Most of the harvesting of wood products and primary processing occurs in the rural areas of Maryland, while the secondary industry, manufacturing of finished products , occurs in the central regions. The forest products industry generates more than one billion dollars annually in economic benefits to Maryland. This value includes wages paid to individuals, income to businesses generated by the sale of goods and services, and the various taxes collected. Despite the sound forest management practices of most forest landowners and the forest products industry, Maryland's forest land base is decreasing by an estimated 10,000 acres per year, largely due to development . Much of this loss is occurring where the forests are needed most, in the urbanized areas of the State.
Forests are especially crucial in urbanized areas .
One acre of young healthy trees will absorb 2.5 tons of carbon dioxide gas and give off 2 tons of oxygen each year. However, when trees become unhealthy or reach the end of their life span and begin to rot, this process is reversed. Oxygen is consumed and carbon dioxide released. For a relatively small state, Maryland has a great diversity of forest types. More than 75 individual tree species can also be found.