MD Forestry Economic Adjustment Strategy & Woodyard Feasibility Study Available
- Melissa Nash
- Nov 10, 2021
- 2 min read
Maryland supports one of the most diverse and prolific forest ecosystems in the United States. It stretches from the pine stands on the Eastern Shore, renowned for quality and density, to the Appalachian hardwoods of Western Maryland, which are recognized worldwide as premier inputs for fine furniture cabinetry. When combined with the interests of our committed forest products entrepreneurs, these assets provide innovative products to the market, create well-paying urban and rural jobs, and are vital to the environmental health of the Chesapeake Bay.
The industry, however, is undergoing restructuring and contraction. This decline hits Maryland’s rural communities hard, where job loss and economic transition can be painful and difficult from which to recover. In response, Western Maryland Resource Conservation and Development Council (WMRC&D) worked with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), The Maryland Department of Commerce (DOC) and the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) to develop this Economic Adjustment Strategy (EAS) to help foster a resilient and sustainable transition by rebuilding and modernizing the forest products industry in the state. This effort engages both the private and public sectors in a unified campaign to assure a robust future for the industry for many years to come.
The forest industry contributes $3.5 billion to Maryland’s economy and employs 15,271 people. Given the importance of the sector to the state, especially its western counties, ACDS, LLC was tasked by the Western Maryland RC&D and other stakeholders to determine the feasibility of a woodyard that would help support local industry after the closure of the Verso Mill in Luke, MD. The project team gathered data and conducted interviews of loggers, operators of sawmills and pulp and paper mills, and other industry stakeholders. Research revealed a forest industry in transition, but not necessarily in decline, and that it would not benefit from the development of a woodyard at this time.
The timber supply in Maryland remains robust. Softwood and hardwood species are abundant and can supply pulpwood and sawlogs for many years. High-grading has led to a slight decrease in forest health, but this can be mitigated by finding and accessing additional markets for the pulpwood that cause the ecological imbalance. When markets are discovered and can be accessed, some loggers are willing and able to expand production and develop efficient operations with the purchase of sophisticated equipment.
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