WHEREAS, eighty-nine percent of Maine's land is forested, making it the most forested state by proportion in the United States; and

WHEREAS, of Maine's 17.6 million forested acres, including the largest contiguous block of undeveloped forestland east of the Mississippi River, 15.9 million acres are private, productive timberland; and

WHEREAS, Maine's approximately 86,000 private woodland owners, of whom over 75,000 manage more than 10 acres, all play a vital role in the future of the forest industry; and

WHEREAS, the forest products sector plays a vital role in the economic health and future of Maine, especially in rural communities; and

WHEREAS, about 50 percent of the State's forestland, about 10 million acres, is under third-party sustainable forest certification, one of the highest totals in the nation; and

WHEREAS, Maine's forest products sector provides more than 31,000 jobs, one out of every 25 jobs in the State; provides $1 of every $25 of total state gross domestic product, and has an $8.1 billion impact on Maine's economy annually; and

WHEREAS, Maine's working forests play an essential role in providing a wide array of ecosystem services, including providing for clean air, clean water, wildlife habitat and biodiversity; and

WHEREAS, Maine’s forested landscape provides immeasurable scenic beauty, recreational and community resources, attracts thousands of visitors to our state, and contributes mightily to our citizens’ quality of life; and

WHEREAS, Maine has one of the most diverse forest products industries in the United States, with a highly integrated processing and transportation system; and

WHEREAS, Maine’s forest products industry helps keep our forests as forests;

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that I, Janet T. Mills, Governor of the State of Maine, do hereby proclaim October 23 through October 28, 2023 as

Maine Forest Products Week

throughout the State of Maine, and I urge all citizens to recognize this observance.

In testimony whereof, I have caused the Great Seal of the State to be hereunto affixed GIVEN under my hand at Augusta this eighteenth day of October Two Thousand Twenty Three