Celebrate Wisconsin's Forest Products This Week
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources joins the nation in celebrating Forest Products Week from Oct. 18-24, 2026.
Wisconsin’s forests cover nearly 17 million acres of public and private forested land – about half of the state’s land. Many of those forests provide raw material to the forest products industry. Forest Products Week recognizes the people who work in and care for our forests, the industry workers who make the forest products we depend on and the many ways forest products contribute to Wisconsin’s economy and quality of life.
"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. "Then there’s firewood and fiberboard, wood chips and charcoal, tissues and telephone poles. And don’t forget all the delicious fruits, nuts and maple syrup," he said.
In Wisconsin, trees also grow jobs and industry.
Data analyzed by the DNR show that the state’s forest products business directly generates $27.8 billion in forestry goods annually and supports the employment of more than 55,000 Wisconsinites. Overall, the total economic value to Wisconsin is reported to be $43.5 billion, supporting 127,000 jobs statewide.
About 1,000 Wisconsin companies are involved in the forest products industry, plus about 270 more companies in logging and forestry support sectors. Wisconsin ranks first in the nation in papermaking and has held that top spot for over 70 years.
Forestry's economic impact reaches every corner of the state. According to data analyzed by the DNR, jobs related to forest products make up 11% of all manufacturing jobs statewide.
Industry workers involved in active forest management ensure trees remain a healthy and renewable resource in Wisconsin, meeting the global demand for a wide range of forest products and encouraging the use of sustainably harvested wood products.
Forest products also play a vital role in mitigating the effects of a changing climate. Trees store carbon, offsetting greenhouse gas emissions while growing and retaining the stored carbon throughout the useful life of forest products.
In Wisconsin, Forest Products Week recognizes the industry workers who harvest, transport and transform logs into valuable products, along with the woodland owners and professional foresters who care for the state's 17 million acres of forests. That work ensures that Wisconsin can continue providing raw forest materials to businesses while offering recreational opportunities and ecosystem services to state residents and visitors.
"Through the use of sustainable forestry practices, trees are grown and harvested responsibly, providing the economic, social and ecological benefits of forest products today and for future generations," said Carmen Hardin, DNR Applied Forestry Bureau Director. "One of the draws of forest products made with Wisconsin wood is the story that product tells – whether it’s a bench from urban trees that fell during a storm, a baseball bat made from Wisconsin ash or a pint of maple syrup from a backyard. Wisconsin wood products tell a story and connect Wisconsinites to our forests."
Learn more about the economic importance of Wisconsin forest products on the DNR's Forest Products webpage and keep up with developments by subscribing to the Forest Products News and other forestry newsletters.
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