Maine Forest Products 2023

COVER PHOTO BY:

Jeremy T. Grant of The Timber Crosss

A Special Advertising Section of the Bangor Daily News • Friday, October 27, 2023

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MAINE FOREST PRODUCTS • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 27, 2023

CAREERS IN FORESTRY FROM CONSULTANTS TO TRUCK DRIVERS, YOU CAN FIND YOUR PLACE IN MAINE’S FORESTRY INDUSTRY

BY CRYSTAL SANDS

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he state of Maine is nearly 90 percent forest, a higher percentage than any other state, and with over 17 million acres of forested land, Maine’s forests are important to our state environmentally, culturally, and economically. According to a 2019 study from the University of Maine, Maine’s forests had an $8.1 billion dollar impact, supported 31,000 jobs, and created $1.7 billion dollars in labor income. The economic impact of Maine’s forests is profound, and right now, there is a need for more workers in all facets of the industry.

According to Chuck Loring, Director of Natural Resources for the Penobscot Nation, many foresters are reaching retirement age, and there are not enough workers to replace them.

“There is a growing demand for foresters, logging equipment operators, and truck drivers in the forest industry,” Loring said.

Certainly, there is a need for employees in the forest industry in jobs that go beyond what many people associate with the industry—namely forest rangers. Forest rangers work to preserve and protect Maine’s forests, creating and enforcing fire action plans, providing education to the public and more.

Foresters work with both public and private land to manage resources for recreational, economic, and conservation purposes. But while there is a need for traditional foresters, there is also a growing need in the industry for everything from consultants and loggers to logging truck drivers.

CONSULTING FORESTERS Molly London is a Maine licensed forester who works as a small landowner consulting forester and, with her husband, manages a logging business, William W. London & Son, Inc. “We currently own and manage three cut-to-length logging crews that operate full time on one of the largest privately owned land bases in Maine,” London said.

“Our crews work full time, year-round, in the woods in primarily Piscataquis and Penobscot counties.”

Consulting foresters are often self-employed and are hired by landowners, often landowners with less than 1,000 acres, to help them accomplish their goals in a sustainable and environmentally sound way,” London said. “Landowners may want to create wildlife habitat, schedule regular timber harvesting income, sustainably harvest their own firewood each year, etc.”

A consulting forester helps these landowners achieve these goals. A consulting forester assesses any environmental and legal restrictions for the land, and writes and executes a management plan describing the necessary steps for the landowner to take.

SKILLED OPERATORS The need for skilled workers goes beyond foresters and consulting foresters.

“Logging has been increasingly becoming more mechanized, which creates a need for skilled operators,” Loring said.

And while truck drivers are needed everywhere, according to Loring, “Log truck drivers have special skills and driving on icy logging roads takes a special driver.”

Like Loring, London emphasizes the mechanized nature of the modern industry.

“With mechanized equipment, logging is no longer as physically demanding and unsafe as it was in Maine’s history,” London said. However, there is still training that is needed in the different facets of the forestry industry.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES To help meet the growing demand for jobs as log truck drivers or equipment operators, London says there has been progress in training options.

“The Professional Logging Contractors of Maine, a logging trade organization, addressed the training problem a few years ago,” London said, “when they created the Mechanized Logging Operations and Forest Trucking Program, a free 20-week training program that gives students hands-on experience in all of the mechanized logging equipment used in today’ woods, including log trucks. Students leave with classroom training, harvesting experience, and a CDL so they are ready for whichever job they choose.”

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MAINE FOREST PRODUCTS • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 27, 2023

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MAINE FOREST PRODUCTS • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 27, 2023

GROWING DEMAND According to ForMaine.org, an organization devoted to sustaining and growing Maine’s robust forest economy, Maine’s forestry industry needs more than 5,000 new employees in the coming years to keep up with growing global demand for wood products and replace a retiring workforce. Right now, there are nearly 14,000 people employed in the industry, and jobs encompass foresters, log equipment operators, log graders and scalers, millwrights, drivers, and engineers.

For those interested in careers in the forest industry, there are a variety of paths to training, but Loring says those interested in a career in forestry should expect to obtain a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

Loring, who directs the Penobscot Nation program, said their program consists of a forest manager, foresters, and forest technicians. Loring served as a forester for the tribe for 10 years before becoming the director of the program and graduated with a B.S. in Forest Operations Science from the University of Maine in Orono.

“Licensed foresters are bound by a code of ethics that holds them responsible for keeping landowner and environmental needs as top priority,” London said. An education in the field can help foresters learn how to uphold this code of ethics.

Loring says the bachelor’s degree also “streamlines the licensing process to be a professionally licensed forester in the state of Maine. Without a degree, or with an associate’s degree, you can obtain a license, but you will need to spend more time as an ‘intern forester.’”

MORE PATHS TO TRAINING But with a need for jobs other than foresters, there are a variety of training options throughout the state for those interested in the field. In addition to the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine mentioned

by London, there are several paths to training. At the high school level, there are four training programs for forestry or wood harvesting. There are high school programs in Norway, Farmington, Rumford, and Dyer Brook, and the University of Maine at Fort Kent offers a path for high school students who are interested in becoming a licensed forester.

