Forest management work has begun at Guild Park – Saco Bay News

Report on Forest Management Initiative at Guild Park and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Project Overview and Objectives

A forest management initiative has commenced at Guild Park, a 17.5-acre forested area in Ocean Park, Old Orchard Beach. The project, administered by the Ocean Park Association, aims to address long-term forest health and sustainability through a strategic, selective harvesting process. This intervention is designed to counteract the effects of invasive species and a century of passive management, aligning the park’s stewardship with global sustainability targets.

• Primary Goal: To improve the ecological health and resilience of the forest ecosystem.
• Key Action: The selective removal of approximately 30% of the park’s trees, targeting specimens that are diseased, damaged, or otherwise impeding the growth of healthier trees.
• Expected Outcome: A revitalized forest with enhanced growth conditions for remaining trees, contributing to a more robust and sustainable natural habitat.

Alignment with SDG 15: Life on Land

This project directly supports the objectives of SDG 15, which focuses on protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and sustainably managing forests.

• Sustainable Forest Management (Target 15.2): The initiative implements an active, science-based management plan prepared by Northwest Forest Management. This plan promotes the sustainable use of the forest, ensuring its conservation and restoration for future generations.
• Combating Invasive Species (Target 15.8): A significant driver for the project is the infestation of the invasive Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, which is causing mortality among mature hemlocks. The removal of affected trees is a direct measure to control the impact of this invasive species and protect the park’s ecosystem.
• Halting Land Degradation and Biodiversity Loss (Targets 15.1 & 15.5): By culling diseased and storm-damaged trees, the plan mitigates forest degradation. This action creates space and allocates resources like sunlight and nutrients to healthier trees, fostering a more resilient habitat and supporting local biodiversity.
• Reforestation and Restoration: A future phase of the project involves planting new seedlings, directly contributing to reforestation efforts and the long-term restoration of the forest canopy.

Contribution to Broader Sustainable Development Goals

Beyond its primary focus on terrestrial ecosystems, the Guild Park initiative contributes to several other interconnected SDGs.

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The project preserves and enhances a vital community green space (Target 11.7). A healthy, accessible park improves the quality of life and well-being for residents and visitors, making the community more sustainable and inclusive.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action: By improving the overall health and growth potential of the forest, the initiative strengthens its capacity as a carbon sink. Healthy, thriving forests are critical natural solutions for climate change mitigation and enhance the ecosystem’s resilience to climate-related hazards such as storms.
3. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: This initiative is a model for effective multi-stakeholder partnership (Target 17.17). It represents a collaboration between a civil society organization (Ocean Park Association), a government body (State of Maine Forest Service), and private sector expertise (Northwest Forest Management).

Implementation and Methodology

• Funding: The project is enabled by a $7,500 Project Canopy grant from the State of Maine Forest Service, which required a 50% match from the Ocean Park Association.
• Harvesting Technique: A low-impact logging method is being utilized, involving a chainsaw, grapple skidder, and pull-through delimber. This approach minimizes the operational footprint and environmental disturbance, prioritizing the ecological outcome.
• Future Actions: The Ocean Park Association is planning a community engagement component by seeking volunteers to plant seedlings in the spring, fostering public participation in achieving sustainability goals.

Relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 15: Life on Land

• The article is centered on a forest management plan for Guild Park, which directly relates to the protection, restoration, and sustainable management of terrestrial ecosystems. The text details efforts to “sustain the forest’s health” by removing diseased trees, combating invasive species like the “Hemlock Woolly Adelgid,” and promoting the growth of healthy trees. The plan to plant seedlings in the spring further supports reforestation efforts.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Guild Park is described as a 17.5-acre forested area within the community of Ocean Park, featuring “flat, wide walking trails.” The forest management plan aims to preserve this green public space for the community’s use and enjoyment, which aligns with the goal of providing access to safe and inclusive green spaces in human settlements.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The project is a collaborative effort involving multiple stakeholders. The article mentions the Ocean Park Association (a community organization), the State of Maine Forest Service (a government entity providing a grant), Northwest Forest Management (a private consulting firm), and community volunteers who will plant seedlings. This multi-stakeholder partnership is crucial for achieving the project’s conservation goals.

Specific SDG Targets

SDG 15: Life on Land

• Target 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally. The article directly addresses this by describing the implementation of a “Forest Management Plan” for the 17.5-acre park, which includes “selective harvesting” to improve forest health and a plan to “plant seedlings in Guild Park in the spring.”
• Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats and halt the loss of biodiversity. The plan to remove “trees that are injured due to disease or storm damage” and combat the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid is a direct action to reduce the degradation of the forest habitat.
• Target 15.8: Introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems. The article explicitly mentions that an “invasive insect called the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid has begun slowly killing many of the mature hemlocks” and that “predatory insects have been released to try to combat” it.
• Target 15.b: Mobilize significant resources from all sources to finance sustainable forest management. The article states that the Ocean Park Association received a “$7,500 Project Canopy grant from the State of Maine Forest Service” and is required to provide a “50 percent match,” demonstrating the mobilization of financial resources for this purpose.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.7: Provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces. The project ensures the long-term health and safety of Guild Park, a community green space “known for its tall pine trees and flat, wide walking trails,” thereby preserving its accessibility and use for the public.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The project exemplifies this target through the collaboration between the Ocean Park Association (civil society), the State of Maine Forest Service (public), Northwest Forest Management (private), and local volunteers.

Implied or Mentioned Indicators

SDG 15: Life on Land

• Indicator for Target 15.2: Progress towards sustainable forest management is indicated by the existence and implementation of the “Forest Management Plan” for the 17.5-acre park. The removal of “about 30 percent of the trees” as part of this plan is a quantifiable measure of this action. The number of seedlings planted by volunteers in the spring will be another indicator of reforestation efforts.
• Indicator for Target 15.8: Actions taken to manage invasive species are indicated by the release of “predatory insects” to combat the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid.
• Indicator for Target 15.b: The amount of financial resources mobilized is directly stated as a “$7,500 Project Canopy grant” plus a 50% match from the grant recipient.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Indicator for Target 11.7: The area of public green space being managed and preserved for public use is specified as “about 17.5 forested acres.”

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Indicator for Target 17.17: The number and type of partners involved are clearly identified: one civil society organization (Ocean Park Association), one public entity (State of Maine Forest Service), one private company (Northwest Forest Management), and community volunteers.

SDGs, Targets and Indicators Table

Source: sacobaynews.com