Forestry organizations, businesses, and communities celebrated Wisconsin’s diverse forest products sector during National Forest Products Week on October 15-21, 2017. Gov. Scott Walker also proclaimed the week as Forest Products Week in Wisconsin, encouraging citizens to recognize the many products that come from our forests because of the people and businesses that work in and care for forests.  Several forest products businesses and organizations hosted open house events throughout the week.  DNR produced a new handout to showcase the economic value of Wisconsin forests.  If you’d like copies of this printed publication, send an email to DNRFRPublications@wisconsin.gov noting your street address, the number of copies you’d like and the publication code number (FR-698).

Wisconsin has 17.1 million acres of forestland covering nearly half of the state and is home to more than 1,200 forest products companies producing a variety of products that we use daily. The forest products sector is a major economic engine, generating $24.7 billion in goods and services annually, and is especially vital to our rural communities.

Wisconsin also celebrated Manufacturing Month during October and the forest products sector continues to be a vital component of Wisconsin’s manufacturing. Primary and secondary forest products businesses make up to 14 percent of all manufacturing jobs in the state.

Every day of the year presents a new opportunity to appreciate the many renewable forest products made in Wisconsin and the men and women who work in and care for our forests!

For more information, contact Collin Buntrock, Collin.Buntrock@Wisconsin.gov, (715) 365-4704.