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U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine
Updated: October 2, 2023
King introduces bill to strengthen, protect Maine forests
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The America's Revegetation and Carbon Sequestration Act aims to restore ecosystems, boost carbon sequestering through tree planting, reduce fire risks and expand the development of forest products and wood innovation.
Forests in Maine and nationwide would be better protected from fire and other dangers under a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, he says.
The America’s Revegetation and Carbon Sequestration Act of 2023 aims to restore ecosystems, boost carbon sequestering through tree planting, reduce fire risks and expand the development of forest products and wood innovation.
The forestry and forest products sector is one of Maine's strongest industries, supporting 14,200 jobs in 2021 according to a report published in March by the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development.
“The health of America’s forests has long been essential to the long-term economic and environmental health of our nation,” said King, a member of the Senate Working Forests Caucus.
“As one of the most forested states in the country, Maine understands that working forests support jobs and communities, help to prevent forest fires, and mitigate the effect of climate change. In the face of shifting market demands and increasing risks of forest fires, we need to encourage innovative solutions that support the long-term health of our forests and our timber industry.
“This legislation is the approach we need at the moment – a commonsense, bipartisan bill that protects our forests today and lays the foundation plants the seeds of future success by incentivizing forward-thinking technologies like cross-laminated timber.”
The bill calls for sequestering carbon and improving ecosystems through revegetation; mitigating carbon emissions through wildfire prevention: storing carbon through the expanded use of wood products including cross-laminated timber and biochar; and eradicating invasive grasses that make rangelands more flammable.
Patrick Strauch, executive director of the Maine Forest Products Council, welcomed the legislation while noting that Maine has been fortunate to have avoided impacts from widespread wildfires as other states have seen in recent years.
“Maine’s forests are working, providing more than $8 billion in economic benefits to our state annually," he said. America’s Revegetation and Carbon Sequestration Act would help protect our valuable forest resources while expanding the use of innovative forest products.”
King, who's a member of the the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, recently introduced the bipartisan Timber Innovation Act to improve forest health and improve Maine’s rural economy.
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