According to ForMaine.org, there are 7 community college programs, including programs at Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor and Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield and Hinkley. At the university level, the University of Maine offers fouryear degree programs as well as graduate programs in both Orono and Fort Kent.

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative is a national database (sfidatabse.org) that allows users to search by state and find forestry management certificate programs. The Maine Timber Research & Environmental Education (TREE) Foundation (mainetree.org) has a mission to educate for the sustainable use of Maine’s forests and offers resources related to research in the field as well as resources for those interested in careers in forestry. The Maine TREE website also offers information on the community and awards in the field of forestry.

Ultimately, the need for workers in the forest industry creates a unique opportunity in our state for those interested in the many aspects of forestry.

“The job of a forester, being outside every day in inclement weather, is not desirable to some,” Loring said. But for those in our state who love the outdoors and enjoy being in nature, engaging in wildlife, and working with both their hands and their minds, there are many opportunities available.

If you or someone you know is interested in a career in forestry, ForMaine.org and The Maine TREE foundation offer a variety of resources, including job descriptions and pay rates throughout the field of forestry and links to schools and programs that provide training.

MAINE FOREST PRODUCTS • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 27, 2023

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TED WRIGHT AWARDED OUTSTANDING INDUSTRY ADVOCATE

BY NORTHEASTERN LOGGERS’ ASSOCIATION

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n May 18, 2023, the Northeastern Loggers’ Association presented Ted Wright with its Outstanding Industry Advocate Award for 2022 at the organization’s annual Loggers’ Banquet in Brewer.

Ted Wright, from Brunswick, is the Executive Director of the nonprofit Trust to Conserve Northeast Forestlands, overseeing the Northeast Master Logger® Certification Program for New England and New York.

Ted Wright, at center, with TCNEF Board Members, from left to right, Scott Madden, Brian Souers, Andy Irish, and Steve Hanington.

Since 2015, Wright has expanded the program while also educating the public on the benefits of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification as an FSC board member.

Along with expanding and improving the Master Logger certification program, Wright has also fostered greater public awareness of the importance of sound logging practices for forest sustainability and health.

He has accomplished this through a variety of public outreach activities, including public speaking events, harvest tours for both professionals and students, Maine Tree’s annual Teacher’s Tour, trade show events, and state woodlands associations events.

He regularly conducts BMP and rescue/CPR workshops in Vermont, New York, and Maine, writes marketing publications and articles promoting the Master Logger program, and has worked to ensure that forestry and logging contractors are included in the FSC system, in particular for smaller operations.

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MAINE FOREST PRODUCTS • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 27, 2023

Dana Doran, Executive Director of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine, said, “As demand for responsibly harvested timber and healthy forest management has risen in recent years, [Wright] has been at the forefront of efforts in the Northeast to meet that demand and to educate the public on the benefits of certification in meeting those goals.”

The Outstanding Industry Advocate Award recognizes a person or organization with significant accomplishments in promoting public education and acceptance of the forest products industry.

The Northeastern Loggers’ Association, Inc. (NELA) was founded in 1952 and is headquartered in Old Forge, New York. The organization has nearly 2,000 members in the region from Maine to Minnesota and Missouri to Maryland. NELA publishes the monthly magazine The Northern Logger & Timber Processor and hosts the annual Northeastern Forest Products Equipment Exposition (Loggers’ Expo). NELA hosts the Annual Awards Banquet every year on the evening prior to the opening of its annual Loggers’ Expo.

NELA serves its membership and the public by advocating for the wise stewardship of our forest resources. The organization develops programs that strengthen the forest products community and help members produce products to meet the needs of the American people.

Learn more about NELA at www.northernlogger.com

MAINE FOREST PRODUCTS • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 27, 2023

A&A BROCHU LOGGING:

INVESTING IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF LOGGING PROFESSIONALS

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COURTESY A&A BROCHU LOGGING

t A&A Brochu Logging, we are dedicated to the future of our industry and to the next generation of logging professionals. Run by brothers Chris and Jason, the company is a rebirth of the family company first started by their father and uncle in 1968. Under Chris and Jason’s leadership, A&A Brochu Logging has expanded to include 10 cut-to-length crews, six full tree crews, and multiple subcontractors. We currently operate from Churchill Lake in Piscataquis County to Lambert Lake in Washington County.

According to a recent study commissioned by the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast, the average number of employees per logging firm is nearly half of what it was in 2014, and 72% of firms cite access to qualified labor as a limiting factor.

At A&A Brochu Logging, we are bucking that trend through investments in equipment, training, and integration.

By investing in state-of-the-art equipment, our crews achieve peak morale and efficiency.

In other words, we can do more with less while creating exciting training opportunities for our team. We also invest heavily in training with a program for cut-to-length operators, and we support programs in eastern Maine.

As a result of these efforts, we currently operate with 12 employees under the age of 30.

This is important when you consider that more than 50% of Maine’s logging workforce is over the age of 45 with nearly one in four operators over the age of 55.

