MAINE ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS • October 4, 2023
A new analysis by experts concludes: “Extensive public and private funding has been used to establish “working forest” conservation easements (WFCE) that aim to protect conservation values while maintaining commercial timber production. We use variation in the timing and location of easements to estimate the impacts of WFCEs in Maine from a 33-year time-series of forest loss and harvesting. Overall, WFCEs supported continued harvests, but did not appear to provide substantial ecological benefits.”