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- Hello, my name is Kelly French.

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I am the programs and outreach coordinator

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for the Maine Timber Research

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and Environmental Education Foundation,

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otherwise known as Maine TREE.

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Founded in 1989,

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Maine TREE is a small
environmental nonprofit

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whose mission is to educate and advocate

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for the sustainable use of the forest,

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and the ecological,
economic, and social health

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of Maine's forest community.

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Maine TREE hosts a variety of programs

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that uphold forestry and
environmental education,

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research and community here in Maine.

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And today, I just wanted to
give you a brief overview

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of these programs.

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On the education side,
we are very committed

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to environmental education for all folks,

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from K through 12 students, to teachers,

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to forestry professionals
and the general public alike.

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Every year we host the Forests
of Maine Teachers' Tours.

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These week-long tours take
place during the summer

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and provide an opportunity
for Maine educators

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to engage in project-learning
tree activities,

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learn about Maine forest communities,

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and meet with forestry
professionals and woodland owners.

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The goal of these tours
is to help teachers learn

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and develop methods to
integrate forests and forestry

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into their curriculum,

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regardless of if they are
science, math, or art teachers.

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Next, there is Forests for Maine's Future.

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For 10 years, Forests for Maine's Future

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published feature articles
called "Fresh from the Woods,"

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highlighting forest stewardship,

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economics, science, and recreation.

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The article archive can be
found on Maine TREE's website,

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and I encourage everyone to check it out

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and read the abundance
of articles on topics

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from white pine diseases
to old growth forests.

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We also organize

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the certified logging
professional program or CLP.

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Founded in 1991, this
program provides training

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and education to loggers in Maine,

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and was developed to establish a standard

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for professionalism in the Maine woods,

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reducing injury and
illness rates for loggers

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while promoting knowledge and skill.

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And lastly, we proudly house
Maine Project Learning Tree,

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a sustainable forestry initiative program

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that is found nationwide.

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This environmental education
program and curriculum

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were designed for use in a
variety of educational settings,

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inside and outside of the school system.

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PLT is a fantastic way to
teach anyone about forests

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and the environment in an adaptable,

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easy to understand, and fun way.

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Moving to research, Maine
TREE proudly took ownership

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of the Holt Research Forest,

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located in Arrowsic, Maine in 2014.

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The Holt Research Forest is home

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to a very longterm ecosystem study

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of coastal oak pine forests,
which was started in 1983.

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Over the years, the research
has long-term changes

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in the forest populations,

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and understanding the effect
that forest management has

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on those populations.

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Another priority of Maine TREE
is focusing on how to deliver

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and disseminate our applied research,

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with a particular emphasis on research

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that can inform decisions made

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by Maine small woodland owners.

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We also host the Forest Ecology
Research Network, or FERN,

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which you may have also
heard about referred to

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as the Forest Inventory
Growth Program or FIG.

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FERN is a field-based program

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that helps students learn
about Maine's forest

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through a combination of
project learning tree curriculum

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and the US Forest Service
forest analysis program.

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If you're interested in
setting up a FERN plot

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with some of your
students, please reach out

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and we would be happy to help.

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Maine's forest community is
also of highest importance

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to Maine TREE, and we are honored to work

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with multiple programs to
support and uplift this.

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Maine TREE sponsors the
Maine Tree Farm Program,

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part of the National
American Tree Farm System.

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I'm sure many of you have seen these signs

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hanging on properties
you work on or drive by,

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and some of you may be
tree farmers yourselves.

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Maine Tree Farm helps
Maine Woodland owners

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realize the full potential of their woods

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by following a set
standards of sustainability

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in their forest management
to provide forest products

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and other woodland benefits.

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Next, Keeping Maine's Forests
is a collaboration of leaders

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from public, private, and
nonprofit organizations

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with a vested interest in
the future of Maine's woods.

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This is a rare venue for
discussion, information sharing,

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and the promotion of
sustainable forest management.

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And finally, Maine TREE
actively seeks to recognize

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and celebrate the
members of our community.

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Every year, Maine TREE awards

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the Austin Wilkins
Forest Stewardship Award,

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as a foremost recognition
for land owners, individuals,

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and organizations who
are outstanding examples

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of managing Maine's working forests.

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At Maine TREE, we are always
looking to build partnerships

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and help implement and deliver programming

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that supports sustainable
forestry within Maine

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and across the Northeast.

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And so I would invite
anyone who is interested

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in learning more about
one of our programs,

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or in working with Maine TREE
to please reach out to us.

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Thank you so much for your time.

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Please give us a call or
send us an email at any time.

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Thank you.