A&A Brochu Logging employees benefit from on-the-job training with an experienced crew and top-notch equipment. Our investments are training the next generation of loggers, which benefits the entire industry. We are also Master Logger Certified and have 38 operators certified under the Certified Logging Professionals program.

Our crews and customers are also supported by integration with our sister companies, A&A Brochu Trucking, Pleasant River Lumber Company, Ware-Butler, Moosehead Cedar Log Homes, Quality Saw, Brochu Land Company, and Northwoods Management. As the forest products industry evolves in Maine, we do as well, but our commitment to our customers, to our workforce, and to the communities in which we operate remains steady.

At A&A Brochu Logging, we are proud members of the Maine Forest Products Council and Professional Loggers and Contractors of Maine. Participation in these groups allows us the opportunity to come to the table with those who would otherwise be viewed as competitors to work toward a bright future for our industry.

Maine’s forests are filled with opportunities for anyone who is willing to work hard, and the investments being made now, both by our companies and others, will ensure a prosperous future for Maine’s forest economy.

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MAINE FOREST PRODUCTS • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 27, 2023

IT’S TIME TO COMBINE FINANCE, INSURANCE AND FIRE SUPPRESSION

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f you’re a logger, you need your heavy equipment to work hard in all kinds of weather. But sorting out finance for these items takes time, not to mention the added headache of finding the right physical damage insurance and organizing your required automatic fire suppression system installation and inspections.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could get it all done at once? One simple, set payment each month that combined all elements of finance, physical damage insurance and automatic fire suppression (AFS). You can. It’s called One&Done.

How One&Done works One&Done is taken out at the same time as you arrange finance for new heavy machinery. It means you’re fully insured with quality coverage for as long as the finance lasts, up to five years.

The insurance market can be difficult to navigate, particularly as premiums tend to increase yearly. One&Done means you can remove that hassle – you’re insured and locked in at that premium rate for as long as your financing is in place. And this insurance doesn’t cut corners – it’s A+ rated, which means you know it will be there if you need to make a claim.

Knowing what you’ll pay each month is a big relief, helping you better manage your budget and cash flow. This is an industry where there are times you are swamped with work and can earn a lot, and times where there will be some downtime. Fixing your costs is the logical way forward for anyone running a logging business, where consistency matters.

That said, loggers are working through a busier time right now and this will remain for many months to come.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has impacted imports and negatively affected global supply. This has put more pressure on home markets to meet demands; there is more opportunity for exports from the U.S. If you have more work than you can handle, an upgrade of key machinery could make a huge difference in boosting your productivity. Having the best equipment also helps you tender for bigger contracts, making it a wise investment.

Buying new — Why loggers prefer it One&Done is utilized with new heavy forestry equipment when you finance a purchase or lease a unit. That equipment could include machines such as delimbers, feller bunchers, forwarders, harvesters, log loaders, excavators, dozers, skid steers, or one of many other eligible pieces of equipment.

Buying new will always need to be a carefully considered decision and means a higher cost than used machinery. But you gain through more reliability, customization, and a better warranty. If you can obtain financing, either through the dealer or with the lender of your choice, you’ll be able to take out One&Done at the same time in a simple process.

Great cover and great fire suppression The One&Done physical damage insurance policy is specifically designed for loggers. No need to worry if you have already had claims in the past; One&Done does not take this into account; which means guaranteed acceptance. If you can finance, you can get One&Done.

One&Done provides actual replacement cost if you experience a total loss in the first 18 months. This will cover the current value of the equipment – not just the price you originally paid. And given how prices continue to rise because of inflation and supply chain issues, that can make a real difference. If you need to make a claim, we settle as soon as it is approved, ensuring you don’t experience unnecessary hold-ups.

One&Done also provides access to an AFS system from American Loggers Fire Suppression which includes trained service technician twice-yearly checks to ensure the system is fully operational.

American Loggers utilizes the FogMaker AFS system, which is widely held to be the best AFS system on the market and has been tried and tested in the most challenging conditions.

A further benefit of the policy is that accidental AFS discharge is covered up to $2,000 to recharge the AFS without a deductible. Claims for the cost of rental equipment, up to $500 a day, with an overall limit of $10,000 each year.

If you have a claim, our team in Maine is always on hand and ready to respond to any issues.

One&Done — You’re in safe hands One&Done was developed by Santee Risk Managers, an established insurance provider, specializing in forestry. Based in Maine, they have an in-house underwriting and claims team.

Dealers — Add value to what you do One&Done is available through equipment dealers too. If you’re a dealer, One&Done is a new proposition that can give your customers a competitive edge, helping them save time and money.

FIND OUT MORE Visit One&Done at 32 Oak St. in Bangor, or email get@oneanddone.insure.

You can also call Daryl Fenton directly at 207-595-8223 or visit www.oneanddone.insure.

Coverage is summarized. Refer to the actual policy for a full description of applicable terms, conditions, limits and exclusions.

This is not intended as a solicitation or offer to sell an insurance product in a jurisdiction in which the solicitation, offer, sale or purchase thereof would be unlawful.

