Maine Woodland Owners, based in Augusta, plans to host its annual Forestry Forum on Wednesday, Jan 12, via Zoom.

The forum will start with a brief member meeting at 8 a.m. and will be followed by a series of presentations on wood markets, woodland wildlife, forest carbon markets, and forest pest and disease updates.

This free event, open to the public, offers information about forestry and covers topics important to woodland owners. Once again, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization’s largest indoor event of the year will be conducted completely online.

The program will feature a presentation of the results of a 30-year study on the impacts of commercial forestry on bird populations. The lead researcher, Dr. John Hagan, will discuss the findings and how various forest practices, including clearcutting, benefitted bird migration and habitat when managing for biodiversity, a concept called “The Shifting Mosaic.”

He also will talk about how the study’s learnings can help small, non-commercial forest owners make bird-friendly management decisions.

For several years, Maine Woodland Owners has scheduled the forum during the Maine Agricultural Trades Show, so once the state Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry announced its decision to transition the show to an online format, Maine Woodland Owners made the switch as well.

The Agricultural Trades Show will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Jan. 11-13.

In addition to hosting the all-day program, Maine Woodland Owners is holding an online auction with unique items, including a sculpture created by wood carver Josh Landry. Landry was the creator of the sculpture that Stephen and Tabitha King commissioned for their home in Bangor.

The auction will run from Jan. 7 through 12, just after the end of the forum.

For more information about the event, visit mainewoodlandowners.org or contact Jennifer Hicks, director of communications and outreach, at jenn@mainewoodlandowners.org or 207-626-0005.