Maine Future Forest Economy Project
Maine Forest ServiceToday, Maine forest industries face unprecedented challenges. The rapid growth of a global marketplace has provided increased trade opportunities for Maine forest products, while at the same time allowing new competitors into markets that Maine companies have long enjoyed.
Maine’s forest economy is in the midst of significant changes, and some of these changes are painful to both the state and the industry. While Maine’s forest industry does clearly face a series of challenges – and is in the midst of what will be continued and rapid evolution, the industry remains a pillar of Maine’s rural economy, and is taking steps to retain or improve its competitive position. For example, paper and lumber production remain at or near record levels when measured by volume, though employment in both of these sectors has decreased.