Forestry

UMaine’s School of Forest Resources faculty are known as a source of objective scientific information. They have an international reputation for cutting-edge research innovation and are committed to educating the next generation of leaders on forest resources issues. In a typical year, our faculty receive $2.5 million in research grants and publish 40 papers in peer-reviewed journals. They also provide leadership regionally and nationally to professional organizations.

Knowledge of forest operations and markets is a key element of sustainable forestry. The Forestry program at the University of Maine retains a strong field orientation.

The program utilizes the University’s 1,750-acre Dwight B. Demeritt Forest located next to the campus. In addition, the nearbyPenobscot Experimental Forest and other properties owned and managed by the University, provide nearly 13,500 acres of living laboratories for forestry education and research.

Forestry graduates may work for large companies, like Irving and Weyerhaeuser, or become independent consultants, serving private forest landowners such as the thousands who own more than half of Maine’s timberland. Federal agencies, such as the United States Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service employ many foresters. State natural resources agencies hire foresters to manage state forestlands and to provide advice to owners of small woodland properties. Nongovernmental conservation organizations employ foresters to further the interests of their programs.