WHEREAS, National Forest Products Week is celebrated during the third week in October every year as a reminder that forests are a sustainable, renewable, and recyclable resource; they are the backbone of our environment and one of North Carolina’s most environmentally friendly building materials; and
WHEREAS, in celebration, the North Carolina Forestry Association and the North Carolina Forest Service recognizes the $35.3 billion that the forest products industry contributes to our state’s economy; and
WHEREAS, according to economic contribution data from North Carolina State University, in 2021 the forest products industry in North Carolina — including forestry and logging operations, sawmills, furniture mills, and pulp and paper industries — ranked among the top manufacturing sectors in the state; and
WHEREAS, the forest products industry supports more than 139,700 jobs; and
WHEREAS, the forest sector in North Carolina directly generates about $184 million in state taxes and $434.4 million in federal taxes annually; and
WHEREAS, international exports from the North Carolina forest sector total about $1.74 billion;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim October 15 – 21, 2023, as “NORTH CAROLINA FOREST PRODUCTS WEEK” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.