1 State of Arkansas
2 94th General Assembly
3 Regular Session, 2023 SR 2
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5 By: Senators Gilmore, Stone
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7 SENATE RESOLUTION
8 TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE ARKANSAS FORESTRY DAY AT
9 THE STATE CAPITOL ON JANUARY 25, 2023.
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12 Subtitle
13 TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE ARKANSAS
14 FORESTRY DAY AT THE STATE CAPITOL ON
15 JANUARY 25, 2023.
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17 WHEREAS, private landowners own fifteen million three hundred thousand
18 (15,300,000) acres of the state’s forests and almost three million six
19 hundred thousand (3,600,000) acres are publically owned by federal, state and
20 other public entities; and
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22 WHEREAS, forests provide more than five thousand (5,000) products we
23 depend on every day; and
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25 WHEREAS, the state’s abundant forest resources have provided important
26 economic and environmental benefits to the state and nation since the 1880s;
27 and
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29 WHEREAS, the state’s forested lands are diverse in their makeup with
30 six million two hundred thousand (6,200,000) acres of softwoods, one million,
31 nine hundred thousand (1,900,000) acres of oak and pine, and ten million four
32 hundred thousand (10,400,0000) acres of hardwoods; and
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34 WHEREAS, forestry’s valued-added contribution to the state’s economy is
35 five billion four hundred million dollars ($5,400,000,000); and
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1 WHEREAS, the forest products industry supports twenty-six thousand five
2 hundred and fifteen (26,515) direct jobs and fifty-four thousand nine hundred
3 eighty-two (54,982) total jobs; and
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5 WHEREAS, one (1) in fourteen (14) of all Arkansans owns forestland; and
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7 WHEREAS, sixty-seven percent (67%) of the state’s forests are owned by
8 family forest landowners; and
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10 WHEREAS, Arkansas families depend on the one billion seven hundred and
11 sixty million dollars ($1,760,000,000) in direct wages provided by the forest
12 products industry; and
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14 WHEREAS, the average compensation in the forest products industry is
15 higher than both the national and Arkansas average wage; and
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17 WHEREAS, for every one (1) job created by the forestry industry in the
18 State of Arkansas, two and four tenths (2.4) jobs are created indirectly; and
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20 WHEREAS, timber harvesters and forest landowners follow voluntary best
21 management practices that protect water quality; and
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23 WHEREAS, the state’s forests provide unparalleled scenic beauty; and
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25 WHEREAS, forests in Arkansas support habitat for more than six hundred
26 (600) species of fish and wildlife; and
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28 WHEREAS, the state’s forest landowners manage their land to protect and
29 enhance habitat for threatened and endangered species; and
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31 WHEREAS, since 1947 the Arkansas Forestry Association has served as the
32 voice of forestry for the state’s entire forestry community,
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34 NOW THEREFORE,
35 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE
36 STATE OF ARKANSAS:
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2 THAT the Senate recognize and celebrate Arkansas Forestry Day at the
3 State Capitol Building on January 25, 2023.
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5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT upon its adoption, a copy of this resolution
6 shall be transmitted to the President of the Arkansas Forestry Association by
7 the Secretary of the Senate.
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