Maine's Spruce Budworm Policy

In the 1970s an outbreak of spruce budworm, combined with rising protection costs, environmental concerns, and recoghition of the long-term nature of the infestation, demanded new approaches to forest management and protection. Through adapting traditional policy, frequent conflict and innovation, the Maine Department of Conservation and private landownes refined their understanding of the budworm infestation as a long-term management problem. The recently completed Maine Spruce-Fir Wood Suply/Demand Analysis highlighted the need for investment in more intensive forest management and better wood utilization, in addition to continued protection, if Maine's industries dependent on spruce and fir are to maintain their current levels of production.