Prospects for a Rim County Population Rebound: Can Quality of Place Lure In-Migrants?

David Vail asks whether population will rebound in Maine’s rural “rim” counties and whether investing to enhance “quality of place” can attract large numbers of rural settlers. Review of the evidence suggests that Maine’s rim counties are not experiencing a population rebound and that rural counties vary greatly in their ability to hold onto existing residents or attract new ones. Vail argues that quality-of-place investments should not be considered as a core development tool for rural areas, but that they can complement traditional rural economic policy measures. Since it is difficult to stimulate a major population movement to Maine’s rim counties, amenity investments should focus on enhancing quality of life for current residents, thereby strengthening their incentive to stay

MP694: Sunrise Agriculture in the Northeast: Foundations of a Sustainable Agriculture for the Twenty-First Century: Proceedings of an International Conference

Proceedings from a conference on the future of agriculture in New England and Atlantic Canada. Major topics covered include the following: The Crisis and Opportunity of Northeast Agriculture - Frederick H. Buttel The Farm Crisis as a Time to Choose: Necessity and Opportunity -David Vail Preconditions for a Northeastern Agricultural Sunrise - Bruce L. Gardner Creating a Competitive Advantage - Stewart N. Smith The Sun Also Rises: A New Era of Agriculture in the Northeast - August Schumacher, Jr. New England Farm Strategies for Survival and Prosperity - Patrick Madden and Anastra Madden Diversification and Agricultural Sustainability - Stuart B. Hillhttps://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_miscpubs/1036/thumbnail.jp

Snowmobiling in Maine: Past Successes, Future Challenges

With one snowmobile registration for every 15 residents, Maine may well have the most snowmobiles per capita of any U.S. state. Moreover, the state’s 12,000-mile network of groomed trails and its 2,500-mile Interconnected Trail System make it a major winter tourist attraction. Still, as David Vail points out—and as the number of snowmobile-related deaths confirms—such progress has not come without costs and conflict. Although Vail argues the benefits outweigh the costs, he suggests Maine should act now to alleviate the conflicts related to congestion, over use of the state’s major trails, noise and air pollution, and free riding by non-dues-paying sledders. He argues these problems cannot be handled by local snowmobile clubs alone, but require an active partnership with state government to mitigate current conflicts and to avert future ones

Tourism Strategy for the Maine Woods: A Big Push to World Class

Can Maine’s North Woods be a “world-class” tourist destination? The short answer is “not yet.” David Vail notes that the Northern Forest’s current mix of natural, cultural and hospitality assets is not sufficiently unique, outstanding or networked to draw large numbers of new overnight visitors. His article gives examples of some promising new endeavors, and suggests the possible development of a “great Maine woods” recreation area or national heritage area as a possible “big push” strategy

Prospects for a Rim County Renaissance: Pandemic as Economic Opportunity

In previous Maine Policy Review essays, the author assessed the chronic economic distress facing Maine’s rim counties. His forecast for “more of the same” has been largely borne out by facts on the ground. At the end of 2021, however, he foresees new opportunities in the coming decade, based on a mix of positive external forces and creative Maine responses. Their economic potential is also strengthened by a massive infusion of federal dollars, the spread of high-speed telecommunications, and even the climate crisis. With critical state support, private-public-nonprofit partnerships are re-inventing rural Maine’s heritage industries—forest products, the food system, and tourism—and tapping its renewable energy potential. Pursued together, these silver buckshot initiatives can move many rim county communities onto a sustainable development path

An Ecotourism Quality Label for Maine? Insights from Sweden’s “Nature’s Best Initiative

Nature-based tourism may be one way to revitalize lagging rural economies. David Vail offers “food for thought” based on Sweden’s recent development of an accreditation and branding process for eco-tourism operations. For an eco-tourism product to be awarded the label “Nature’s Best,” the operator must undergo a voluntary accreditation process which certifies that a set of quality standards has been met. Vail notes that effective marketing, ongoing financing, and demonstrated economic payoff both to operators and to local areas are key to determining the long-term success of Sweden’s “Nature’s Best” process. Like Sweden, he suggests, Maine may be able to capture an ecotourism market niche by establishing its own eco-tourism quality label

Pesticides, A Love Story: America\u27s Enduring Embrace of Dangerous Chemicals

Review of: Pesticides, A Love Story: America’s Enduring Embrace of Dangerous Chemicals , by Michelle Mart