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Private Working Forests Provide Significant Support for Rural Economies

Posted on 04.26.19

New Report:  Privately Owned Working Forests Support 2.5 Million Jobs

Washington, DC – An analysis released today by the National Alliance of Forest Owners (NAFO) shows that private working forests support a staggering 2.5 million jobs, $109 billion in payroll, and account for $288 billion dollars in sales and manufacturing.

The new report by Forest2Market analyzes Forest & Inventory Analysis (FIA) data from the Forest Service and North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes from the Department of Labor to calculate the economic impact of privately owned working forests across the United States.

“This report verifies what we already know – that working forests are the unique place where environmental stewardship and economic prosperity align,” said Dave Tenny, founding President and CEO of NAFO. “There is a widely accepted view that we must choose between economic growth and environmental stewardship, and this data proves that to be false.”

To put these numbers in perspective, the 2.5 million working forests jobs represent a greater number of workers than the entire populations of San Antonio or Pittsburgh.  With the $109 billion in working forest supported payroll, someone could buy every Major League Baseball team in the US at their estimated prices, twice. The $288 billion dollars in sales and manufacturing represents a sum greater than the entire GDP of Connecticut.

“These outstanding economic numbers are just one side of the coin,” Tenny continued. “The environmental benefits our working forests provide are also unmatched in their scale.”

Forests in the United States offset 12-15% of our total emissions each year, provide 30% of our drinking water, and are home to a wide variety of wildlife. America’s working forests are 70% privately owned, and they exist in mainly rural areas in need of economic expansion. Working forests are delivering the economic and environmental benefits these communities need.

“In many rural communities, forests are the economy,” Tenny said. “We see that by growing trees, we can put millions of Americans to work on the front lines fighting climate change. Modern forestry is the common ground Republicans and Democrats are looking for on any future climate policy.”

By providing a continuing cycle of planting, growing and harvesting, active forest management optimizes a forest’s ability to create jobs and economic opportunity, and to provide environmental benefits, like sequestering and storing carbon, cleaning water, and providing wildlife habitat.

“Today, on Arbor Day, we’re reminded that with proper management and care, our forests will provide for our environmental and economic future,” Tenny said.

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The National Alliance of Forest Owners (NAFO) is a national advocacy organization committed to advancing federal policies that support the long-term economic, social and environmental benefits of sustainably managed privately-owned forests. NAFO member companies own and manage more than 46 million acres of private working forests – forests that are managed to provide a steady supply of timber. NAFO’s membership also includes state and national associations representing tens of millions of additional acres. Private working forests in the U.S. support 2.5 million jobs. Learn more at nafoalliance.org.

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FOCUSING ON CARBON BENEFITS

POLICY POSITION:

To optimize forest carbon benefits, policy should focus on carbon impacts and avoid requirements that impose new regulations on the co-benefits forests provide.

WHY WE SUPPORT THIS POLICY POSITION:

Working forests are geographically diverse and provide a wide range of valuable co-benefits like clean air and water, wildlife habitat, and jobs. Nationwide one-size-fits-all approaches that place requirements on these co-benefits are ineffective and should not interfere with the ultimate goal of climate change legislation: reducing atmospheric carbon.

MONITORING AND MEASURING

POLICY POSITION:

NAFO supports fully funding programs that advance the contributions of forests and forest products in climate policy like the USDA Forest Inventory & Analysis (FIA) Program. The technical information provided from these programs is critical to sound climate policy and legislation.

WHY WE SUPPORT THIS POSITION:

On-the-ground measurements are more accurate and effective than imagery or modeling. Using the FIA program eliminates any bias and offers the most robust nationwide solution to accurately measure carbon in forests and forest products.

ENCOURAGING FULL PARTICIPATION

POLICY POSITION:

To optimize forest carbon benefits, policy should focus on carbon impacts and avoid requirements that impose new regulations on the co-benefits forests provide.

WHY WE SUPPORT THIS POLICY POSITION:

Working forests are geographically diverse and provide a wide range of valuable co-benefits like clean air and water, wildlife habitat, and jobs. Nationwide one-size-fits-all approaches that place requirements on these co-benefits are ineffective and should not interfere with the ultimate goal of climate change legislation: reducing atmospheric carbon.

SUPPORTING RESILIENT FORESTS

POLICY POSITION:

NAFO supports policies that promote healthy and resilient forests. Healthy forests are less susceptible to threats such as pests and wildfire, and they can better adapt to a changing climate.

WHY WE SUPPORT THIS POSITION:

Climate change is already impacting our forests regardless of property lines and ownership classes. When public or private forest are unhealthy, they affect their neighbors. Active management at a landscape scale improves resilience as our climate changes and introduces new stresses on our forestland.