Your Woodland: A Stewardship Storyline

Why is my woodland important to me?

George Rogers and his wife standing on their property.
People walking through field towards forest.
People listening to a presentation outdoors.

A key element of stewardship is the connection of landowners to their woodlands. This connection between person and place can be linked to the way in which land is acquired or the reasons why people choose to own land.

For some landowners, history, family stories, and traditions are interwoven with the meaning of woodlands passed down through generations. Other landowners may have bought property after looking for a private place to call their own, or purchased forestlands primarily as a long-term financial investment.

Landowners' goals and objectives for their woodlands can be as extensive and varied as the unique histories behind their properties. Recreation, privacy, solitude, wildlife habitat, diversification of investment, a place to get hands-on experience, or any combination of these interests may be the driving force behind continued ownership of woodlands.

Because there is always a choice between keeping or selling woodlands, it is important for landowners to articulate their personal reasons for keeping their land forested. Landowners with clearly defined forest management objectives are more likely to have a long-term vision for the future of their woodlands.

To learn more about the natural history of Kennebec County's woodlands, explore our Your Woodland Resource Guide.

To learn about an ongoing research project concerning woodland resources in Kennebec County, please visit our page on A Vision for Kennebec County's Forested Landscape.

To read more stories about landowners' connections to their land, read a page from the Kennebec Land Trust's book, Between Person and Place: Conservation Histories from the Kennebec Land Trust.

Preview a video on why fellow woodland owners from around the country believe that sustainable forestry matters.

Would you like to talk with a person about this stewardship step? Here are some partners who can help: