Maine’ s Forestry Industry
Insights From Brian Souers
Brian Souers
Brian Souers grew up in Fishkill, New York, attended Syracuse University and graduated from New York State Forest Ranger School in 1977. After sending out 100 resumes he garnered a part time job in Mattawamkeag, Maine with International Paper. From there he began a sideline niche market of cutting and thinning spruce growth with an International log skidder and a horse. In 1981, he broke out on his own and a year later, in order to fulfill a contract with International Paper, Brian reluctantly took out a $ 65,000 loan at 18 % interest and expanded to a full time logging operation. Today, like others, Brian and his team at Treeline, Inc. are weaving their way through the changes in the forestry industry.
Brian feels that in the short term, with the mill closings, that forestry will have a few difficult years ahead; however, Brian states“ My view is that there is a lot of potential for the long term. We have a great road system built into the Maine forest and a trained work force with a work ethic second to none.” Though Maine lacks the number of growing days that occur in southern states, Maine has better wood fiber for many wood products.
Treeline’ s woods operation now cuts ½ the amount of wood that it was cutting only a year ago. Recently, they have diversified in many ways. It was not long ago that the logging, chipping and trucking was nearly 100 % of Treeline’ s revenue. Today, those divisions of the business account for only 65 % to 70 % of operating revenue.
In agreement with others we have interviewed, Brian feels strongly that the State of Maine’ s business environment is less than friendly towards the industry. He is quick to point out that many large business owners have not reinvested in their plants in recent years and the state’ s attitude, regulatory policy and policy volatility may have played a significant role in those decisions.
Souers believes the future of Maine’ s forest industry will be built upon greater diversification and new technologies. Paper will continue to play a significant role but less so than in the past. For example, Maine wood fiber has high sugar content and a future facility’ s primary goal may be producing biofuels and paper as a by-product. Another potential wood use, among several touted by Souers, involves thermally treated wood, cooked wood. This process, now being employed by a company started by two Maine foresters, involves a method of heating the wood which becomes more durable, 80 % less absorptive, increases hardness, reduces the weight, eliminates shrinking and swelling and enhances the wood’ s beauty among other qualities. Thermally treated wood can be used for decking, counter tops, gunstocks & several other applications. Souers states that while it may be a rough road for the industry in the short run, new technology and expanded uses for wood products will triumph with time. +