What are the Management Goals of the SFMA?
It is the goal of the Baxter State Park Authority to manage the SFMA in compliance with Percival Baxter’s Deeds of Trust for the area. We hope that by the implementation of sensitive, scientifically sound intervention we can develop a forest which will produce high value forest products growing within a healthy and diverse forest landscape.
The vision we hold for the SFMA will take generations of diligent effort to achieve. One of the more difficult concepts in forest management is that although very dynamic, the forest responds to change over a much longer time frame than human perceptions can accept. Many of the benefits of current management of the SFMA won't be apparent for several generations. Our efforts today are to provide a solid foundation of high quality, sensitive, and planned forest operations, to maintain a sound database to track and measure forest development, and to provide the opportunity for demonstration and education for those interested in forestry.
How Is the SFMA Managed?
The ecological, economic and social management of the SFMA forest has been certified as sustainable by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The FSC is a non-profit organization devoted to encouraging responsible management of the world's forests. The FSC sets high standards that ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable way. The certification process involves closely scrutinizing SFMA management against a set of regional standards developed by a wide range of stakeholders. More on the FSC, the certification process and the regional standards can be viewed at: www.fscus.org/faqs/what_is_fsc.php
Copies of our Certification Assessment Report can be requested from Park Headquarters.
The SFMA is also a model forest under the Forest Guild model forest program. The Forest Guild is a national organization promoting ecologically, economically, and socially responsible forestry as a means of sustaining the integrity of forest ecosystems and the human communities dependant upon them. (www.forestguild.org/) The Guild has developed a series of model forests to promote exemplary forest management across the country. The SFMA is proud to be included in this program.
In the SFMA, as with all of Baxter Park, the responsibility for policy and decision-making rests with the Baxter State Park Authority. The Park Director works with the Park Resource Manager and staff to develop and implement approved policy and to coordinate and direct forest operations. Policy development and improvement is greatly assisted by the SFMA Advisory Committee, a standing committee of fifteen citizens with expertise in environmental and forest resource areas.
SFMA Staff & Advisory
Forest operations, including harvest, stand survey, road construction and maintenance work occur on the SFMA continuously from May to April. Most harvest operations are performed by private contractors. Field management of the SFMA is carried out by the Park Resource Manager, Field Forester and seasonal Forest Technician.
A copy of our management plan can be obtained from Park Headquarters.