Importance of forest products industry to Maine's economy
This spring MFPC added one question to the Critical Insights on Maine survey, a comprehensive, statewide public opinion survey of registered voters, which has been documenting the attitudes, perceptions, and preferences of Maine’s residents for more than 20 years. “On a scale from 1 to 7, how important to Maine’s economy is the state’s forest products industry? (1 not at all important to 7 very important).”
Green Me Up!
Crowds gathered at both the SFI and PLT booths at L.L. Bean most of the day as the Girl Scouts of Maine hosted the Earth Day event "Green ME Up!" We talked with Girl Scouts from as far south as Eliot and north from Madawaska."The Girl Scouts already had a real understanding of sustainability," said Pat Sirois, SFI Maine coordinator, "and some of them were exceptional in their ability to articulate the concepts."
It's time to nominate the best of 2018!
Each year, the Maine Forest Products Council asks its members to select outstanding individuals from the forest products community who excel in their professions. Please nominate an outstanding logger, trucker, forester or manufacturer for an MFPC award.
Tree Growth Tax review
The committee that reviewed the Tree Growth Program delivered its report, including answers to all the questions that the Taxation Committee asked. Recommendations include an understanding that this program has many pieces to it and even now there are things that assessors don’t know about the program. For example, it’s not universally known that the Maine Forest Service can provide assistance in interpreting Tree Growth management plans.
What's up with Maine's white pine?
Ken Laustsen, biometrician for the Maine Forest Service, reported on the status of white pine at the MFPC Board meeting Nov. 9, saying “Eastern White Pine is still ranked statewide as #3 in total live merchantable volume and #1 in sawtimber volume,” Laustsen said. “Over the last 20 years, concerns have been occasionally raised about the status and prospects of this species.The presentation addresses both issues, looking at the forest type’s core area and the broader statewide trends.”
After a dark decade, secondary wood manufacturing rebounds
Secondary wood manufacturing once played an enormous role in Maine’s rural economy, with mills in many towns across the state. Then from roughly 1998 to 2008, a flood of imports put many mills out of business. In 2003 alone about a dozen closed. But the survivors learned how to survive in global markets and their industry is now growing again.
Maine SIC wins SFI's 2017 Achievement Award
The Maine SFI Implementation Committee won the 2017 Committee Achievement Award at the SFI Annual Conference in Ottawa in recognition of its exceptional education outreach efforts focused on water quality; community partnership with Make-A-Wish Maine, and the growth of Maine's SFI Program.
Forest products still Maine's top export
Forest products remained Maine’s largest export industry with $626 million in sales in 2016, nearly 22 percent of all Maine exports. Canada remains Maine’s top trading partner for paper and wood products by a wide margin, and is second to China on wood pulp and recovered paper, with Sweden moving up fast to take the third spot.
Check out Maine's budworm website
A new spruce budworm website, designed to be a comprehensive communications outreach tool and resource for the coming outbreak in Maine, has been launched by a statewide task force.The website provides facts about the natural cycle of the budworm, current information regarding the approach and potential impacts of the next outbreak, an historical backdrop, and interactive maps on current outbreak status and citizen science. It also includes an interactive Q&A on the site, and the ability to request experts to ...
Amazing lynx photos
MFPC just sent comments, reports and photos regarding the Canada lynx status review. Foresters working for a number of MFPC members in the northern forests are seeing a lot of lynx. Even if you just want to look at the great pictures of beautiful lynx, this report is worth a look.
Maine's 'Battle of the Budworm'
Most Mainers barely recall the last spruce budworm infestation, when the northern forests turned red as they came under attack. Nor do they realize how budworm has shaped Maine’s history, economy, laws and culture. But those who lived through the 1970s outbreak are watching with dismay as another outbreak heads our way. They vividly remember the devastation, including moth flights “so severe that they literally had to be scraped off the road with snow plows.”
Join us!
Since 1961, the Maine Forest Products Council has been the voice of Maine's forest economy, including landowners, paper mills, sawmills, wood pellet plants, biomass energy plants, loggers, truckers, primary and secondary wood processors, and related service industries. The primary purpose of the Council is to provide a supportive economic and public policy climate for the forest products community and promote a healthier, more vital forestry sector.About MFPC
Since 1961, the Maine Forest Products Council has been the voice of Maine’s forest economy. The MFPC represents the diverse needs of Maine’s forest products community. Our members are landowners, loggers, truckers, paper mills, tree farmers, foresters and lumber processors, but they are also bankers, lawyers and insurance executives. We feel we represent anyone who has an interest in seeing the Maine woods remain a viable, sustainable resource.
We serve our community by gathering information, bringing groups together to discuss concerns, hosting events, conducting tours and helping people find common ground.
We represent our members at the Maine Legislature, across the state, in Washington D.C. and across the nation.
The MFPC Board is very active, and holds weekly policy teleconferences during each legislative session to discuss legislation of interest and arrive at a position.
Secondary wood manufacturing contributes $1.8 billion
After surviving a dark decade, Maine’s secondary wood manufacturing industry has become the “strongest in Northern New England,” contributing $1.8 billion to the state economy. Read 2017 report: Secondary Wood Manufacturing in Maine.
Poll shows Mainers know importance of state’s forest economy
By Patrick Strauch, MFPC Executive Director
Those of us inside Maine’s forest products industry know there are many positive events occurring, but we also have wondered how the closure of five pulp or paper mills from 2014 to 2016 has affected public perception. So this spring we added a question to the Critical Insights on Maine survey: “On a scale from 1 to 7, how important to Maine’s economy is the state’s forest products industry? (1 not at all important to 7 very important).”
We were happy to see that 44 percent of residents statewide said the forest products industry is very important to the state’s economy and a solid majority of 64 percent chose the top two categories (6 and 7). Read more
Calendar of Events
Annual Meeting at Sebasco Resort
Board of Directors Meeting
Maine’s Roadmap project is all about reinventing our forest products industry. So it’s a great time to look at a place that’s already done that – Finland. Get the details in a presentation by Petri Sirviö of Stora Enso. Watch video above or see slides.
As beech dominates, maple abundance declines
The composition of hardwood forests in the northeastern United States is changing significantly, according to a University of Maine-led research team. In the past 30 years in forestlands in four states, climate-associated changes have increased the abundance of American beech compared to three other hardwood species commonly associated with the regional forests. The change from beech-maple-birch forests to more beech-dominated forestlands could have consequences for ecosystem structure and function, say the researchers. Read more.
Stay informed!
Read the MFPC newsletter.
As Baby Boomers retire, jobs are opening up in Maine’s forests. Do you have what it takes to work in the largest contiguous privately owned working forest in the U.S.? Decide after you’ve watched this video.
With thanks and appreciation for the Pacific Forest Foundation, creator of the original, award-winning “This Is My Office” video, which inspired our Maine version.