Wednesday, 01 October 2003
Maine to Increase Number of Certified Acres
Initiative Could Mean a Significant Increase in Total FSC-Certified Land in U.S.
On September 24th, the Maine Forest Certification Initiative (MFCI) Advisory Committee convened a meeting to hear presentations by forest certification programs active in North America (FSC, SFI, CSA, American Tree Farm and Green Tag) to build a common understanding among the 25 committee members about forest certification possibilities for lands in the State of Maine. Michael Washburn, vice president of forestry and marketing, represented FSC-US at this meeting.
The State has developed the MFCI as a business development and environmental initiative, to help Maine’s products compete in the marketplace, while at the same time, improving forest management on the ground. The State has declared that, with growing demand for certified forest products, including paper, there is a significant opportunity for Maine to distinguish itself in the market as a consistent source of certified forest products. In addition, the State is encouraging certification as a way to assure the public that the state’s forests, which are a vast and unique resource, are well managed.
Maine has the highest percentage of certified forestland in the U.S. Currently, 37% (6.5 million acres) of Maine’s total forestland (both private and public) is under a certification program. The goal of the MFCI is to increase this amount to 10 million acres by the end of 2007.
Currently, most of Maine’s state forestland, including 485,000 acres managed by the Bureau of Parks and Lands, and 30,000 acres of Baxter State Park, are certified under both FSC and SFI. Certification will be sought for the balance of the State’s actively managed forestlands. In addition, the State will:
• Give purchasing preference to certified wood and paper whenever practicable.
• Provide technical assistance, outreach and encouragement for landowners of all sizes seeking to be certified.
• Give preference in the Maine Forest Service cost share programs for landowners, resource managers, and loggers entering certification programs.
Recommendations by the newly formed Forest Land Certification Advisory committee to help meet the goals of the MFCI are expected by January 2004.