Products made from wood are required by each one of us everyday. This translates directly back to forest owners, creating the tangible economic value that provides a very real way to keep their land forested. Strong local markets for wood result in forest landowners investing in better management of their forests, which in turn enhances the multitude of non-timber benefits forests provide to all of us. Forests provide a natural buffer that protects the Chesapeake Bay and the tributaries that make up our unique natural environment.

A supply chain is the system of resources, people, technology, and activities involved in the development of a product or service. For the forest industry this is the system that moves a tree from the forest, through processing, and finally a product to the end user or consumer.

The image to the left shows the Maryland Land Use. As of 2010, Forest is the most prominent land use type covering about 40% of Maryland. Maryland is fortunate to have 40% of forest land cover, however, in order to continue to support the forestry industry we need to preserve and manage existing forests and keep the forest we have.

A managed forest is a healthy, sustainable forest. Selective thinning of trees provides more growing space and allows nutrients to be available for desirable trees, encouraging the growth of high-quality trees. The process of thinning the forest also reduces the amount of stress on healthy trees and improves overall forest health. Forests that are actively managed for harvest maintain forested tree cover and ensure a suitable and growing supply of timber.