Crandall cited in Morning Sentinel article on state’s forest products industry
Mindy Crandall, an assistant professor of forest landscape management and economics at the University of Maine, was cited in the Morning Sentinel article, “Maine’s forest products industry weathering paper industry woes.” Despite a recent series of paper mill closings, the forestry industry remains an important part of Maine’s economy, according to the article. Some area forest products manufacturers and experts are hopeful that the sector will continue to thrive, despite the recent hits to the paper industry, the article states. Maine also could benefit from expanding its markets for biomass and renewable energy, Crandall said. Biomass is a viable market for low-grade material — trees that are too small to be used for saw timber or trees that may not be a good species for wood products — but that can be used to create energy, the article states. Eliminating that material from the forest is critical to sustainability practices, according to Crandall, and it frees up the forest for bigger, healthier trees to grow for lumber and other uses. Crandall added that ensuring Maine’s forest products sector remains viable also means continuing to invest in the state’s remaining paper mills. The Portland Press Herald also published the article.