Great Maine Forest Initiative

Forests and the forest products industry define Maine. They are a significant part of what creates Maine’s character and special quality of place. Both the forest resource and its traditional uses face unprecedented challenges to their future and the values that they have traditionally provided to Maine people. The Great Maine Forest Initiative (GMFI) is a collaborative effort led by the Maine Department of Conservation to involve a variety of state and federal conservation and energy agencies, as well as elements of the forest products industry, forest landowners, and the conservation community to chart a course that will maintain the values that Maine’s forest resources and its forest manufacturing industry have provided to Maine citizens for two centuries.

The purposes of the Great Maine Forest Initiative are:

To keep forests as forests for both environmental and economic reasons.
To maintain as diverse and robust a forest products industry as is possible to provide jobs for Maine people, the backbone for rural economies and to keep us connected with the land in a real and tangible way.

Excerpt from Governor Baldacci's State of the State Address
January 21, 2009

For as long as I can remember, people have talked about “Two Maines.” I’ve always rejected that notion. We are one people, united in the things that matter most. But there is truth to the idea that we live in different communities, each with its own strengths and challenges. We can’t be satisfied with an economy that favors one region or one industry. We need statewide growth, building on the assets that make each part of Maine unique and strong.

That is the idea behind the Great Maine Forest Initiative.

I believe it’s the key to a successful rural economy, and can find the right balance for tourists and sportsmen, energy and industry. A group of dedicated and diverse people have been working since last summer to develop a pilot program for this initiative.

The idea is to create large scale conservation that maintains access for traditional uses; It protects Maine’s valuable forest resources from development; And provides a stable source of wood, sustainably managed, for our forest products industries and our growing energy sector.

If we make wise choices, and keep our forests as forests, there are enough resources for everyone.

In the last seven years, Maine has conserved nearly 1.3 million acres of land, including completing Governor Baxter’s vision for Baxter State Park. We’ve done it through a State trusted program, Land for Maine’s Future, with federal and private resources and, most importantly, with local support.

DRAFT Great Maine Forest Initiative (pdf)

DRAFT Working Outline
The Keeping Maine’s Forest portion of the Great Maine Forest Initiative (pdf)

Keeping Maine's Forest

Overview (pdf)

Frequently Asked Questions (pdf)