Scientific Forest Management Area

Spanning approximately 30,000 acres in the northwest corner of Baxter State Park, the Scientific Forest Management Area was designated by Percival Baxter to promote the implementation of advanced forestry techniques. It is a demonstration site for students and professionals, showcasing the Park’s state-of-the-art forestry practices.

History & Impact

Friends of Baxter State Park is widely recognized as a valuable resource for information about the Park. Our leadership plays a crucial role in raising public awareness of the Park’s forever wild mission, upholding the legacy of Percival Baxter’s generous gift, and providing expertise in current events that impact the Park and the surrounding communities. In 2023, we produced virtual and in-person tours to share our expertise on an often-overlooked piece of Baxter’s legacy. .

HISTORY OF FORESTRY IN MAINE

Alec Giffen, former Maine Forest Service Director, served on the Baxter State Park Authority and is Maine’s foremost forestry and land management expert. Alec will share a presentation on the history of forestry in Maine when Baxter was acquiring land in the ‘20s and ‘30s and Percival Baxter’s perspective on the forestry practices of that time. The topic will then turn to the present day as Alec Giffen discusses current issues in forestry in Maine: what’s going on at the State level and where he thinks we are headed.

THE SCIENTIFIC FOREST MANAGEMENT AREA TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE

Baxter State Park staff members Nava Tabak, Natural Resources Director, and Shane Miller, Lands Manager, present a view of what is happening in the SFMA now and in the future.

HISTORY OF THE SCIENTIFIC FOREST MANAGEMENT AREA
We are honored to present Jensen Bissell, a legendary Baxter State Park figure who served the park for 30 years, first as the director of the SFMA and later as the Park’s Director. No one is more knowledgeable on the topic he will present: Baxter’s motivation to create a working forest within the Park, his vision for the forest, and what he hoped to create in the SFMA.

LEARN MORE - LISTEN TO OUR MEMBERS QUESTIONS

We held a Question and Answer Session with our presenters to wind up the great night of Scientific Forest Management held on September 12, 2023.