Wisconsin forest products are being showcased this week during Forest Products Week.
Officials say this week celebrates the many forest products, the people who work in and care for the forests, and the businesses that manufacture wood products.
Wisconsin has nearly 17 million acres of woods.
The Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association is headquartered in Rhinelander.
Executive Director Henry Schienebeck says the forest products sector contributes to Wisconsin's economy by generating $24 billion in goods and services annually, and employing more than 60,000 people. Forestry is the number one employer in 10 Wisconsin counties.
Schienebeck says keeping forestry sustainable is key..
"...I think that's everybody's responsibility. As the logging community, the last thing we want to do, we have fourth-fifth generation loggers in the business and the last thing we want to do is run out of trees...."
Schienebeck says there's a push to find new uses for wood...
"...We're so lucky to have what we have in this state as far as industry goes and the sustainable forest management that we have and that's why everyone wants to move here..."
There's about 1,200 companies in Wisconsin's forest products industry -- plus another 280 companies in the logging and forestry support sectors. Wisconsin has been the top papermaking state in the nation for more than 60 years.
