Since its establishment on July 1, 2006, the Center for Research on Sustainable Forests has been available to those who are interested in the field.
The center’s director, Bruce Wirsma, former dean of the Natural Science department, said, “The center is here to help serve as a resource of unbiased information for researchers and to help effectively share this information with the public.” Wirsma said that the building is open for anyone interested and encourages all to get involved.
According to its mission statement, the center’s purpose is “to conduct and promote leading interdisciplinary research on issues affecting the management and sustainability of northern forest ecosystems and Maine’s forest-based economy.” The center is mainly focused on climate change, energy issues, and population change.
“We are not part of the School of Forest Resources,” said Summer Allen, assistant to the director, “which is a common mistake that is made. We report directly to the vice president for research.”
The center has competitive grants available to help with the research. As a free standing institution, there are no classes being held there. Their concern is with doing as much research as possible.
Wirsma said, “What I’m excited about is that for the first time, there is a research center that is fully focused on the forests in Maine. There has been a great need for this and I see a good future for the center.”
The center’s Web site, www.crsf.umaine.edu, is not yet working, but will provide information about the different research projects.
The center is also involved with the Cooperative Forestry Research Unit, a long-time provider of applied forestry research, and the Northern States Research Cooperative, which includes Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. On Oct. 14, there will be a “Forests for Maine’s Future” seminar in Portland with all of these units participating.
“Most people don’t know that ninety percent of Maine is forest,” said Allen. These units deal mainly with what people wonder about the forests around Maine and most of New England.
The Center for Research on Sustainable Forests is located in Nutting Hall on the UMaine campus.
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