The Stewardship Mapping Project (STEW-MAP): Southern Maine & Massabesic Experimental Forest
The Massabesic Experimental Forest in Southern Maine serves as a location for forest ecology and wildlife research, forest management, and demonstration. It is a “forest in a community” - it is adjacent to and surrounded by fragmented forest land of mixed ownership and use including residential neighborhoods, farms, and small towns. This oak-pine forest and its network of trails are used by the local community for recreational activities that include hiking, skiing, mountain biking, hunting, and snowmobiling. The forest is managed collaboratively by the Northern Research Station and Maine Forest Service.
In the large map, the black line shows the study area of Southern Maine. The circled area and inset map show the Massabesic Experimental Forest.
The Southern Maine & Massabesic Experimental Forest STEW-MAP project seeks to answer the question: What organizations use and steward the Massabesic Experimental Forest and how do they work together with other environmental stewardship organizations across Southern Maine. The project seeks to identify current and potential partners of the Massabesic Experimental Forest to build trust and inform a management plan. Key issues of interest in the forest include forest management, active recreational use, and prescribed fire.
The online STEW-MAP survey is being administered in late summer and fall of 2026. It is collecting information about organizations that use or steward the Massabesic Experimental Forest and the surrounding region of Southern Maine including who they work with, what type of work they do, and where they work. This information will help create networks and maps that can be used to strengthen or forge partnerships.
People
- Lindsay K. Campbell, PhD, Research Social Scientist, USDA Forest Service
- Susannah B. Lerman, PhD, Research Ecologist, USDA Forest Service
- Kathy Hixson, Portland State University
- Cody Evers, Portland State University
Collaborators
Maine State Forest Service
University of Maine