MAINE FOREST PRODUCTS • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 27, 2023

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MAINE FOREST PRODUCTS • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 27, 2023

PROFESSIONAL LOGGING CONTRACTORS (PLC) OF MAINE BECOMES PROFESSIONAL LOGGING CONTRACTORS OF THE NORTHEAST

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he Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of Maine has entered a new era, as the 28-year-old trade association officially expands beyond Maine and becomes the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast.

The expansion announced Oct. 3, which begins with contractors from the state of Vermont eligible to join the PLC, marks the biggest step for the organization since it was founded by loggers and for loggers in Maine in 1995.

“The PLC has been the voice of Maine loggers and forest truckers in a rapidly changing industry for nearly three decades, and in that time, it has become clear that we are strongest when we stand together,” said PLC Executive Director Dana Doran. “Loggers

and truckers throughout the Northeast share many of the same challenges and opportunities, and we believe that now is the time to grow the organization to meet those challenges and take advantage of those opportunities together.”

PLC Members reviewed and unanimously approved changes to the organization’s bylaws pertaining to the expansion at the association’s Annual Meeting on May 5.

“The PLC is now ready, willing, and able to expand to other Northeast states if sufficient demand from loggers in those states exists,” Doran said. “Vermont loggers deserve credit for taking the lead on this, and the PLC stands ready to respond should loggers in other states seek the same representation and benefits

a regional logging trade association can afford them.”

Three new board members have been added to the PLC’s board of directors to represent Vermont: Sam Lincoln, owner of Lincoln Farm Timber Harvesting of Randolph Center; Jack Bell, co-founder of Long View Forest of Westminster and Hartland; and Gabe Russo, owner of Southwind Forestry of Pawlet.

As a result of the expansion, logging and forest trucking contractors in Vermont will now be eligible to join the PLC and share in the many benefits of membership, including representation and advocacy by the organization on their behalf at the state and national level, access to a safety dividend program, discounts from PLC Supporting Members, membership in the American Loggers Council(ALC), access to The

MAINE FOREST PRODUCTS • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 27, 2023

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Founded in Maine in 1995 by a handful of loggers who were concerned about the future of the logging and forest trucking industry, the PLC has grown steadily to become a regional trade association which provides independent logging contractors and truckers in the Northeast a voice in the rapidly changing forest products industry. Board membership consists of only loggers, making it an organization that is run by loggers on behalf of loggers.

Learn more about the PLC at www.plcloggers.org Loggers Voice quarterly magazine, and free safety training and other professional development opportunities.

Meanwhile, the PLC is gearing up operations in Vermont and preparing to add staff there to ensure its support and services in the new territory are equivalent to what members in Maine have come to expect.

The three new Vermont board members agree the time for a regional organization to represent logging and forest trucking interests in their state has come.

While Vermont does have organizations that logging contractors can join, they are umbrella organizations for forest-related businesses rather than logger-specific.

“The PLC’s, ‘by loggers, for loggers,’ standard says it all,” Bell said. “It’s a logging business trade

organization, and the total focus on the issues and challenges loggers face is unique.”

The expansion to Vermont has been in the works for more than two years, following interest from Vermont loggers who learned of the PLC through fellow loggers from Maine, training programs the PLC was involved with, exposure the organization gained through logging expos, and publicity surrounding its successes.

In addition to its strong track record on advocacy, training, and promotion of logging as a profession, the PLC’s charitable efforts on behalf of Log A Load for Kids to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals — PLC’s efforts have raised more than $2.135 million since 1995 — drew a positive

response from Vermont loggers considering joining the organization.

“I’m very enthusiastic to be a part of that here, and it’s going to be pretty exciting as well to be out there taking the initiative to promote ourselves as important to Vermont’s economy and as protectors of the environment,” Lincoln said.

On the evening of Oct. 18, the new organization will hold its first official event at the Canadian Club in Barre, Vermont, inviting any interested loggers and forest trucking companies in the state to attend to hear more about the benefits of joining the PLC. Current PLC Members are also welcome to attend the meeting and can RSVP by calling 207-688-8195 or emailing office@plcloggers.org.

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MAINE FOREST PRODUCTS • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 27, 2023

PLC OF THE NORTHEAST RAISES $107,989 in 2023 Log A Load for Maine Kids Golf Tournaments

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he Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast raised $107,989 at its Log A Load for Maine Kids golf tournaments in 2023 to benefit Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals in Bangor and Portland.

The PLC hosts two Log A Load golf tournaments in Maine each year, with its newer Aug. 25 tournament at the Kezar Lake Country Club in Lovell, raising a record $47,377 for the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital (BBCH) at Maine Medical Center and the northern tournament Sept. 15 at JATO Highlands Golf Course in Lincoln, raising $60,612 for Northern Light Eastern Maine Health System’s Eastern Maine Medical Center.

The PLC’s Log A Load efforts have now raised more than $2.135 million since 1995.

Already in 2023, the PLC Annual Meeting Log a Load for Maine Kids Auction raised $127,723.

The PLC will continue to raise funds for Log A Load through the end of the year through the sale of logger Christmas ornaments and from additional donations.

