FAIRFIELD -- Protesters picketed the regional offices of Plum Creek Tuesday morning, handing out a mock "Fossil Fool's Award" to the timber company for its plans to develop portions of the Moosehead Lake region.

Calling themselves the Native Forest Network, about 30 demonstrators said developing the north woods would contribute to global climate change with increased motor vehicle and air traffic.

Fairfield police said the demonstration was peaceful and protesters dispersed after about 30 minutes.

Plum Creek General Manager Paul Davis said the protest would have no impact on company plans to develop the land.

The timber company wants to rezone 20,000 acres of its woodlands in the Moosehead Lake region to develop 7,000 to 8,000 acres and conserve another 380,000 acres.

"We're golfers for wilderness sprawl," group spokeswoman Hillary Lister said, referring to the golf clubs that members carried Tuesday and to their golfers' attire. "We're presenting Plum Creek with an award for their efforts to make Maine more the way golf should be in their efforts to contribute to global climate change."

Warmer temperatures will make the climate good for golf, she said.

Lister said Plum Creek would produce roughly a half-million tons of carbon dioxide emissions in the first 10 years of the development, if it is approved by the state's Land Use Regulation Commission. That, coupled with the deforestation that would accompany development, Lister said, would only further erode the state's ecosystem.

Davis disagreed.

"I think that's not true," Davis said in his office after the protest. "I think we've got a great plan that puts over 95 percent of the acres into permanent conservation. Those acres, rather than wondering whether some day they're going to be in forestry or not, are going to be perpetual -- perpetuated in forestry."

Davis said motor vehicle traffic and waste disposal have been coordinated into the overall plan.

As for the projected carbon footprint, he said, vacationers coming to Maine would be responsible for far fewer emissions than people who travel greater distances to Hawaii, Las Vegas or the wilds of Montana for their recreation.

LURC staff members will be examining thousands of pages of recorded comments from several public hearings in preparation for commission meetings slated for May 27-28.

During that time, the staff will make recommendations about the development plan to the full commission, which in turn will pass along as suggestions to Plum Creek.

Doug Harlow -- 861-9244

dharlow@centralmaine.com