Vermont’s forest-based businesses are an important part of the state’s rural economy. The forest-based industries (forestry, logging, solid wood products, maple syrup production, wood furniture, and paper/paperboard) contribute $1.4 billion in sales to the state's economy annually and directly employ more than 9,100 Vermonters. However, these figures do not take into account for the ripple effect the industry has on other parts of Vermont's economy. Economic models used to account for this multiplier effect in other segments of the economy estimate that the forest products industry actually contributes nearly 14,000 jobs and $2.1 billion in economic output (Forest & Wood Products Industries' Economic Contributions: Vermont - 2017 (PDF)).
Forests also provide the backdrop for Vermont's tourism industry. In fact, forest-related recreation and tourism contribute an additional $1.9 billion annually to the state’s economy.
Helping to maintain the working forest landscape and a vibrant forest-based economy is the primary goal of the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation’s Forest Economy Program. Vermont's forest-based economy supports jobs and provides forest landowners with solid financial returns through planned timber harvests, while promoting value-added manufacturing and tourism.
The Forest Economy Program staff is well versed in the economic and technical aspects of wood availability and processing - from forest to finished product - including the use of wood as an energy source. Through a variety of partnerships, including with the Departments of Economic Development and Public Service, specialists work with forest industry members and industry associations to improve the competitiveness of Vermont forest products by enhancing wood utilization, collecting and analyzing forest resource data, and providing training opportunities for industry managers and employees.
The program maintains forest products industry directories and acts as a hub for information on wood utilization through connections with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, the Technology and Marketing Unit at the USDA Forest Service's Forest Products Lab, and university researchers throughout the Northeast. Program staff also work with US Forest Service personnel to collect and maintain information on Vermont's forest resources.
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