WHEREAS, Virginia's 16 million acres of forested land provide raw, sustainable, and renewable materials to the state’s forest industry, while cleaning the air, protecting water quality, and offering diverse recreational opportunities; and

 

WHEREAS, forestry is Virginia’s third-largest private-sector industry, contributing $23.6 billion in goods and services annually, supporting approximately 108,500 jobs across 1,500 facilities, and serving as a vital economic driver for communities throughout the Commonwealth; and

 

WHEREAS, privately-owned forests provide essential products, revenue, and environmental benefits to approximately 400,000 landowners, enabling them to sustainably manage and protect their forests while supporting diverse forest products markets and countless everyday products; and

 

WHEREAS, diverse forest products markets provide financial incentives for private landowners to maintain healthy, resilient, and sustainable forests while supporting rural communities across Virginia; and

 

WHEREAS, Virginia’s forests face increasing challenges and threats, and maintaining healthy, resilient, and sustainable forests depends on strong and diverse forest products markets; and

 

WHEREAS, in April 2026, the Virginia Wood Council was established to foster cooperation, strategic focus, and effective management in strengthening and supporting the Commonwealth’s forest industry;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Abigail D. Spanberger, Governor, do hereby recognize October 18-24, 2026, as FOREST PRODUCTS WEEK in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all of our citizens.