The Role of the Forest Industry in the Future of the World (Cover Story‪)‬

Forests play many roles in the world environment. They help provide clean air and water and regulate the climate. They inspire with their beauty and are essential for camping, hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, and similar recreational pursuits. In environmental science, these roles are part of the earth's ecosystem "capital." Incidentally, forests provide wood for construction of homes, buildings, and furnishings. Also, incidentally, they provide employment to thousands of foresters, loggers, mill workers, and others who convert forests to wood for building and furnishing homes. Appreciation of the employment opportunities provided by forests is usually limited to sectors that directly benefit from them. The forest industry, also incidentally, provides taxes to support schools and essential public services.