SOUTH PARIS – Alec Giffen, director of the Maine Forest Service, will speak at the Feb. 19 meeting of the Western Maine Chapter of the Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine.

The 7 p.m. meeting will be held at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School in Room 118, located off the cafeteria. Giffen will be joined by state forester Merle Ring.

Giffen will talk about current forestry legislation, liquidation harvesting rules being written, budget reductions, green certification, mill closures around the state and the impact of recent large forest land sales.

This is Giffen’s first visit to the Oxford Hills since being appointed to the post by Gov. John Baldacci. SWOAM meetings are open to anyone.