State forestry agencies cooperate with the USDA Forest Service to implement the program. The Northeast and Midwest produce 42 percent of the nation's manufactured wood products. Americans often buy wood products made from logs that were harvested in the United States, shipped out of the country for processing, then sold back to the US as finished products. Locally produced lumber, maple syrup, and specialty products keep money in the community. This is especially important to rural communities where unemployment is high.
New technology can help local manufacturers produce more products from each tree.
Some simple, inexpensive changes can reduce waste by 10 percent. New uses for forest products are growing in importance. Wood is ideal for transportation needs because it resists road salt, has superior engineering properties, uses a renewable resource, and is attractive. Rapidly expanding markets for special forest products such as medicinal plants and foodstuffs can provide new economic opportunities. Recreation and open space enhance an area's beauty and vitality as well as helping communities diversify their economic base.