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MS SAF Position Statement on Forest-Based Economic Development

Position:

The Mississippi Society of American Foresters encourages and supports all efforts to assess Mississippi’s forests as a source of increased economic development and to attract new forest industry to the state. MS SAF encourages economic development organizations to promote forest management and reforestation as a means of local economic development and seeks a partnership with all economic development organizations in Mississippi for the purpose of cooperation to realize additional forest-based economic development for Mississippi.

Background:

According to the most recent Mississippi Institute of Forest Inventory (MIFI) survey, Mississippi has 19.8 million acres of commercial forestland. This represents approximately 65 percent of the state’s land and indications are that more land is being planted to trees from marginal agriculture annually.

The forest products manufacturing sector is the largest manufacturing sector in Mississippi and provides 1 in 4 manufacturing jobs or employs approximately 54,900 workers. These workers earn approximately $6,200 per year above the average wage in Mississippi.

In recent years Mississippi has experienced increasing markets for standing timber products and many academic studies project sustained or increasing demand for Mississippi’s timber products in the future. In addition, technological innovations in forest products manufacturing are developing that will use smaller trees in new ways to make better forest products for the future. New facilities will be built to manufacture these products and Mississippi should be positioned to capitalize on these developments. As states east of Mississippi experience rapid population growth in the future, it is likely that timber harvest pressure will shift westward toward Mississippi.

The Mississippi Forestry Commission exists to assist landowners in forest management and to protect the state’s forests from fire and other threats. The Mississippi Development Authority and local economic development organizations assist industrial prospects to identify areas for new plant locations but the goals of these organizations have little in common. More coordination between these and other organizations can support forest-based economic development.

Forest-based economic development can bring needed high-quality jobs to rural communities and local organizations of forest owners already exist to provide raw materials for the manufacturing process. These organizations should be harnessed to aid in the economic development efforts.

Originally adopted by Mississippi Society of American Foresters (MSAF) on February 19, 2002 and revised on August 24, 2007. This statement will expire December 31, 2012, unless revised by the MS SAF.