Forestry & Land Management

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Landowner Assistance Program
Robbins Lumber has three licensed foresters, who not only work on the 27,000 acres of company land, but also help private landowners.  We have helped hundreds of private landowners over the years, our foresters primarily assist in Waldo, Knox, Lincoln and Kennebec counties.  They can also assist landowners in Sagadahoc, Androscoggin, Hancock and southern Penobscot county. Anyone is eligible for our assistance.

Initial Visit
A forester will meet with the landowner; do a walk of the property to find out what the landowner wants, and the state of the woodlot.  We do not charge for the first two hours of the initial visit.  

Forest Management Plans
Plans can include, mapping, boundary identification, timber inventory, access issues, as well as many others.  Our plans can be done to satisfy the requirements for the Maine Tree Growth Program or be more elaborate to capture a landowners special interests.

Harvest Planning and Supervision
This involves providing a reputable logging contractor, identifying woodyard locations, skid trail placement, timber marketing, wetland delineation, and water quality practices.  For more information on Maine's Best Management Practices, please visit the Maine Forest Service's website at www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/pubs/bmp_manual.htm.

Timber Harvest Contracts 
A contract is signed by the landowner and logger to determine a time line, log and pulp value, and other issues are agreed upon prior to a harvest.  We recommend contractors that we personally know, and who have proven to us that they can be trusted to do a good job.

Boundary Line Maintenance
Maine State law requires that all boundaries are well marked when harvesting wood within a certain distance of boundary lines.  As licensed foresters we can maintain your lines (brushing out, repainting blazes, etc.).  We can't create a new line, only licensed surveyors can do this.

Forest Regulation Interpretation
This includes local shore land zoning and its application to timber harvesting.  Also, the Forest Practices Act, liquidation laws, tree growth tax laws and others.

Public Outreach and Education
At Robbins Lumber, we practice sustainable forestry and SFI principles and encourage the use of these principles to private landowners.  To learn more about the SFI program, visit their website at www.sfiprogram.org.

Mapping
All services mentioned are enhanced with our in-house GIS (Geographic Information Systems).  For each property we work on, the boundary lines are digitized and over-layed with any relevant information.  This can include streams, wetlands, aerial images, topography, soils, endangered species, etc.  Custom data can also be created using GPS on your property to identify trails, special sites, deer trails, vernal pools and any other information a landowner wanted to have mapped.  All maps are saved in our GIS and can be changed over the years as your property may change.  We can also teach you how to navigate your property with the maps created and a compass or GPS.

Timber Evaluation
Our foresters can come to your woodlot and give you a volume and value estimate of the standing timber.

Foresters
All of our foresters are licensed in the State of Maine.  To be licensed in Maine, an individual must attain a four year degree from an accredited university, undergo a two year apprenticeship under a licensed forester and pass an exam.  Give us a call or send an email for any other information.

Mark Vannah
mvannah@rlco.com
Cell phone (207) 322-3166

Peter Jolliffe
pjolliffe@rlco.com
Cell phone (207) 322-3164


SFI certified since 2002

Robbins Lumber has been responsibly managing its forests since 1881. The fifth generation of the Robbins family is still growing and harvesting the land our founders, Otis and Frank Robbins, worked in the late 1800's. We own and manage 27,000 acres of working woodland and we fully intend to keep on planting, managing, and harvesting trees for many more generations to come.

We are proud all our lands are Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certified. This means that independent forestry experts audit our lands annually and certify that we are properly managing our resource for wood products, wildlife and recreation.

We at Robbins are very proud we earn our living from the woods and because we do it right, the generations that follow us will be able to also.

Robbins Lumber has a long-standing tradition of responsible land stewardship and concern for the environment. On its own land, Robbins reforests each acre it harvests and helps others manage their land through its Land Owner Assistance program. Mill operations also reflect concern for the proper use of the natural resource. All wood residues are utilitzed to make electricity and to generate heat for its entire operation. Not only does the elimination of waste wood require the cutting of fewer trees, it also reduces the burden on waste disposal facilities. Through its efficient use of forest resources, Robbins Lumber is taking a step toward greater environmental responsibility.