FOP^ESTRY 

 Forestry is extremely important to the future of this 

 state, both economically and environmentally. North Carolina 

 has almost 20 million acres of forests, two-thirds of its total 

 land area, which are owned by 245,000 private landowners. 

 Without question, North Carolina is among the ration's top five 

 forestry states. Forestry ranks as the second largest 

 industry, employing one of every fourteen workers and 

 contributing over eight billion dollars annually to the State's 

 economy. Thirty to forty years from now, the desirable trees 

 currently being planted or regenerated naturally will be worth 

 three hundred million dollars per year to landowners and the 

 State. If our forest land were adequately managed, this 

 production could be doubled and would put North Carolina in a 

 good position to support its forest industries, as well as to 

 export its forest products. Equally important are the inherent 

 values forests offer to the quality of life in our State: soil 

 protection and development, good water quality, aesthetics, 

 wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation, and clean air. 



The Commission, recognizing these important contributions 

 and the need to maintain them for the State's economy and 

 environment, continues to support the concepts and plans 

 embodied in "Pathv/ays for Forestry in North Carolina" by making 

 the following findings and recommendations to the 1987 General 

 Assembly. 



