In 2023, with the help of the Friends of NACD District Grant Program, Oxford County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) began implementing their Agroforestry and Climate Resiliency Demonstration Project on a portion of the Tenmile River Demonstration Forest. The agroforestry project established demonstration plots to measure and illustrate the impacts of various woodland conservation management practices to help educate the public on the value of biodiversity, native plants, timber stand improvement practices, and the value of alternative forest products for income. These educative efforts will help build forest resiliency to climate change while enhancing wildlife and pollinator habitat, carbon storage, and soil health.

The agroforestry project involved planting demonstration plots of potential woodland food crops, such as native berries, Hazelnuts, Black Walnuts, Black Cherry, and blight resistant American Chestnuts. Demonstration plots were also established featuring wild leeks (ramps) and edible fiddlehead ferns, as well as log cultivation areas. Timber stand improvement plots were established in existing stands of Northern Red Oak and White Pine to exhibit impacts of timber stand improvement on forest productivity, carbon storage and sequestration, songbird habitat, and climate resiliency. Nearly 100 individuals participated in the SWCD’s 2023 workshops and project presentations.

This year, the Oxford County SWCD is working with the Center for Ecology Based Economy (CEBE) and Western Foothills Land Trust (WFLT) to conduct a series of educational programs, tours, and activities highlighting various parts of the project. These partnership efforts will educate participants on Agroforestry as a Conservation Practice, Native Plants for Climate Resiliency, Forest Soil Health, and Timber Stand Improvement Practices for Carbon Sequestration, with programs running from spring through the end of fall. The district is also working with Maine Conservation Corps and the Maine Forest Service to host a Community Tree Steward/AmeriCorps member who will aid in the development and delivery of local youth education programs located at the demonstration forest.

“I’m very excited about this project and its potential to inspire woodland owners to adopt some of the ideas and practices to help make our Maine forests healthier and more resilient,” said Michele Windsor, Oxford County SWCD District Manager. “We anticipate that this will be a long-term project with on-going educational programs well into the future. We’re very grateful for the grant assistance and partners who helped bring this project to reality.”

The Friends of NACD District Grants Program is a grassroots-funded program for conservation districts to conduct new activities or test novel approaches to their operations. Stay tuned for the 2025 Friends of NACD District Grants Program opportunity to be released this fall. Learn more about current and past projects on the Friends of NACD website.

Consider becoming a member of Friends of NACD to help provide more grant opportunities like this to districts throughout the NACD network.