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State of Arkansas 1
95th General Assembly 2
Regular Session, 2025 HR 1009 3
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By: Representatives Beaty Jr., Wardlaw 5
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HOUSE RESOLUTION 8
TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE ARKANSAS FORESTRY DAY AT 9
THE STATE CAPITOL ON JANUARY 21, 2025. 10
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Subtitle 13
TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE ARKANSAS 14
FORESTRY DAY AT THE STATE CAPITOL ON 15
JANUARY 21, 2025. 16
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WHEREAS, private landowners own fifteen million three hundred thousand 18
(15,300,000) acres of the state's forests and three million six hundred 19
thousand (3,600,000) acres are publicly owned by federal, state, and other 20
public entities; and 21
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WHEREAS, forests provide more than five thousand (5,000) products we 23
depend on every day; and 24
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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 28
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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 (10,400,000) acres of hardwoods; and 33
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WHEREAS, forestry's value -added contribution to the state's economy is 35
seven billion dollars ($7,000,000,000); and 36 HR1009
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WHEREAS, the forest products industry supports twenty -six thousand nine 2
hundred eighty (26,980) direct jobs and fifty -four thousand seven hundred 3
fifty-nine (54,759) total jobs; and 4
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WHEREAS, one (1) in fourteen (14) Arkansans owns forestland; and 6
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WHEREAS, sixty-seven percent (67%) of the state's forests are owned by 8
family forest landowners; and 9
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WHEREAS, Arkansas families depend on the one billion eight hundred 11
fifty million dollars ($1,850,000,000) in direct wages provided by the forest 12
products industry; and 13
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WHEREAS, the average compensation in the forest products industry is 15
higher than both the national and Arkansas average wage; and 16
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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 19
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WHEREAS, timber harvesters and forest landowners follow voluntary best 21
management practices that protect water quality; and 22
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WHEREAS, the state's forests provide unparalleled scenic beauty; and 24
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WHEREAS, forests in Arkansas support habitat for more than six hundred 26
(600) species of fish and wildlife; and 27
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WHEREAS, the state's forest landowners manage their land to protect and 29
enhance habitat for threatened and endangered species; 30
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WHEREAS, since 1947 the Arkansas Forestry Association has served as the 32
voice of forestry for the state's entire forestry community, 33
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NOW THEREFORE, 35
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY -FIFTH GENERAL 36 HR1009
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 1
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THAT the House of Representatives recognize and celebrate Arkansas 3
Forestry Day at the State Capitol Building on January 21, 2025. 4
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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 Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives. 8
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