In the upcoming book talk, Loving the North Woods, Karin Tilberg, one of Maine’s experts on Maine’s vast woodlands and highly regarded past-president/CEO of the Forest Society of Maine, will outline the difficult challenges that led to tremendous conservation successes during a remarkable period of activity from 1990 to 2015.

During this time of tremendous forest ownership changes, Maine went from about 5% of the state having some form of conservation, to having 22% being conserved in some manner.  Seven major conservation initiatives in the North Woods were significant factors in this tremendous outcome. The forces that brought forth this seismic change and heretofore untold stories of conserving Maine’s North Woods will be described.  As these historic achievements in American conservation unfolded, the author will explore how people love a place and bring that love into action. The author hopes these stores will inspire and guide us now and far into the future. 

Those who treasure forests, own forestland, recreate in the woods and on forest-surrounded lakes and rivers, participate in forest-related industries, study woodland ecology, and/or recognize the global importance of Maine forests for carbon sequestration and migratory birds will find this an informative and inspirational conservation chronicle. 

Karin Tilberg has a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from the University of Vermont and a J.D. from the University of Maine School of Law.  She started her career as an attorney, initially at the law firm of Perkins, Townsend & Shay in Skowhegan and later as the Staff Attorney and Director of Advocacy for the Maine Audubon Society.  She has been a strong advocate for the conservation of the North Woods, promoting sustainable forestry, and supporting healthy, diverse local economies.  Tilberg has provided guidance on environmental and natural resource law and policy matters to individuals and organizations for decades.  She became the Maine Director, and then interim Director for the Northern Forest Alliance from 1998 to 2003, following which she served as Deputy Commissioner of the Maine Department of Conservation from 2003 to 2007.  From 2007 to 2010, she worked as a Senior Policy Advisor to Governor John E. Baldacci. During this time, she directed and implemented Governor Baldacci’s natural resource, environmental, and energy policies, co-chaired the Governor’s Natural Resource Agency Task Force, and participated in stakeholder groups for the Executive Office. Most recently, Tilberg has been the president and CEO of the Forest Society of Maine, where she has worked since 2011, retiring this past November 2024.

Copies of "Loving the North Woods" will be for sale courtesy of Sherman’s Maine Coast Bookshop. All sales the evening of the event benefit the Jesup.