For several years now, state officials have urged Maine’s forest products industry to distinguish itself globally by growing more wood that is certified as being managed and harvested in a sustainable way.

On Wednesday, Gov. John Baldacci pledged that the state will do a better job showing its support for Maine certified products when the government goes shopping for paper and wood.

Baldacci announced two executive orders that direct state officials to, whenever possible, buy paper products or wood for construction that come from certified, sustainable forestlands.

The governor, who made the announcement at a paper industry conference in Bar Harbor, predicted the initiatives will promote Maine as a leader in forest certification while helping ensure the state’s vast timberlands are well-managed.

Maine currently leads the nation in growing certified forest products, with 42 percent of timberlands in the state – or roughly 7 million acres – meeting standards set by independent certification organizations.

While each certification program differs – and there is considerable debate about which program is best – these certifications generally ensure that forests are well-managed, support wildlife populations and ensure a long-term supply of timber.

The state has actively encouraged timberland owners to seek certification, such as in the 2006 Maine Forest Service brochure titled “Forest Certification in Maine: Changing Strategy for an Evolving Market.”

“Forest certification can bring many benefits to Maine’s economy, environment and rural communities,” the brochure reads. “It can help grow Maine’s forest industry by distinguishing Maine products in the marketplace and improving forest management. Forest certification also can help Maine’s forestry businesses compete in global paper and wood products markets.”

The executive orders signed by Baldacci on Wednesday commit the state to following through on its own advice.

The first executive order sets a goal that by fiscal year 2010, 80 percent of the paper products purchased by state government will come from certified sources or be made from recycled fibers.

The directive would allow purchases of noncertified or nonrecycled paper products whenever the price premium exceeds 4 percent as well as if other products are unavailable, do not meet performance standards or raise safety concerns.

Maine state government expects to purchase – either directly or through outsourced printers – about $2.3 million in paper products during the current fiscal year.

The second executive order aims to increase the amount of certified wood used in the construction of buildings owned or financed by the state.

The order directs the heads of several state agencies to work together on a list of recommendations for ensuring that, whenever possible, state-financed construction projects use certified wood products. The group must also identify obstacles that prevent the state from using certified wood and “green” construction methods in buildings owned or paid for by the state.

The order says Maine’s state government can “lead by example by identifying, promoting and implementing economical and cost-effective green building designs and construction materials.”

Alec Giffen, who heads the Maine Forest Service, said the products must be certified under one of the leading third-party organizations, such as the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Forest Stewardship Council or American Tree Farm.

“The way that Maine approaches this issue is we recognize … those certifications that are accepted by the marketplace,” Giffen said. “We follow the lead of the market.”

Giffen said he would expect that the recommendations on building materials will include provisions that would allow the state to give preference to certified wood grown in Maine. Due to reciprocal agreements with other states, however, Maine is barred from only purchasing paper made with homegrown fiber.

Demand for certified products, which often carry a higher price tag, has grown considerably in recent years. Some major users have switched to Maine-made products because of their certification, and vice versa.

For instance, L.L. Bean ended a 23-year relationship with Verso Paper’s mill in Bucksport last year because the retailer wanted to increase the recycled content it its catalogs and to ensure that fibers came from independently certified timberlands.

Verso Paper has since earned certification by the Forest Stewardship Council at all four of its mills, including Bucksport.

kmiller@bangordailynews.net

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