The Center’s Future Forest Economy Initiative supported development of new markets for wood from the Northern Forest from 2019-2023 — expanding the development and production of new and emerging wood products that will support the region’s economy and help keep forests as forests.

The program invested $3 million in wood product market diversification, helping launch 10 new forest products and leveraging $14.8 million private investment in the sector.

Market changes due to the reduction of pulp and paper making in the region have left landowners, loggers, and wood product manufacturers in northern New England seeking new markets for harvested wood. Strong markets for wood provide incentive for landowners to maintain their forestland rather than develop it for other uses.

The Initiative invested $3 million in market development, generating $14 million in private investment. The initiative was a cooperative effort of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities, and the Northern Forest Center.

Read project summaries below or visit projects on-site through this video.