Cutting Edge The
A newsletter published quarterly by the Trust to Conserve Northeast Forestlands
Maine sees impact of Master Logger Water Protection Workshops
A Master Logger BMP workshop underway in Jay, Maine in 2023.
The Maine Forest Service (MFS) has announced results of its 2022-2023 study on the implementation and effectiveness of Best Management Practices (BMPs) in timber harvesting across the state. According to MFS, the 2022-2023 results are consistent with previous years, showing a solid commitment to BMPs within Maine’s forestry and logging community.
Notably, there was a 5% decrease in sedimentation associated with crossing structures since the 2020-2021 report, with the report stating, “Sediment entry to the waterbody was observed at 29% of all crossings, a decrease from an average of 34% reported between 2020 and 2021.” Historically, sedimentation is most often linked to crossing structures.
This positive result coincides with a dramatic increase in recent years in BMP workshops conducted by the Northeast Master Logger Certification Program® in Maine and neighboring states. Master Logger is the only organization providing true hands-on BMP training to contractors and their employees in the region.
This Maine survey affirms the importance of certification and the impact it can have on the entire industry. Organizations including the Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of the Northeast are actively encouraging their members who are not Master Logger certified to consider certification as a way to improve and market their business and access quality training opportunities. PLC members who are Master Logger certified also receive a dues discount.
The Master Logger program is actively planning more Best Practice
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As part of our partnership with Avenza Systems, they are offering their virtual trainings to you, as Master Loggers, for FREE. These trainings typically cost $85 and allow you to interact and ask questions of Avenza experts.
The following topics will be covered: Importing and Exporting Data, Tools, Geofencing, Placemarks, Symbology, Features List, Attributes/Schemas, Q&A and Discussion, and more!
The next online training is on Thursday, October 17th from 1-4 p.m. If you would like to attend, please register at www.avenza.com/tcnef/training-form/
The deadline to register is October 7th.
Please also recall that we are giving out free Avenza Maps Pro subscriptions to Master Loggers. If you would like more information on this program or mapping resources, please reach out to Sydney at sydney@tcnef.org.
Northeast Master Logger Certification Program®
TCNEF Executive Board of Directors: Chuck Ames begins 2-year term as President, replacing Past President Will Cole
Chuck Ames of SDR Logging in Sebec, ME began his two-year term as President of the Trust to Conserve Northeast Forestlands (TCNEF) Board of Directors on May 10 at the Annual Meeting of the Trust, replacing outgoing President Will Cole of Trees LTD in Sidney, ME.
As fall began, both said the TCNEF Board is working to ensure the Master Logger program and the industry remain strong.
“TCNEF is making significant strides with its focus on training, BMPs, and safety,” Ames said. “The Master Logger Certification Program exemplifies a unique group of loggers committed to the highest standards of professionalism and sustainable practices. As president, my goal is to ensure that TCNEF continues its leadership in sustainable logging through the Master Logger program, while also advocating for necessary changes from the mills to better align with our elevated standards of practice. The rising costs faced by Master Loggers are creating challenges in sustaining quality work, and recognition of this by our partners is critical for mutual prosperity.”
“The industry is and will continue to change,” Cole said. “That change will require safety training, BMP’s, insured workers, and certification of products. Everything we do as a board is intended to enlighten, empower and emphasize loggers. When the dust settles, I believe loggers will be like the ice cutters of yesteryear. The industry will be smaller but the ones who adapted to making ice cubes will make more money.”
Thank you, Will, for your service to TCNEF and to Chuck for stepping up as President!
Members of the TCNEF Board of Directors Executive Committee, from left to right, Kurt Babineau, Babineau Logging, 2nd Vice President; Duane Jordan, Elliott Jordan & Son, 1st Vice President; Marc Greaney, Western Maine Timberlands, Secretary; Chuck Ames, SDR Logging, President; Will Cole, Trees LTD, Immediate Past President; and Andy Irish, Irish Family Logging, Treasurer.
TCNEF Program Manager Sydney Andersen, second from left, visiting the UMaine Advanced Structures and Composites Center in August with Mustapha Abouali, at left, Acting National Program Officer for Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities. The Trust is working on its Climate-Smart Logging incentives program and took the opportunity to present the loggers’ perspective to Abouali.
