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Promote Forest Health for a Stable Bio-Economy Understand and Separate Wood Components Create and Commercialize New Bioproducts

Students

Gretchen Heldmann

"As a native of Connecticut, I see Maine in a different light than native Mainers. I have seen the effects of poorly planned development and how they can destroy the character of a once-beautiful, rural community. I love Maine and want to ensure the same things do not happen here. The most important goal for me in doing this work is to provide real world results that will benefit people working in the communities trying to achieve a fair balance of everyone’s goals."

 

My Research

This project will explore implications of land use change on Maine's private forest land through the use of a mail survey. The main objective of this project is to increase understanding of landowner decision making. In that regard we are focusing on two kinds of decision-making: 1) the decision to allow biomass harvests on their property, and 2) the decision to allow outdoor recreation activities on their property. Both types of decisions are important to Maine’s economy as forestry and tourism are major industries in the state.

 

In Other Words

Have you noticed new houses “popping” up everywhere? Has a forest that you used to explore and play in as a child been sold? Is it still managed as a forest? Is it ever harvested? Is it open access for others to responsibly enjoy? This project will explore implications of land use and landownership change on Maine's private forest land through the use of a mail survey. The main objective of this project is to increase understanding of landowner decision making. In that regard we are focusing on two kinds of decision-making: 1) the decision to allow biomass harvests on their property, and 2) the decision to allow outdoor recreation activities on their property. Both types of decisions are important to Maine’s economy as forestry and tourism are major industries in the state.


Contact Information

231 Nutting Hall

University of Maine
Orono, ME 04469
Email: gretchen_heldmann@umit.maine.edu

NSF EPSCoR The University of Maine EPSCoR Department of Energy
This project is supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. EPS-0554545 This project is supported by the Department of Energy EPSCoR program under award number DE-FG02-07ER46373