From the misty evergreens of the Pacific Northwest to the hardwood ridges of Appalachia, America’s forests are among our Nation’s greatest natural treasures.  During National Forest Products Week, we renew our commitment to conserving these incredible landscapes and responsibly harnessing their abundance to sustain households, strengthen American jobs and industry, and secure lasting prosperity for generations to come.

The woodlands of America helped build our Nation from the ground up, giving generations of citizens the resources to raise homes, establish businesses, and pursue their dreams.  That proud tradition continues today in our logging, forestry, manufacturing, and construction industries, where the bounty of our land meets the skill and resolve of our people in communities across our country. 

As President, I am committed to supporting these vital industries and continuing to drive economic growth.  Last year, I was proud to sign two Executive Orders to increase domestic timber supply and reduce reliance on imports from foreign markets. As a result, over half a billion dollars in new domestic industry investments were announced, annual industry earnings have increased by over $5,600, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service has sold over three billion board feet of American timber this year, the highest volume sold in almost three decades. Under my leadership, the USDA Forest Service has also championed sustainable forests, achieving 116 percent of our annual reforestation goal, the highest level in twenty-six years.

We are cutting red tape and rolling back unnecessary environmental regulations on industries such as logging and paper manufacturing, unleashing the full productive power of American workers and natural resources.  I also established the Make America Beautiful Again Commission, which brings together members of my Administration to lead active forest management and historic conservation efforts that will preserve the magnificent abundance of our wildlands for the Americans who will inherit them in the centuries ahead.

This week, we reflect on God’s gift of our beautiful and immense natural landscape, and we refocus our efforts to responsibly and boldly utilize these resources to grow our Republic, strengthen our economy, and empower American families with the tools and opportunities they need to build our Nation’s future.