“Loving the North Woods,”  Karin Tilberg’s recently published book about conservation achievements in Maine, is an engaging, thorough and accurate account of the conservation of millions of acres of forests, primarily through the use of conservation easements. 

John Alden, the author of the Aug. 17 book review in the Maine Sunday Telegram, found that the book “misses a few key points.” Alden’s qualifications to write the review included his having “camped on the headwaters of the Allagash and climbed Katahdin, but has most of Maine’s North Woods left to explore.” These can’t begin to compare to Tilberg’s approximately 45 years of conservation work throughout our state.

Frankly, I think the book review missed a few key points. First, easements are cooperative, permanent agreements between landowners and conservation partners. They protect forests from development, the main cause of irreversible loss of forestland. Second, they are a much more cost-effective way of land protection compared to outright purchase. Third, Alden implies that “forever wild” management is much preferable to the traditional recreational and forest management uses of this land. In fact, many conservation easements do include some land designated as “forever wild.” Cutting trees is not inherently bad, as the review implies. 

The North Maine Woods has been managed as forestland for more than 200 years, providing wildlife habitat, wood products, clean water, carbon sequestration/storage and recreation. Why is there a dark sky park in the North Woods? There is almost no development there.

My recommendation? Read “Loving the North Woods.” You’ll be glad you did.

Barrie Brusila
Warren