Bio: Logan Johnson is Executive Director of Maine TREE, which serves as an avenue for collaboration among educators, students, forest professionals, and local communities in Maine. Johnson has dedicated his career to forest stewardship and conservation across a wide range of roles. After graduating from the University of Maine with a bachelor’s degree in biology, Johnson worked in conservation with the Downeast Lakes Land Trust, Buzzards Bay Coalition, the Forest Stewards Guild, and the Maine Tree Farm Program and earned his master’s degree in forestry from the University of Maine School of Forest Resources. While completing his graduate studies in UMaine’s School of Forest Resources, Johnson discovered his passion for helping others see the value of forest management and sustainable stewardship, as well as the potential career opportunities these natural resources offer.
Q: How did you become involved with Maine-TREE?
A: After graduating with my bachelor’s degree, I worked as a land trust steward on trails in southeastern Massachusetts. During that time, I had a phone call with a professor in the School of Forest Resources that changed the trajectory of my career. I hadn’t previously considered this path, but that conversation led me to pursue a master’s degree in forestry. While completing my degree, I worked with the Maine Tree Farm Program, where I was first exposed to Maine TREE. I later continued contract work with Maine TREE through its Forest Ecology Research Network and now serve as the full-time Executive Director.
Q: What has your work been like with Maine-TREE?
A: Historically, the Maine TREE Foundation has offered a wide range of programming, from long-term ecological research to its Certified Logging Professionals program, which provides safety and skills training. The organization primarily focuses on K-12 engagement through educator professional development and student programming. Over the past few years, we’ve worked to develop a central theme across our programs: preparing people for careers in Maine’s forests. For students, that means introducing them to career opportunities in forestry and related fields. We also engage the broader community, highlighting the range of careers connected to Maine’s forest economy. Our overall goal is to support the long-term, sustainable stewardship of Maine’s forests.
Q: How have you connected your work to Maine-FOREST?
A: Getting involved with Maine-FOREST was a watershed moment in my career. With support from the grant, we’ve expanded the Forest Ecology Research Network, which gives students the opportunity to collect data from forests near their schools, develop research questions, and track changes over time. There has long been a strong interest from educators and the broader community, but funding constraints have limited the program’s growth. Maine-FOREST has allowed us to create new resources and pathways that better support educators and students in monitoring forest change. This aligns closely with the mission of EPSCoR by engaging communities in ongoing research.
Q: What are your future goals with Maine-TREE with the support of Maine-FOREST?
A: Through Maine-FOREST, we are continuing to expand the Forest Ecology Research Network and build a platform for student data analysis. Our goal is to help students interpret and analyze data collected across the state and visualize trends in forest change. Organizationally, we are also developing a forest technician curriculum to increase educational pathways and workforce development in the forest products sector. There is currently a gap between formal education and on-the-ground forestry work. We are working with career and technical education centers to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to work in the woods after graduation. Ultimately, this will evolve into a credential that bridges that gap and provides clear value to employers.
