Cheryl Adams, UPM Blandin Paper Mill
Cheryl Adams
Forest Ecologist – UPM Blandin Paper Mill
As the frontrunner of the new forest industry, UPM leads the integration of bio and forest industries into a new, sustainable and innovation-driven future. We reshape markets through cost leadership, change readiness and leading innovation. We create value from renewable and recyclable materials by combining our expertise and technologies within fibre-based, energy-related and engineered materials businesses.
What aspect or aspects of the VFVC initiative will have the most lasting value for your organization, the forest or the state?
The networking with policy makers, researchers, and natural resource practitioners participating in “Seeing the Forest and the Trees”, while experiencing different forest management philosophies and practices globally, provided a common ground for communication. The experience also helped solidify a more unified vision on how Minnesota forests need to be managed in the future and how special forest lands are to Minnesota’s economy and society.
What new experience have you had recently that impacts the way you view Minnesota’s forests?
The funding for the UPM Blandin conservation easement from the Blandin Foundation, the voters of Minnesota, and other organizations shows that people in Minnesota are concerned about the fate of forest lands and want them available for future generations.
In what way or ways do you see the work continuing that grew out of the VFVC initiative?
People participating in VFVC found that there are avenues and resources available that didn’t seem to be there before the initiative. This has helped raise the profile of the importance of Minnesota’s forest to create more opportunities for promoting forest products in both the traditional and nontraditional sense.
What do you hope Minnesotans perceive about their forests today?
Ecologically managed forests are an economic resource but more importantly they will promote the health and well-being of individuals today and for future generations.