TCNEF Executive Director Ted Wright Departs
Ted Wright, Executive Director of the Trust to Conserve Northeast Forestlands (TCNEF), stepped down from his position on August 13. During Wright’s tenure, the Master Logger program expanded significantly, with 77 new companies joining the ranks from multiple states. The program also enhanced its offerings, including workshops, outreach events, and benefits such as workers’ compensation reductions. When addressing Master Loggers in announcing his departure, Wright said, “it would not have been possible without your professionalism and commitment to responsible harvesting.”
The TCNEF Board of Directors is developing a transition plan for the Trust and the Northeast Master Logger Certification Program®, which should be finalized in the fall to ensure the organizations’ continued growth and success. For assistance during the transition, contact Sydney Andersen, TCNEF Program Manager, at (207) 688-8195 or sydney@tcnef.org.
Ted Wright, at right, speaking to a landowner in 2016.
Will Cole
Chuck Ames
Maine sees impact of Master Logger Water Protection Workshops
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workshops throughout the Northeast and will be announcing dates for the workshops as they become available. The Master Logger program has also been developing a digital training course, called the Northeast Professional Logger (NEPL) training program, focused on various aspects of logging, such as BMPs, forest management, technology, business fundamentals, and more. An announcement on this program will be made as soon as it is released.
Key Findings from the Maine 2022-2023 Report included:
• 70% BMP Application on Crossings: Seventy percent of sites had BMPs correctly applied on crossings and approaches, or crossings were completely avoided. BMPs emphasize planning harvests to minimize stream crossings whenever feasible.
• 84% Effectiveness in Preventing Sedimentation: Eightyfour percent of BMP observations indicated that no sediment entered a waterbody, achieving the primary goal of BMPs to keep sediment out of water sources.
• 97% Wetland Protection: Ninety-seven percent of sites had no wetland crossings, demonstrating effective BMP use or avoidance strategies.
Master Logger First Aid/CPR and Logger Rescue Training, CT and RI
Wednesday October 16th, 2024
Norbrook Brewery Colebrook, CT
Thursday October 17th, 2024
West Greenwich Community Room West Greenwich, RI
For Further information contact: Timpro at 860 948-0432 or e-mail: info@timproct.or
See you there!
The Northeast Master Logger Certification Program® will have a booth at the Fryeburg Fair on the infield Sept. 30 for Woodsmen’s Field Day.
Master Logger Standards
This issue: Maintain soil productivity
Harvest Responsibility #1: Assure future forest soil productivity by harvest planning and on-the-ground layout.
Performance Standards:
3.1 a. Disruption of soil organic layers is limited during all harvest operations.
3.1 b. Soil condition is considered when matching equipment to the harvest.
3.1 c. Sensitive sites are harvested when dry or frozen.
3.1 d. Slash is placed in skid trails to reduce compaction and mixing of soils.
3.1 e. Number of skid trails/truck roads/landings is minimized through field reconnaissance and pre-harvest planning.
3.1 f. Best management practices are applied and documented to minimize erosion and soil loss.
Spotlight on Success
In each issue of The Cutting Edge, we’ll use this space to highlight a Master Logger Certified company that has excelled in implementing the featured standard above. This month, we feature comments from Kimball & Sons Logging in Poland, ME:
“Responsible timber harvesting is a hallmark to Kimball & Sons Logging operations. Part of that responsibility lies in how we care for the soil we travel over. Due to warmer winters, and therefore more fragile grounds, we have moved to a cut-tolength system in order to ease our impact on the earth below us. This method of timber harvesting relies on a tracked forwarder to transport wood to a smaller landing as opposed to a wheeled skidder skidding whole trees to a larger landing. Because we are processing trees in the woods and not typically chipping tree tops, we are able to lay the excess slash in our trails, an added way to protect the ground and reduce compaction and mixing of soils.”
Well done, Kimball & Sons Logging!
Randy Kimball, at right, walking a skid trail down to a stream crossing at a job site in Maine. Here, excess slash had been laid in the trail to reduce compaction and mixing of soils.
Northeast Master Logger Certification Program®
Important Dates
September 26, 2024........................................................................Free Avenza online training
September 30, 2024.....................................................Master Logger booth at Fryeburg Fair
October 17, 2024........................................................................Free Avenza online training
October 18, 2024................................................................CPR/First Aid Training, Vermont
November 7, 2024.....................................................TCNEF Executive Committee Meeting