“No matter how challenging conditions are Maine golf tournament was our best yet. That is in the logging and forest trucking industry in clearly a reflection of the generosity of this Maine, PLC Members and Supporting Members group of people and their belief that local kids and our hospital partners always come through deserve the very best health care available. to make miracles happen for Maine kids,” PLC We’re truly grateful.”

The PLC and the Northern Light Health Executive Director Dana Doran said. “These event totals in 2023 are proof that the generosity Foundation have partnered in the Log A Load of loggers and the industry is as strong today as fund-raising effort since 1996. BBCH joined the it was when the PLC’s Log A Load efforts began Log A Load effort in 2019 and all donations have gone to support research and training, purchase nearly three decades ago.”

The PLC partners with both BBCH and equipment, and pay for uncompensated care, all in support of the mission to save and improve Northern Light Health Foundation for the lives of as many children in Maine as its annual Log A Load fund possible. BBCH and Northern Light in drive. BBCH in Portland and Bangor both have Neonatal Intensive Northern Light in Bangor Care Units that have received support are both CMN Hospitals. for years from the PLC’s Log A Load “Maine’s logging and efforts. trucking industry and The South Carolina Forestry its supporters is nothing Association started the Log A short of incredible when Load for Kids program in it comes to helping the 1988. Originally, the community and giving concept was for back,” said Kelly Pearson, loggers, woodDirector of the Children’s Miracle s u p p l y i n g Network Hospital program and businesses, and Corporate Engagement at Northern other industry Light Health. “It means so much to us. It suppor ters in can be the toughest year for the industry, various states and they still come out to support the kids, including Maine to and that just speaks volumes to who these The PLC’s Annual Log A Load for Maine Kids Golf donate the value of a people are. They have the kindest hearts, Tournaments benefit children load of logs to their and it means so much to us. We are so like Jacob and Brooke right local Children’s grateful!” here in Maine.

Miracle Network “If we’ve learned anything from the Log Hospitals.

A Load partnership and the logging Nationally, Log A Load for Kids is a leader in community in Maine, it’s that rain or shine they’re going to show up for our kids because CMN Hospitals’ fundraising, raising more than they believe deeply in this cause,” said Kate $2 million annually through golf tournaments, Richardson, CMN Senior Philanthropy fishing events, dinners, truckloads of log Manager for BBCH. “The 5th annual Southern donations and other events.

MAINE FOREST PRODUCTS • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 27, 2023

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MAINE FOREST PRODUCTS • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 27, 2023

MECHANIZED LOGGING OPERATIONS & FOREST TRUCKING PROGRAM

RECOGNIZED FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO FOREST INDUSTRY EDUCATION Lauren Robinson, MLOFT student in this yearʼs class, operating a forwarder.

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n May 18, 2023, the Mechanized Logging Operations and Forest Trucking Program (MLOFT) in Maine was presented with the Outstanding Contributions to Forest Industry Education Award for 2022 by the Northeastern Loggers’ Association at its annual Loggers’ Banquet in Brewer.

The program, which is operated by the Maine Community College System, is the only college training program for operators of mechanized logging equipment in the state of Maine and in the region and is made possible through a partnership between Maine’s community college system, industry partners, and the Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of the Northeast.

In the program, students spend weeks getting real-world experience harvesting timber in a variety of machines at an active logging site. Students pay no tuition or fees, and PPE is provided.

They work under the guidance of veteran logging instructors who impart a strong emphasis on safety. The training is combined with classroom instruction, and at the end of this training, graduates are well-positioned to enter the logging workforce.

The MLOFT program is inclusive, offering accessibility to logging careers for men and women, high school

graduates, and older students seeking new opportunities. There are now dozens of graduates from this program working in Maine’s logging industry.

“The continued positive attention the program has brought to logging remains critical as we work to ensure the industry’s future,” said Andy Irish, president of the American Loggers Council and owner of Irish Family Logging in Peru, Maine. “I hired one of the first graduates of this program and he was a good employee for my business.”

MLOFT is an expanded version of the highly successful logging operations certificate program created in 2017 that now includes Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training.

The hands-on 20-week program is underway this fall and will continue into early November. The majority of training has taken place at an active timber harvest site northeast of Old Town and driver training is now underway at Madden Timberlands in Passadumkeag, The opportunity to earn a CDL-A permit and receive preparation for the state driving exam is a significant addition to the program, Dana Doran, Executive Director of the PLC, said.

“This program already has a proven track record of addressing Maine’s shortage of qualified logging operators in an efficient and affordable way,” Doran said. “The addition of forest trucking to the program will further prepare students for today’s logging industry, giving them advanced skills to haul loads and move equipment in the Maine woods. This will enable employers to have multi-skilled operators who can efficiently haul timber, haul equipment, and operate the equipment needed to harvest wood in today’s forest.”

Anyone with an interest in the program should contact Donald Burr, MLOFT Program Coordinator at safety@plcloggers.org or by phone at 207-356-1541.

Information may be found online at mccs-23120533.hs-sites. com/2023-mlop.

MAINE FOREST PRODUCTS • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 27, 2023

IS BULLISH ON MAINE’S FOREST PRODUCTS INDUSTRY! COURTESY OF TREELINE, INC.

