Economists estimate that each forest industry job supports 2.6 additional jobs for people who provide related goods and services. Communities benefit from property, sales and income taxes that support school construction, county roads and other community services. Forests sustain people in many ways. As trees grow, they absorb carbon dioxide and convert it to oxygen as well as wood. To grow a pound of wood, a typical tree uses a pound and a half of carbon dioxide from the air and releases more than a pound of oxygen back into the air.
Forests also filter and store our water supplies.
In the Pacific Northwest, almost all municipal water originates in the forest. For generations, people have enjoyed the benefits of a trip to the forest. We can ensure the benefits of the forest in the future by carefully managing natural resources and conserving forest products. As a building material, wood is a far better insulator than steel or aluminum. In addition, it requires much less energy to manufacture wood products than non-renewable resources.