Indonesian Contingent Visits UMaine’s Forest Sector Experts
Under the auspices of the US Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program and World Affairs Council of Maine (WACM), UMaine Center for Research on Sustainable Forests Director Dr. Aaron Weiskittel and Shane O’Neill, Forest Industry Business Development Manager, organized and coordinated
the visit by six Indonesian delegates well-versed in forest policy and environmental journalism, two translators, and WACM Executive Director Alison Hodgkins. The group was invited to Orono to learn more about UMaine’s role in the state’s forestry education, research, and forest products sectors.
The visit began with a tour around the Demeritt Forest with Keith Kanoti, University Forest Manager, to learn about forest operations and maple syrup production in Maine, highlighted by a maple syrup tasting while visiting the Thomas J. Corcoran Sugar House.
Developing new forest-based products (a key area of focus for the NSF E-Rise grant, Enhancing Maine Forest Economy, Sustainability, and Technology Ecosystem to Accelerate Innovation [Maine-FOREST] led by Dr. Weiskittel) were featured on the second day. The group toured the Forest Bioproducts Research Institute and Advanced Structures and Composites Center, learned about cellulosic nanofiber research (CNF) for advanced manufacturing at the Process Development Center, and engaged in discussions on environmental communications and policy with members of the Office of Strategic Partnerships, Innovation, Resources, and Engagement, George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions, and the Department of Communication and Journalism, which included interactions with graduate students Yayra Ademadjiku, Medha Bhattacharyya, Faron Grossman, Kate Behrens, and Jennifer Smith-Mayo.
The 3-day visit concluded with a roundtable lunch and discussion hosted by Dr. Weiskittel and Dr. Adam Daigneault, Director of the School of Forest Resources. Over lunch, the visitors talked with UMaine SFR faculty about Maine forests, forest management, and biodiversity in Maine, and offered their perspectives. Of note, many said, were Maine’s sustainable forestry policies and landowner relationships and strong community ties. The faculty agreed that Maine is lucky to have such a strong ecosystem ethos, but pointed out that we continue to fight the misperception that active management is equal to deforestation.
Heartened by what they experienced here and lessons they could take back, the group shared the many issues Indonesia is confronting: communicating the value of sustainability of forests and potential for economic growth in the face of development pressures, poor infrastructure, competing interest for public lands, forest waste, and deforestation.
When asked what surprised them most during the visit and key takeaways, the consensus was that “Mainers are proud of their forests—exciting research and education, providing lessons to take back for managing forests for economic and community development, and maybe we need to increase the pride in natural resources.”