How can we help you?​

Our Sappi North America (SNA) Maine Forestry Program team of foresters and professionals is here to assist you in achieving the goals and objectives you have for your woodland.

I am interested in the SNA Maine Forestry Program's services, so how does it all begin?

To get started, please call us at +1 800-633-2091. We will be happy to discuss with you your plans for the property, and what you'd like us to help you achieve. We can also schedule a date for one of our foresters to meet with you and walk your woodland with or without you.

Do I need to have a timber harvest conducted on my woodland?

Determining if a timber harvest is necessary on your woodland depends on your objectives, as well as the condition of your woodland. In order to assess the condition of your woodland and make accurate recommendations, the SNA Maine Forestry Program would need to schedule a date to meet with you and walk your property.

For older, more mature woodlands, in some cases, a timber harvest will increase the value of your property by removing the low quality, and/or biologically mature trees and promoting the healthier ones. Additionally, timber harvests can also enhance the wildlife habitat on your lot by creating diversity. For younger woodlands, pre-commercial harvests may serve to your advantage, as they can help your property yield marketable wood more quickly by speeding up the process to achieve a faster return. In other cases, the best thing to do is leave the woodland to grow until it is ready to be harvested. Your forester can help you with these decisions.

How does conducting a timber harvest work?

Our foresters will work with you to design a timber harvest that meets your objectives. Once a timber harvest plan has been prepared and agreed upon, our foresters will mark the areas on your woodland where your timber will be harvested and where equipment will be used. Since there's a variety of different forest equipment used in Maine, we take the time to make sure that the right equipment mix will be used on your property. Once your trees are harvested and merchandized to the highest and best use, the timber is delivered to various markets throughout the Northeast.

How do I get paid?

In the state of Maine, "Pay as you cut" is common practice for paying a landowner for their wood. Under this method, as your wood is delivered to the mill it is either stick scaled or weigh scaled. All sawlogs that go to either a sawmill or veneer mill are stick scaled. A licensed scaler will measure the logs to determine the number of board feet and quality or grade of each log. Payment is based on both factors. Once a load of wood is scaled, the sawmill sends their payment to Sappi. Sappi then pays the contractor and the landowner. Pulpwood is handled the same way except that the scale is based on tons. At the end of the harvest, you will receive a summary report, which tells you how much wood has been harvested and the dollars generated.

Where does my harvested wood go?

As wood is harvested and brought to the landing, it is sorted by product type (veneer, logs, pulp, fuel) and hardwood/softwood. This helps ensure that your trees are marketed for highest and best use, meaning that your log quality trees will not be sold for anything less than logs. We work with over 40 different area sawmills, which creates a secure market for your products and helps get you the best prices. All logs are delivered to the sawmill which yields the best return for the landowner. All hardwood pulpwood will come to Sappi, as our Somerset Mill is a primary receiver of this product. By having Sappi work with you to manage your property, you have a secure source for your hardwood pulpwood.

Do I need a management plan for my woodland?

It will depend on what your goals are for your woodland. If you are interested in managing habitat for certain species (flora and/or fauna), or wish to enroll in the Maine Tree Growth Tax Program or American Tree Farm System®, you will need a management plan. Simply, a management plan identifies your goals, objectives, the physical characteristics of your woodland, and prescriptions for your timber in order to reach your goals.

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