Frankfort, Ky. – Governor Steve Beshear has proclaimed Oct. 18–24 as Forest Products Week in Kentucky. Congress established this annual event in 1960 to emphasize to each American how forests are inseparably tied to our past, present and future.
“Kentucky’s forests are a renewable natural resource, with forest products industries generating and contributing a total economic impact of $12.8 billion to the state’s economy, employing over 59,000 people,” Beshear said.
Kentucky is one of the leading producers of hardwood forest products in the south and exports wood products across the nation and the world. This economic impact was generated from forests located in all 120 counties of the Commonwealth, providing resources harvested by over 1,800 logging firms and processed at 703 facilities located in 109 counties. These industries include sawmills, pulp and paper mills, and a wide variety of secondary producers such as cabinet, barrel, and flooring manufacturers.
Leah MacSwords, director of the Kentucky Division of Forestry, added, “Forestland in Kentucky covers nearly half of the state. Forest landowners and the Commonwealth receive a tremendous economic benefit from sales of wood products.”
To find out more about National Forest Products Week and the forest industry in Kentucky, contact the Kentucky Forest Industries Association at (502) 695-3979. For information on the management and stewardship of your forest, contact the Division of Forestry at (502) 564-4496 or check the website at http://forestry.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx.
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