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JOINT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE'S WORK IN DEVELOPING A NEW VISION AND STRATEGIC PLAN FOR MAINE'S FOREST-BASED ECONOMY
WHEREAS, eighty-nine percent of Maine's land is forested, making it the most forested state by proportion in the United States; and
WHEREAS,  the forest products sector plays a vital role in the economic health and future of Maine's rural communities; and
WHEREAS,  fifty-three percent of the State's forestland, about 9,400,000 acres, is under 3rd-party sustainable forest certification; and
WHEREAS,  Maine's forest products sector provides nearly 38,800 jobs, provides $1,900,000,000 in employee compensation, accounts for one out of every 20 jobs in the State, provides $1 of every $16 of total state gross domestic product and has an $8,000,000,000 impact on Maine's economy annually; and
WHEREAS,  Maine's working forests play an important role in providing a wide array of ecosystem services, including providing for clean air, clean water, wildlife habitat and biodiversity; and
WHEREAS,  Maine forests contain a large variety of tree species capable of yielding a wide array of forest products; and
WHEREAS,  Maine has one of the most diverse forest products industries in the United States, with a highly integrated processing and transportation system; and
WHEREAS,  Maine's 100,000 woodland owners play a vital role in the future of the forest industry; and
WHEREAS,  the recent closure of 5 pulp and paper mills has had a negative effect on the people and economies of Maine; and
WHEREAS,  future business opportunities in Maine's forest products sector have not been identified in a strategic context to attract major capital investments; and
WHEREAS,  there is a tremendous opportunity, with vision and leadership, to encourage investment in new business and economic development opportunities in Maine's forest products sector; and
WHEREAS,  action is needed to remove obstacles and encourage investment to develop Maine's future forest-based economy; and
WHEREAS,  the University of Maine and the State's woodland owners, wood-using mills and businesses and loggers are working together to craft and implement solutions that will strengthen the State's economy for future generations; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That We, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Legislature now assembled in the Second Regular Session, on behalf of the people we represent, acknowledge and commend the collaboration between the University of Maine Center for Research on Sustainable Forests and representatives of Maine's forest-based industry, including woodland owners, wood-using mills and businesses and loggers, to develop and implement a strategic vision and road map to increase economic development in the State's forest products sector.