Happy New Year from Forests for Maine's Future:

In our latest Fresh from the Woods feature we look at the modern sawmill: an impressive mix of sophisticated technology running mammoth machines, and one capable of inducing a "gee whiz" reaction in almost anyone. It's all about efficiency . . . and competitiveness in a global economy.

The feds are recommending the creation of seven interstate "recreation corridors" in New England, including three in Maine, to help reconnect people with the outdoors.

A nicely thinned stand of trees on Lily Pond. (Photo; Steve Chandler)

A nicBiddeford parcel added to national wildlife refuge.

National parks group lauds New Hampshire timber company's acquisition of lands near Acadia.

This National Geographic writer finds that Sweden's much-touted "sustainable" forestry model isn't quite what it's cracked up to be.

This year's drought in Texas killed as many as half a billion trees.

Survey identifies most important forests around the world for birds. Tops on the list:  Hawaii.

Seasonal observations on a forest in . . . Upper Manhattan.

What those purple triangle traps show about the spread of the emerald ash borer.

In Japan the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster is now affecting the region's forestry sector.

If you have interesting forest photos you'd like to share, e-mail them to us at fmf.rankin@gmail.com and you may see them featured on our web page or in this newsletter. We're always looking for nice photos of people in the woods, other creatures in the woods, or just the woods themselves. If you do send them, please, let us know whom to credit.

A reminder that if you're switching to a new job, or a new email address, it's easy to take Forests for Maine's Future along. Just click on the link at the bottom of this email that says update profile/email address.

See you in the woods!

Editors, program managers and webmasters, Forests for Maine's Future encourages the media to use our Fresh from the Woods features. Please give us credit at the end of the piece and, if possible, drop us an email to let us know you used it. If you have any questions email fmf.rankin@gmail.com

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