The Maine Forest Products Council, through the State of Maine, has issued a proclamation celebrating Maine Forest Products Week Oct. 20-26 (in conjunction with National Forest Products Week).
Schools and educators are encouraged to consider teaching a lesson or creating a display, event or other activities to highlight one of Maine’s oldest industries. Perhaps you might partner with local forest-related businesses or organizations, such as your historical society.
The goals of this celebration are to showcase Maine’s rebounding forest products industry — with about $700 million in investments over the past few years — and to showcase forest-related businesses and jobs (more than 30,000) in every county in the state.
Sarah Medina of Seven Islands, which manages forest land for the Pingree family whose holdings date back to 1820, has written a column that explains more about Maine Forest Products Week and about activities that occur in other states with active forest products industries. The Maine Forest Products Council is also planning to set up a web page with a calendar of Maine events, be on the lookout for that.
Here are some reports that might be helpful:
- Maine’s Forest Economy 2016
- Secondary Wood Manufacturing in Maine 2017
- Understanding public access to private working forests in Maine 2018
- Maine Forest Gamechangers
For more information, resources, or help, please contact Roberta Scruggs, Communications Director, Maine Forest Products Council.