University Forests at University of Maine

08/18/2026

We had our first concrete pour this week on the classroom portion of the sawmill building foundation.

07/31/2026

Big doings on the University Forest! Construction has started on the new University Forest classroom and sawmill. This project is as Maine as it gets. To supplement funding secured by our congressional delegation, Maine mills stepped up with materials donations, we harvested and milled wood with with the students and faculty, dried it in the kiln at the ASCC, and had it graded by NELMA. Monetary donations came in with from students, staff, faculty, alumni, land management company’s, Maine foundations and others. Stay tuned for more on construction progress and recognition of those who made this a reality.

06/25/2026

We were out on the Perch Pond woodlot today working on a beech leaf disease study with forest health researchers from the US Forest Service and the Connecticut Ag Experiment station. Beech leaf disease is a emerging threat to Maine’s beech. This study is part of a larger effort looking at potential treatment options.

06/10/2026

The UForests crew would like to extended a big thank you to our friends over at Wares Power Equipment for helping to keep us stocked with good chainsaws, rigging and equipment. Leigh, Tammy, and the Brians have been such a pleasure to do business with, and the effort and extra mile they have all put in to keep us running has been appreciated. From May Term summer camp saw trainings to logging with the student crew in the winter, Ware's has kept us running with high quality, professional grade saws and chains. Thank you Ware's!

05/29/2026

Introducing summer crew 2026 Nick and Cam who are currently are pounding thought some plots to finish off the new Demeritt inventory. We not only use our inventory for traditional forest management purposes but to assist researchers who are looking for study sites with specific conditions.

After they wrap up plots the crew will be working on many other projects including, property line maintenance, pre commercial thinning, trail and recreation infrastructure maintenance.

05/21/2026

Now that the fire it is out is time for the researchers to get out and remeasure things on the burn unit.

05/18/2026

A huge thank you to the Maine Forest Service forest protection division who conducted a prescribed burn for us on the Demeritt forest today. Also thank you to Dr. Rose Abramov for organizing a “learn and burn” event to let people safely view the burn. There are several new research projects in this area looking at soils, tick populations, wildlife responses amoung other things. Burning is new for us on the forest and we could not have done it without the help of our partners at the Maine Forest Service.

05/17/2026

With the assistance of the Maine Forest Service we plan to conduct a prescribed burn on Monday May 18th. The burn will take place on the Demeritt Forest in the oak stand north of the Logan and between college ave extension and the Stillwater river. Expect to see and smell smoke in the area and see fire equipment. The Logan road parking lot will be closed Sunday and Monday and we ask people to please avoid college ave extension on Monday if possible to minimize traffic in the area.

We are conducting the burn to support several research projects and demonstrate the effects of this forestry practice for classes.

05/16/2026

05/07/2026

We will be doing a prescribed burn on the Demeritt Forest this spring to support several research projects. To prepare for this we did some fuel management today burning brush piles made up of branches we removed to reduce ladder fuels.