Participants in the Meeting Included University of Maine President Joan Ferrin-Mundy and Maine Department of Agriculture Conservation and Forestry (DACF) Commissioner Amanda Beal, as well as Reresentatives from the Appalachian Mountain Club, The Nature Conservancy, New England Forestry Foundation, Professional Logging Contractors of the Notheast and More. (Photo Provided by Chelline Pingree’s Office)
Today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittee, led a roundtable discussion with Maine forestry leaders about the Trump Admiistration’s reckless decision to reorganize the US Forest Service (USFS) and shutter research facilities. The planned USFS reorganiztion poses a serious risk to forest health and productivity in New England, reallign key Forest Service staff away from the region, and potentially impact the research conducted at the Massabessic, Howland and Penobscot experimental forests.
“Maine is the most forested state in the nation. The Forest Service is an essential partner in protecting Maine’s forests, supporting our working forest economy and advancing the research and innovation that will shape the future of wood products. But the Trump Administration is trying to push through a sweeping reorganization with little transparency, little justification and little regard for the people and regions that rely on Forest Serice expertise,” PIngree said. “Today’s roundtable made clear that Maine’s forestry leaders are concerned about what this plan would mean for forest health, regional staffing and critical research at the Massabesic, Howland and Penobscot experimental forests. USDA and USFS owe Congress and the public real answers before taking another step. I’m grateful to everyone who joined today’s discussion and I keep trying to ensure this reoganization does not weaken the Forst Service or leave Maine behind.”
Pingree recently pressed USFS Chief Schultz about the reorganization plan in an Appropriations budget hearing. As Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees the Forest Service, Pingree will continue pushing for clarity from the Administation about the reorganization and take what she heard today to Washington.