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o Maine’s Forest Products Industry (MFPI)… Thank you for supporting a young, inexperienced team of loggers as we began our business in the 1980s.

It has been a marvelous four-decade journey, and the best is yet to come!

It is not possible to list the numerous people and companies that took a chance on us and provided opportunities to become what we are today. Let it suffice to say that we owe a debt of gratitude to the entire Forest Products Industry of Maine!

One thing that has been constant in our industry is change. The MFPI is adaptive and resilient. This has required Treeline to diversify and excel at changing and adapting.

Of course, the one thing that has not changed is the greatness of Maine’s forest lands. As the most forested state in the nation, and with guardianship provided by Maine’s respected Forest Service, Maine’s forests are well known and admired around the globe. This is what is attracting the next round of innovation and investment into new forest products, such as wood fiber insulation, bio-chemicals, biochar, and mass timber products.

Maine has the resources, the infrastructure, and the experience to deliver sustainable forest products to Maine’s legacy mills as well as many new mills, all while our forests provide recreational opportunities, a range of habitats, clean air and water, and to help curb global warming.

Speaking of innovation and investment, we’d like to Shout Out to the team at TimberHP in Madison for getting their wood fiber insulation mill up and running recently!

Other new companies investing in Maine include Biofine, locating in Lincoln, and Standard Biocarbon, locating in Enfield. Legacy companies such as SAPPI, Woodland Pulp, Pleasant River Lumber, Robbins Lumber, Hancock Lumber, to name a few, are also investing in Maine.

With such a long history of being strong and diverse, it is no surprise that Maine is blessed with very strong industry associations. We would like to acknowledge the Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of Maine, who recently expanded to the PLC of the Northeast. PLC is 210 members strong with 120 supporting members. PLC provides advocacy and numerous benefits to its members and provides a variety of support to the overall MFPI. Other strong industry associations in Maine are the Forest Resource Association, the Maine Forest Products Council, and Maine Woodland Owners, all of whom support the MFPI. Maine has a dedicated, hardworking workforce here in Maine, and good, safe jobs that people like to do! Like so many industries, our workforce is getting older. However, we are attracting more great workers every day! It takes time and effort, but it is not hard to get kids interested in the kind of professional jobs we have today. We do need legislative reform to allow younger people to join our industry in safe jobs. The industry will need to adapt so that a career in the Maine Woods looking forward provides a better work life balance than those of us looking back on our careers.

As we always have, we will adapt, because that is the way to a robust forest economy and a prosperous future for Maine people!

Visit us at treelineinc.biz.

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MAINE FOREST PRODUCTS • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 27, 2023

SAPPI’S PACKAGING PRODUCTS CAN BE USED TO REPLACE OR REDUCE PLASTIC COURTESY OF SAPPI

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he world has a single-use plastic problem: the majority of plastic does not get recycled, and much of it ends up in the ocean or landfills. Most consumers are in favor of reducing plastic.

In fact, 87% of customers think retailers should curb the amount of plastic packaging they use. Global governing bodies are passing sweeping environmental recommendations and regulations to reduce plastic. Congress introduced The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act in 2021, and in 2015 all member states of the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which relies on 17 Sustainable Development Goals for global peace and prosperity. Responsible production and consumption are key components of these UN goals, and Sappi uses them as a guideline for sustainability in both our operations and our products.

Major companies, such as Estee Lauder and Unilever, are responding to the pressure with sweeping declarations to reduce plastic. Of several options to replace plastic, few are better than paperboard made from wood fiber. At Sappi, we believe wood fiber is the material of the future – and we are using it to produce alternatives to plastic in packaging.

Our innovative, fiber-based products are used in gift cards and hotel room cards, as well as in shopping bags and food-service board for paper plates, reducing or eliminating the amount of plastic in these items. Our fiber-based products are also used in luxury packaging for cosmetics, premium packaging for food and beverages and so much more.

Our flexible packaging papers come with integrated barriers against oxygen, water vapor, grease, aroma and mineral oil, which is ideal for applications such as candy wrappers, granola bars, chips and pretzel bags and even tea bag wrappers.

Unlike single-use plastics made from crude oil, wood fiber is renewable; the process of creating paperboard involves high use of renewable energy; and it can be recycled multiple times. Paper and paperboard also have the highest overall recycling rate of

all materials in municipal solid waste. Fiber-based packaging has many advantages.

It is: • Accessible: Wood fiber is one of the most commonly found materials in nature, and with sustainably managed forests, wood fiber can be responsibly harvested without damage to the environment.

• Biodegradable: Cellulose fibers are naturally biodegradable.

• Malleable: Cellulose fiber properties lend themselves to be altered to meet human needs. From a durability standpoint, R&D efforts can transform cellulose materials to be resistant to the elements, depending on packaging needs.

• Recyclable: Paperboard can be recycled multiple times, recapturing the fibers for several more uses.

Sappi is renowned for its investment in R&D and modernizing its manufacturing facilities to meet market demands for innovations in consumer products. Sappi’s legacy includes ownership of the S.D. Warren mill in Westbrook, which invented coated paper in the late 1800s. We are working every day on forward-thinking, science-based innovations to replace plastic with wood fiber and cellulose solutions through our expertise in coating technology across six global research and development centers.

