Problem Addressed: Biological assumptions underlying management and regulation of deer winter habitat are increasingly challenged by forest user groups
Goal(s)/Objective(s): Conference to bring together diverse opinions and concerns regarding the management of deer habitat in Maine.
Key Findings: Air pollutants induce changes that do not produce visible injury symptoms but adversely affect growth, yield and quality of plants and plant products. A better understanding is needed of the nature of pollutants and variations in their amounts at given sites.
Problem Addressed: Economic impact of the forest products industry in Maine
Goal(s)/Objective(s): Determine what the current economic impact of the forest products industry in Maine and how it has changed since the las estimate as well as answering if we can adjust that for the known closures that have occurred since the most available data (2014)
Key Findings: 1. FPI is still an important and integrated part of Maine's economy; 2. $8.5B in total output impact; 3. The share of FPI as part of the total state GDP has slightly declined; 4. 1 out of every 24 jobs in Maine is associated with the FPI.
Problem Addressed: Economic cost of spruce budworm issues
Goal(s)/Objective(s): Assess cost of spruce budworm
Key Findings: It is difficult to quantify the long-term impact of the outbreak on wood supplies and the forest environment and thus more research is required
Goal(s)/Objective(s): Expose readers to creative thinking about Maine's persistent regional disparities and to help frame an agenda for deeper analysis of strategies to turn problems into challenges and opportunities for rim county development.