The Guild introduces Maggie Mansfield

Written by Maggie Mansfield 

I began working with the Guild in July as Northeast Region Manager and support Guild programs including Women Owning Woodlands and Forestry for Maine Birds. The child of a maple syrup producer, I was steeped in the complexities of New England forests at an early age. Studies in forestry, ecology, and botany broadened my understanding of the surrounding landscape and prepared me for the challenges of forest management in the region. I hold a Master of Science in Forest Resources from University of Maine, Orono, where I explored the effects of ecological forestry on understory plants, and a Bachelor of Arts in Human Ecology from College of the Atlantic. I am a licensed forester in the state of Maine. 

Before joining the Guild, I worked as a consulting forester in central Maine, guiding landowners through all stages of land stewardship, from identifying goals to implementing harvests. I bring skills and experiences gained as a consultant to my work with the Guild, including effective communication with landowners, loggers, officials, and others. 

I researched ecological forestry for my master’s thesis, implemented it as a consultant, and am thrilled to promote it through my work with the Guild. I incorporate the conservation, cultural, natural resource, and intrinsic values of our forests into my work, and am privileged to work for an organization that shares my priorities. I am particularly passionate about forest ecology, silviculture, and landowner education and outreach. Outside of work, I wander in the woods, shout at deer eating my fruit trees, read novels, and play with butter, flour, and yeast. 

“Maggie Mansfield is a perfect fit for advancing the work of the Forest Stewards Guild in the Northeast,” says deputy director Amanda Mahaffey. “Maggie brings valuable field experience, a passion for ecological silviculture, and a boundlessly positive attitude. I’m excited for Guild members to meet her at upcoming events.”