Wood fiber provides an intersection of sustainability and quality that brands have been searching for to fulfill their environmental pledges. With cellulose as a base for a wide variety of materials that vary in biodegradability, thickness/structure and product applications, there is no reason it cannot be widely applied as a plastic substitute. The true challenge comes not from the manufacturing floor, but from adapting wood fiber into long-standing business practices.

Here at Sappi, we are committed to helping brands understand how wood fiber can efficiently replace plastic, as well as keep businesses on track to meet customer demands and global sustainability goals.

MAINE FOREST PRODUCTS • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 27, 2023

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MAINE FOREST PRODUCTS • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 27, 2023

TCNEF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR APPOINTED VICE-CHAIR OF FSC U.S. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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rust to Conserve Northeast Forestlands (TCNEF) Executive Director Ted Wright has been reelected to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) U.S. Board of Directors to serve his second consecutive three-year term.

Wright, who has served on the Board’s executive committee for the past year, was appointed Vice-Chair of the Board on Sept. 21, and will become Chairman next year. He is the first-ever representative of the logging industry to serve on the FSC Board.

Wright is a Maine native and Executive Director of both the TCNEF and the Northeast Master Logger® Certification Program, which the Trust oversees. In 2019 under Wright’s leadership, the TCNEF received an FSC Leadership Award.

“I’m honored at the opportunity to continue serving on the FSC U.S. Board,” Wright said. “As Vice Chair of the board I will continue to represent the interests and perspectives of professional loggers who are committed to the responsible management of forests for all as well as the protection of small rural communities that they reside and work in near FSC-certified forests.”

The FSC U.S. Board of Directors is the organization’s highest governing authority and consists of up to 15 individuals, all of whom are U.S.-based FSC members. Each

of the three FSC chambers (Social, Economic and Environmental) has three representatives which are elected by U.S.-based FSC members and serve for a threeyear term. An additional two individuals may be appointed in each chamber by the Board, typically to ensure a full range of perspectives and expertise.

The Board leads the development of national strategy, oversees the chief executive, ensures effective financial oversight, and approves the National Forest Stewardship Standard and Controlled Wood National Risk Assessment. In addition, the Board plays an important role in FSC globally, working on issues affecting the broader FSC community.

Derik Frederiksen, President of FSC US, addressed assembled loggers from across the nation at the ALC’s Annual Meeting in Newry, ME on Oct. 5, and spoke highly of Wright.

“Ted is a champion for you on the FSC Board of directors,” Frederiksen said.

“Continue to voice your concerns through him and we will do our best to incorporate them and address them.”

Wright grew up in Aroostook County on a potato farm in Littleton, ME and began harvesting wood from the farm and discovered he really enjoyed the work. He

MAINE FOREST PRODUCTS • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 27, 2023

attended the University of Maine at Fort Kent and graduated in 2005 with an Associate’s degree in Applied Forest Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies, then went to work at Louisiana-Pacific in Houlton for a year.

He then took a job at the Region Two School of Applied Technology in Houlton teaching in their Wood Harvesting/Forestry program for seven years before accepting the TCNEF Director’s job in the fall of 2015. He and his wife, Maggie, and children, Madigan and Ben, live in Brunswick, Maine.

The Northeast Master Logger Certification Program was created in 2000 by the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine (PLC) as the first in the world point-ofharvest certification program, offering third party independent certification of logging companies’ harvesting practices. In 2003, PLC created TCNEF to administer the program with the broader goal of “enhancing the health of working forest ecosystems through exceptional accountability” throughout the Northern Forest region.

About the Forest Stewardship Council

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In addition to administering the Master Logger program, TCNEF administers an FSC®-certified group of family forest landowners throughout New England and New York. Under this arrangement forest landowners can inexpensively gain access to FSC® group certification. TCNEF is the administrative body that holds the FSC certificate and has overall responsibility for compliance with the FSC® Northeast Regional Standard.

TCNEF also administers an FSC®-certified group of Chain of Custody that provides an information trail, established and audited according to rules set by FSC, for Master Loggers and wood products companies to ensure that wood comes from certified forests.

For more information on the Master Logger program or TCNEF, contact Ted Wright at (207) 688-8195 opt. 2 or executivedirector@tcnef.org. Additional information is also available at masterloggercertification.com.

The Forest Stewardship Council, the world’s most trusted forest certification, is an independent nonprofit organization that promotes environmentally sound, socially beneficial, and economically prosperous management of forests. FSC was created in 1993 to set the standards by which forests are certified, offering assurance to consumers and businesses that the wood products they buy originate from well-managed forests. More than 5,000 companies and nearly 160 million acres of forestland are certified under FSC in the United States and Canada. For more information visit www.fsc.org.

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MAINE FOREST PRODUCTS • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 27, 2023

WHAT IS STEWARDSHIP? COURTESY OF THE FOREST SOCIETY OF MAINE

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he Forest Society of Maine (FSM) is responsible for stewarding nearly 50 conservation easements and more than one million acres of land. To put that in perspective, FSM is the 10th largest (by acreage) easement holder in the United States. Each of our easements has unique characteristics that require us to have an intimate knowledge of the property and the easement language, as well as open and regular communications with the landowner and other stakeholders.

