Forestry and the Environment

News Center interviews UMaine researchers about invasive plant study on ticks

News Center Maine interviewed University of Maine senior research associate Ellisa Ballman; Allison Gardner, associate professor of arthropod vector biology; and Jessica Leahy, professor of human dimensions at the UMaine School of Forest Resources. They are participating in a study that aims to understand how invasive forest plants play a role in tick populations, which […]

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A photo of people biking on a forest trail in fall

UMaine celebrates launch of Maine Outdoor Recreation Economy Roadmap

The University of Maine, in collaboration with the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation, Maine Outdoor Brands and a coalition of other industry partners, helped launch the Maine Outdoor Recreation Economy Roadmap at an event in Millinocket on Wednesday, Jan. 29. The roadmap lays out a vision for growing and diversifying Maine’s $3.4 billion outdoor recreation […]

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A photo of a man on a snowmobile

Economic contribution of snowmobiling slid last winter, study finds

Scarce snowpack hindered snowmobile recreation in Maine last winter, squeezing businesses that count on the sport to draw tourists. The University of Maine released an updated report on the economic contribution of snowmobiling in Maine, revealing a significant decline in impact for the 2023-24 season. According to the study, snowmobiling generated an estimated $582 million […]

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News Center reports on UMaine’s new forest bioproducts program

News Center Maine reported on the $22 million investment from Gov. Janet Mills and Maine’s Congressional delegation to Maine’s Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub, aimed at positioning the state as a global leader in forest based biomaterial production and manufacturing. The University of Maine is advancing plans to launch its Forest Bioproducts Technology Maturation […]

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PFAS-free Firefighting Biogel featured in Press Herald

The Portland Press Herald featured University of Maine researchers who are developing Firefighting Biogel, an alternative to traditional firefighting foam that’s free from a group of chemicals known as PFAS. The gel is expected to be both safer for the environment and for those fighting fires. James Anderson, an engineer at UMaine’s Advanced Structures and […]

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UMaine’s new forest bioproducts program critical to $22 million ‘Tech Hub’ investment

Following the recent announcement by Gov. Janet Mills and Maine’s Congressional delegation that Maine’s Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub will receive an additional $22 million to position Maine as a global leader in forest-based biomaterial production and manufacturing, the University of Maine is advancing plans to launch its Forest Bioproducts Technology Maturation Program, a […]

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A photo of a student performing tick research

UMaine seeks to thwart ticks by helping landowners weed out invasive forest plants

Ask anyone who frequents the forests of New England and they will likely speak of unwelcome companions — ticks. Blacklegged ticks are expanding their range and rising in numbers, infecting people with pathogens that cause conditions like Lyme disease and babesiosis. Climate change is frequently blamed, but researchers have noticed another man-made problem may be […]

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BDN highlights UMaine research in 2024 overview of PFAS mitigation efforts

The Bangor Daily News highlighted research from the University of Maine in 2024 that aided statewide efforts to research, inform and protect communities from a group of chemicals known as PFAS. UMaine efforts include research to develop coatings free of PFAS for food wrappers and other paper products by using seaweed and tree pulp; and […]

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ABC 8, Press Herald cite research from budworm task force

WMTW (ABC 8 in Portland) and the Portland Press Herald highlighted research on budworm outbreaks from a state task force in which the University of Maine Cooperative Forestry Research Unit is a partner. The research states that every 30 to 60 years, there is an outbreak and severe defoliation. Maine is expected to have outbreak […]

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