In 1790, Revolutionary War General Peleg Wadsworth purchased a large tract of land from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in what is now called Hiram, Maine. Of the original 7,800 acres, Jack Wadsworth, founder of Wadsworth Woodlands, still owns 22. Owning and managing Maine forestland is deeply rooted in the Wadsworth family’s heritage.

In 1971, Jack Wadsworth earned a Bachelor of Science in Forest Management from the University of Maine Forestry School. In 1994, after working for two decades as a forester for a paper company, Jack and his wife Beth began offering professional forestry services to independent landowners. From the seeds of his expertise and his “long term vision [with respect to] forest management,” Wadsworth Woodlands, Inc. sprouted.

Since 1994, Wadsworth Woodlands, Inc. has grown into one of the largest timber asset management companies in Southern Maine and provides services to large and small landowners in Maine and New Hampshire. To date, Wadsworth Woodlands’ team of Licensed Professional Foresters has developed management plans for more than 75,000 acres of privately owned land.

In addition to Jack and Beth, whose administrative tasks keep things running smoothly, the Wadsworth Woodlands team includes two additional Licensed Professional Foresters. Brian Reader graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2001, with an Associate of Applied Sciences degree in Forestry Technology. Jesse Duplin graduated from the University of Maine at Orono in 2007, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Operations. Jack and Beth’s son, Nathan Wadsworth, completes this well-rounded and experienced team. Nate graduated from Montana State University after studying agricultural business and receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics.

By managing one’s timber assets, the landowner is able to keep their forest property healthy and productive. Harvesting, or selective cutting, is the process of removing only specific trees and is the means by which one keeps timber assets. As a result of a harvest, poor quality trees are removed and sold as pulpwood or biomass. Good quality trees are removed and delivered to sawmills and lumberyards. Both result in the generation of income for the landowner and the creation of a forest environment in which their timber investment will continue to grow.

Although protecting and developing one’s financial investment in a property can be a significant motivating factor in the decision to work with a professional forester, the benefits of the harvest extend to other aspects of the landowner’s enjoyment of their property. The process begins with the landowner’s interest in managing a woodlot on his or her property. During a free initial consultation, the foresters at Wadsworth Woodlands and landowners identify and outline the landowner’s objectives.

With objectives established, the Wadsworth Woodlands team sets about the task of meeting the landowner’s goals while complying with “Best Management Practices.” Careful consideration is also given to rules and regulations established by the towns, counties and states of Maine and New Hampshire, as well as by the federal government. Boundary lines are identified and marked with flags for future use by logging contractors.

Using the latest technologies including global positioning systems and aerial photography, Wadsworth Woodlands is able to create an accurate forest map that identifies boundaries as well as the locations and acreage of fields, swamps, streams, bodies of water, old roads and stone walls. They are also able to create a map regarding the locations and acreage of stands of softwood and hardwood trees.

During this process, the trees recommended for removal are identified and marked. This allows the landowner to see exactly what trees will be removed and allows the professionals at Wadsworth Woodlands to determine the value of the standing timber to be harvested.

Wadsworth Woodlands has also been committed to harvesting timber in an environmentally friendly manner and using these maps, the foresters are able to lay out the skid roads in the most efficient manner so that the harvesting will have the least impact possible. Wadsworth Woodlands hires and supervises the logging crews who perform the task of cutting and delivering the trees to the mills. According to Nate, “Foresters add value to the harvesting transaction. We pool our wood from all seven logging crews that we subcontract and negotiate a much higher price at a sawmill than a single logging contractor could negotiate.” In fact, Wadsworth Woodlands is “Hancock Lumber’s number one supplier of pine.”

Education is also important at Wadsworth Woodlands. Wadsworth Woodlands is well versed with respect to the current rules and regulations, as well as Best Management Practices, and by working as a team is able to coordinate all aspects of each project for

the landowner.

Through careful attention to all details, expertise with respect to good forest management practices and an understanding of rules and regulations, Wadsworth Woodlands’ Licensed Professional Foresters can help the landowner “improve the aesthetic and biological integrity of the forest. Wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, access, and forest health can all be improved with the thoughtful application of forest science.” In addition, properly managed woodlot investments will remain healthy and productive, and will create a satisfactory return for generations.

To learn more about how Wadsworth Woodlands can help you meet your goals if you own 10 or more acres of woodland, contact them at 207-625-2468 or visit them at their website or office in Cornish, Maine.

TIMBER HARVESTING

• Harvest plan development

• Boundary line location

• Timber marking & trail layout

• Logger contracting and logging supervision

• Permitting & notification with local and state agencies

• Providing insurance certification to landowners

Wadsworth Woodlands Inc.

35 Rock Crop Way, Hiram, ME

625-2468

www.wadsworthwoodlands.com

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