Stewarding a conservation easement can involve many things. There are exciting adventures in the wilds of Maine looking for signs of loon nesting success, and days spent in the office pouring over legalese such as, “If Grantor believes that a temporary closure of a Hiking Trail is appropriate for safety reasons during Forest Management Activities, it may designate a reasonable temporary alternative route for any such Hiking Trail. The Grantor may also permanently relocate Hiking Trails (or create new Hiking Trails) and these provisions still apply.”

Being a good land steward means remembering that language and 25-50 pages of similar terminology as you board a small floatplane to fly for hours over easement lands in early spring, just after the snow melts and before leaves emerge on the hardwoods.

Sometimes stewardship means observing what looks to be a new trail from the air, and then making a note about its location and later a visit to the site to assess it and

the other aspects of the easement that can only be monitored on the ground. It means communicating with the landowner about why the trail was relocated, and communicating with stakeholders with knowledge about the original trail or knowledge about the impacts on the local ecology that would justify the movement of the trail. It may mean communicating with local recreation leaders about why the trail had to be moved and assuring them that it was replaced with a more appropriately located trail.

Stewardship might mean a 4 a.m. wake-up call and heading out in 0-degree weather, on snowshoes, through three feet of powdery snow with third-party forest certification auditors to make sure they understand the partnership between FSM and the landowner. Or it can be a warm sunny fall day of site visits on multiple easements in the Katahdin region capped off with a swim in a remote pond (to monitor the water quality of course).

Most importantly, beyond the wording of the easement, the ground visits, and monitoring reports, there are the people. The landowners, the donors, the neighbors, the loggers, the wildlife biologists, and the recreationists are all an important part of the stewardship of every project. We work hard to ensure that our easements continue to work for them. A well-crafted easement is just the beginning of our job as stewards.

We welcome the challenges and expectations that come to us with each new project and understand that our job lasts forever!

MAINE FOREST PRODUCTS • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 27, 2023

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GOOD FOR HOMES, GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT ­– TIMBERHP DELIVERS ON ALL FRONTS COURTESY OF TIMBERHP

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ell-insulated homes are not only more comfortable for the people who live in them, they are also part of the solution to climate change.

Innovative new building materials such as TimberHP wood fiber insulation, are moving the built environment away from fossil fuels and toward products that are high performing, healthy for people, and healthy for the environment.

HIGH PERFORMING

It has been widely accepted that by lowering energy use the built environment can play an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. But for TimberHP founders, Matthew O’Malia and Joshua Henry, that didn’t square with using carbon intensive materials to insulate homes. Wasn’t that just trading one environmental problem for another?

Homeowners want safe, healthy homes that are warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and energy efficient. Builders and contractors want effective, easy-to-install building materials they can trust will perform and that don’t negatively impact the health of their workers and customers. And architects want environmentally-superior materials that improve the living experience of inhabitants, reduce the overall carbon footprint of the built environment, and qualify for LEED credits. TimberHP delivers on all fronts.

Free of toxins, resistant to moisture liabilities, mold and fire, and offering superior properties to reduce heating and cooling loads, TimberHP wood fiber insulation is cost-competitive, easy to install — no hazmat suit or face mask required — and has been manufactured and used in Europe for more than 20 years. Tried and true, it’s one of the fastest growing insulation materials on the market.

Traditional insulation, types such as fiberglass, mineral wool, and foam, have been tolerated by the building community despite health and environmental concerns for one simple reason: lack of a scalable high-performing, risk-free alternative. Launched in 2023, TimberHP insulation products provide a domestically-manufactured, proven alternative made from one of the earth’s most renewable resources: small diameter pulp trees and residual wood leftover from milling.

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MAINE FOREST PRODUCTS • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 27, 2023

HEALTHY FOR PEOPLE & PLANET Our TimberBoard, TimberBatt, and TimberFill all begin in the same place: the abundant northern forest. We purchase Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certified small diameter pulp trees and residual wood chips and process them at our factory in Madison, Maine–former home of the Madison Paper Mill. Once the chips have been steamed and refined, we add small amounts of borate, adhesives, and paraffin wax to enhance resilience to mold, pests, fire, and improve water repellency. The result is a high-performing, vapor open, non-toxic insulation with a stable R-Value that is healthy for people and the planet.

Important to our values as a company, TimberHP is supporting the working landscape, encouraging sustainable forestry practices, and providing important jobs in a rural economy by creating a new use for leftover wood chips. Without a market for residual wood, many loggers, truck drivers, and forestry professionals simply can’t make a living. And without healthy stewardship of our forests, we risk losing forestland to fire and fragmentation and development.

In a region of the country where, historically, the economy was tied to the declining paper industry, TimberHP is breathing new life into rural manufacturing and helping to ensure forests remain forests for generations to come.

MAINE FOREST PRODUCTS • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 27, 2023

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MAINE FOREST PRODUCTS • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • October 27, 2023