How important are forests to North Carolina s economy?
Approximately 58 percent (17.6 million acres of timberland plus 600,000 acres of wilderness) of North Carolina s total land mass is forested. This vast forest land is the foundation of the state s second-largest manufacturing industry, the forest products industry, which employs more than 120,000 people and has an annual payroll of $3.8 billion. In addition, North Carolina s forests are important to the state s recreation and tourism industry. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Blue Ridge Parkway are America s most popular national park and scenic parkway, respectively, and generate millions of dollars in tourism for the state each year.
