Mainers have little awareness about full range of forest products industry, survey shows
A public survey released Thursday shows Mainers are generally bullish about the future of the state’s forest products industry, but have little awareness of how it’s changing.
Of nearly 500 survey respondents throughout the state, 80% would recommend Maine students consider a forest-related job. FOR/Maine, a public-private coalition promoting the forest products industry, conducted the online poll late in 2020.
About 55% of respondents said they were “very optimistic” or “somewhat optimistic” about growth opportunities in forestry over the next 10 years, while 30% were pessimistic to some degree.
Compared to other industries, forestry also fared well. For example, tourism and agriculture received the highest percentages of optimistic responses, but forestry tied with tourism among respondents under age 34.
However, the survey showed that many people don’t recognize that the growth opportunities in forest products extend beyond traditional fields such as lumber and paper-making.
In fact, while wood fiber is used in manufacturing cosmetics, food products, chemicals, medical products and bioplastics, none of those applications was recognized by more than roughly 50% of the respondents. The percentage decreased significantly among those under age 44, according to the survey report.
Other public perceptions of the forest products industry were only lukewarm.
When asked about the industry’s attitude toward growth, respondents graded it at 55 on a scale where 100 represented “innovative” and zero indicated “stale.” On a similar scale evaluating the industry’s economic impact, with 100 representing “growing” and zero meaning “shrinking,” the industry also got a 55.
However, poll participants were more positive about businesses in the forestry industry. Roughly two-thirds of respondents said Maine logging contractors and timberland owners use responsible and sustainable harvesting practices.
Patrick Strauch, executive director of the Maine Forest Products Council and a member of the FOR/Maine steering committee, said in a news release, “This survey opened our eyes to some interesting points while reinforcing things we are seeing and hearing first hand.
"While our traditional products are fueling Maine’s recovering economy, emerging wood products like wood insulation, biofuels and biochar are being developed. The results of the survey show us that even though most people are not fully aware of those innovations, they are optimistic about the future of this industry.”
For more information and the survey results, click here.
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