U.S. Forests Continue to Create Jobs and Boost Economy Through Tourism; Restoration Efforts and Wood-to-Energy Initiatives; and Nano-Cellulosic Breakthroughs

Nearly 166 million visitors to forest lands in 2011, supporting over 200,000 jobs; U.S. Forest Service announces additional $4 million for renewable wood energy projects and opening of a cutting-edge research center that will bring billions of dollars to the forest-products sector Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture highlighted how our nation's forests are contributing billions of dollars to the economy and creating jobs through tourism, restoration, and renewable energy initiatives. The U.S. Forest Service released its annual visitor survey which showed Forest Service lands attracted 166 million visitors in 2011, and that visitor spending in nearby communities sustained more than 200,000 full- and part-time jobs. The Forest Service also announced that restoration efforts contributed $21 million to local economies and reduced fire threats on 123,000 acres of land nationwide. See full Press Release.