Wisconsin’s forest products industry contributes $37.8 billion in total economic value to the state and ranks second nationally for production value. The industry also ranks sixth nationally in generating forestry employment, with more than 123,000 jobs in the state.

Forest products are not only important to Wisconsin’s economy, but they positively impact our lives.

“From paper products such as food packaging, fine writing paper, and toilet paper to lumber used to build homes, flooring, and furniture, we depend on forest products daily,” said Scott Lyon, DNR forest products team leader.

Forest products also play a vital role in mitigating the changing climate. Trees store carbon, offsetting greenhouse gas emissions while they are growing, and they retain the stored carbon throughout the useful life of forest products.