Now, fewer than 40 years after the lowest point in the timber industry, the state has witnessed an astonishing turnaround in the economic impact of its forests through a second forest revolution. In 1999, Minnesota forest industries harvested about 3.8 million board cords of wood fiber-approaching the harvest seen at the peak of the white pine saw-log era.

Today, the state's forest industries harvests approximately 3.8 million cords of wood fiber annually, very close to the harvest numbers at the peak of the white pine logging era. Yet, our state forests offer much more than simply wood fiber to help support our economy. Minnesotans depend upon our forestlands for multiple recreational and aesthetic needs. Further, as we seek more recreational activities and forest products from our woodlands Minnesota will need to create plans to carefully manage our precious forest resources. With careful management and involvement from all Minnesotans our forest resource will continue to provide for our needs for generations to come.