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 the week of October 20-26, 2024 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 twenty first day of October Two Thousand Twenty-Four