game cameras to document wildlife on our Nickerson Tree Farm property in Greenville. Our staff is discovering which animals inhabit these lands. We captured footage of a fisher making its way through the forest. Although they are sometimes referred to as “fisher cats”, this is a misnomer – fishers are actually part of the Mustelid family, along with weasels and otters! Check out our social media accounts to see the short video. FSM is excited to see the results from these game cameras, and we look forward to sharing more in the future.
John Hagan on Living on Earth
John Hagan, ecologist and friend of FSM, was recently featured in an interview on the Living on Earth podcast with Paloma Beltran and Jennie Doering. On the Living on Earth podcast, Hagan discussed the way his organization, Our Climate Common, is using a technology called LiDAR to map forests in the North Woods, to identify old growth forests to better conserve them.
If you’d like to listen or read more, find that here: Living on Earth | John Hagan. John gave a talk on this at an FSM event last year, and more recently worked with FSM to write and publish Maine Forest Conservation Easements for the 21st Century. If you’d like a PDF copy of the publication, reach out to us by email.
John was also recently featured on Voices for Maine’s Environment, Natural Resources Council of Maine’s (NRCM) podcast.
Loving the North Woods
If you haven’t yet had the chance to read it, former President/CEO of FSM, Karin Tilberg, published her book, Loving the North Woods last October. It’s an inspirational chronicle for those who recognize the global importance of Maine forests for carbon sequestration and migratory birds. This book provides historical insight on conservation for those who treasure forests, own forestland, recreate in the woods, or participate in forest-related industries in Maine. All proceeds will support forest conservation.
North Woods at Night
FSM is excited to share our recent partnership with 12 Willows Press. With 38 Maine writers participating, North Woods at Night is a rich anthology filled with poems, stories, and essays that illustrate adventures, encounters, and peace found in the North Woods. Proceeds from sales will benefit the Forest Society of Maine, supporting our mission to conserve Maine’s forestlands to sustain their ecological, economic, cultural, and recreational values.
2025 Swan Internship Announcement
Forest Society of Maine
2025 Swan Internship Program
Applications review begins: January 31, 2024
The Forest Society of Maine (FSM) is a state-wide land trust focused on Maine’s North Woods. FSM helped pioneer landscape-scale forestland conservation through development and implementation of conservation easements to sustain ecological, economic, cultural, and recreational values of Maine’s forests. Since the organization was founded in 1984, FSM has helped conserve more than one million acres of forestland. FSM strives to encourage thoughtful dialogue and conservation actions that encompass the full array of interests and ownerships in Maine’s North Woods.
The Swan Internship Program provides a range of professional experiences to expand student skill sets by exposing them to land conservation and easement stewardship. The successful student applicant will receive broad exposure to FSM’s work and a variety of training opportunities in both office and field settings.
Interested applicants should have an interest in land conservation and stewardship, be able to perform physically demanding field work, and be comfortable with office tasks.
Qualifications:
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Comfortable working outside in remote locations
• Familiarity with or willingness to learn how to use data collecting technology in the field
• Computer and data management skills (GIS and mapping a plus)
• Dependable and self-motivated
• Superb listener
• Must have reliable transportation (please note that housing is not provided)
Schedule and Compensation:
• Specific start and end dates are flexible, running for 10 weeks, May to September.
• ~ 40 hours/week, with weekly schedule determined by supervisor. Some weekend and evening hours may be required.
• $16.00/hour, with a maximum of $6,400 for the summer.
To apply:
Please submit a cover letter, résumé, and contact information for two references to Kristen Hoffmann – kristen@fsmaine.org. Include in your cover letter an explanation of how this internship relates to your academic and career goals and/or how your values, interests, and aspirations led you to apply for this internship position.
