The sugarbush\u2014the stand of maple trees that are tapped for sap collection\u2014is the heart of the maple industry. The health of that central resource is susceptible to extreme weather, new pests, and unintentional damage from management practices (soil compaction, logging wounds, loss of diversity, etc.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As managers, the future of our industry depends on implementing intentional practices to build the sugarbush’s resilience. This includes assessing site-specific risks, creating intentional sap collection approaches, and implementing site-specific science-based forest management approaches (i.e., silviculture) to achieve ecological and economic goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In collaboration with other leaders in the field, the UMaine Extension is working to expand resources to support resilient sugarbush management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n