Economic,
Recreational & Ecological Benefits
Economic: Timber production and other wood-based industries comprise an important part of Wisconsin's economy. Recent estimates suggest Wisconsin's forest products industry contributes approximately $20 billion directly and an additional $10 billion indirectly to the State's economy, which places the forest products industry as the third largest contributor to the State's economy. Wisconsin ranks first in the nation in paper production, and other industries such as furniture making are also important to the economy. Another study found that Wisconsin ranks third in the nation in both total employment and total wages earned in primary forest industries.
Tourism, another major forest-based activity, is also significant to
the state’s economy. Wisconsin households spend more than $5.5
billion per year on goods and services associated with forest-based
recreation, including transportation, restaurants, gift shops, hotels
and motels, and recreational/amusement firms. Woodlands offer an important
component to the overall recreational experience.
Recreational: The most important forest-based recreational activities in Wisconsin are hunting, camping, snow-mobiling, hiking, fishing, all terrain motor vehicle use (ATVs), watching wildlife, off-road biking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, plant collecting and pack animal use. The most popular season for recreation in Wisconsin’s forests is summer. Surveys reveal these recreationists are concerned about issues like trespassing, crowding and the appearance of timber harvesting.
Ecological Benefits: Wisconsin's forests provide the clean air we breathe, help maintain the clean water we depend upon, and provide habitat for numerous species we enjoy. Also, Wisconsin's forests are taking carbon dioxide out of the earth's atmosphere to produce wood and leaf matter. This is known as carbon sequestration; it is important because carbon dioxide is a leading greenhouse gas that can contribute to global climate change.
Without these ecological, economic and social values there would be an incentive to convert forests to other uses, similiar to the large-scale conversion that occurred during the settlement of Wisconsin.
Global Trends: There is an increasing demand for wood and wood products around the world, including the products provided by Wisconsin's forests. The demand for p aper, timber, furniture, crates—even syrup and wild mushrooms— is rising globally. The increased demands will tax our forests, unless our forests are managed wisely. The globalization of the forest product industry is also having an impact upon land tenure of the industrial forest land base and on pulp and paper jobs in Wisconsin.