North Carolina’s Forest Sector continues to be a significant contributor to the economy and employer, according to a recent N.C. State University report. International exports were up $1.73 billion in 2023.

• I recently saw that N.C. State University released the latest economic impact numbers from the state’s forestry sector which indicated the industry employs over 143,600 people statewide and contributes $40.5 billion to the economy.
• Those numbers show the importance of our forestry industry and how it remains a significant contributor to the economy.
• The forest sector includes forestry and logging operations, sawills, furniture mills, and pulp and paper industries.
• North Carolina has a rich forestry history, and the state is often recognized as being the birthplace of forestry in America because we had the first forestry school in the United States – Biltmore Forest School.
• The school was created by George Vanderbilt’s chief forester Carl Schenck to provide training in practical forestry skills. N.C. State alumni might recognize Schenck’s name — Schenck Forest is named for him.
• It makes sense that we have maintained a strong forestry presence given our roots in the industry.
• Full- and part-time employment in forestry generates a payroll of $9.8 billion.
• The numbers, which were based on 2023 data, were down 5% from an industry record high in 2022.
• Despite that dip, international exports were up nearly half a percent (0.4) to $1.73 billion.
• The impact of forestry exports can especially be seen at our Wilmington port, where most of our forest products are shipped from.
• North Carolina is blessed with great forest resources. We have about 18.7 million acres of forestland in the state with 83% of it being privately owned.
• One of things I love about the state is how green it is.