Pennsylvania's Forests - The Commonwealth's Treasure

     
The Wood Products Industry has been identified as an important part of Pennsylvania’s economy and is part of the Lumber, Paper, Wood Industry Cluster. As an essential part of the Commonwealth’s economy this industry cluster has been identified as one of nine industry clusters in Pennsylvania that warrants public support and investment to help it prosper in order to benefit everyone in Pennsylvania. By supporting Pennsylvania based wood products companies you are helping to support the Commonwealth’s economy, everyone living in Pennsylvania and helping to support and care for more than half the land (17 million acres) in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania is a national leader in the implementation and promotion of sustainable forestry practices that support a thriving forest products industry, while ensuring that the forests in the state are available to provide renewable forest products and other benefits for future generations.  

Even the Commonwealth’s name, Pennsylvania, highlights the importance and rich history of Pennsylvania’s forests. Pennsylvania was named in honor of Adm. Sir William Penn, father of William Penn. It means “Penn's Woodland.”

Quick Facts about Penn’s Woods:

No matter where you live in Pennsylvania, you aren't far from a beautiful forest. Our forests provide a multitude of products that we use in everyday life, an essential economic benefit to the Commonwealth, recreational and tourism opportunities, as well as providing habitat for wildlife.

• Pennsylvania is the largest producer of hardwoods in the country, accounting for 10% of the total hardwood output in the US.

• Revenues from Pennsylvania's forest products industry exceed $5.5 billion annually.

• Approximately 90,000 Pennsylvanians make a livelihood on the industry. Over 10% of the state's manufacturing workforce is involved in the forest products industry.

• There are over 3,000 separate businesses involved in the forest products industry, with a presence in every county of the Commonwealth.

• Every dollar paid to a timber owner for trees ultimately generates, through manufacturing, more than $17 worth of economic growth.

• More than half of Pennsylvania - about 17 million acres - is forest.

• Our forests are increasing in size. The Federal Forest Inventory shows 20% growth in the last decade.

• The majority of Pennsylvania's forests, about 70%, are privately owned, including 5% held by forest products companies. Approximately 30% of the forests are government owned.

Source: Pennsylvania Forest Products Association

For over 43 years Superior Woodcraft, Inc. of Doylestown, Pa has been privileged to use one of Pennsylvania’s richest resources – Pennsylvania’s forests. Because we benefit from their use, we must be active stewards. Our stewardship of natural forests is multifaceted: first, we strive to use these resources wisely. Many of the trees harvested to create Superior Woodcraft cabinetry took 75 years or longer to mature. Considering this fact, we feel that it is only fitting that our cabinetry provides long lasting beauty and utility. Next, we strive to purchase woods from companies that have sound environmental practices. Lastly, we firmly believe we have been given a special opportunity to use natural wood to add beauty, utility and harmony to our clients' homes and lives. It is our obligation to nature and future generations that we replace the trees which were harvested for our use.  .

As you can see Pennsylvania is is a national leader in the implementation and promotion of sustainable forestry practices that support a thriving forest products industry, while ensuring that the forests in the state are available to provide renewable forest products and other benefits for future generations.

By supporting Pennsylvania's wood products companies you are supporting Pennslyvania's economy, over half the land within the state, a valuable and renewable resouce, recreational resources, wildlife habitat and helping to purify our drinking water.  Sustainable forests and the use of wood for long lasting purposes also helps reduce greenhouse gases.  This is an additional reason why Superior Woodcraft's cabinetry is crafted to long lasting and used for multiple generations.

Growing forests sequester carbon by absorbing CO2.  This carbon is then stored in the form of wood. Think of the wood as a carbon bank; often times referred to as a carbon sink.   When this wood is harvested and used for long term purposes the carbon is stored (banked) for the life of that product.  In sustainable forests new trees are planted and start capturing more carbon to repeat the cycle and banking even more carbon.  Through the Hardwood Forestry Fund Superior Woodcraft helps to plant sustainable forests for future generations - "Too old to plant trees for my own gratification, I shall do it for my posterity." - Thomas Jefferson.

If you wish to support the Hardwood Forestry Fund you can use this form.

Pennsylvania's forests are truly a treasure for all Pennsylvanians - help support our treasure, support Pennsylvania's wood products companies.



Source:

Superior Woodcraft, Inc.
Superior Woodcraft Blog