Plastic pollution, heavy metal pollution, so many types of pollution. The benefits of renewable forest products are often not clearly understood by consumers. 

2023 marked 7 years of UK Forestry and Natural Resources Extension celebrating the importance of forest products and the forests and people that provide them with the UK campus community. Forest Products are incredibly important to Kentucky, as nearly half of Kentucky is in forest and the circular economy in Kentucky renew-ably contributes $18.6 billion annually. Reading of the Governors proclamation for forest products week, food and drinks, a “From the Woods” show presentation on forest products week all highlighting and celebrating “Forest Products and Stewardship Week”, as part of the campus “Sustainability Month” (October) and “National Forest Products Week” (celebrated nationally in US since 1960). Renee Williams created a Promotional Flyer for use in the Forest Products Awareness Campaign. Forest products play such an important role in our everyday lives as well as the management of our forests through good utilization and sustainable planning. Forest Health, Forest Markets and Economic Contribution, Environmental Benefits Compared to Alternative Materials, and Carbon Storage are components of National Forest Products and Stewardship Week. National Forest Products Week is always the third week in October and has been declared by many governors and every president on both sides of the aisle since 1960, due to the enormous importance of forest products to our nation, health and survival and ability to thrive through sustainable wood use. All people use and benefit from forest products and lower impact materials are everyday choices that Kentuckians can make to make their communities more resilient and healthy. Nearly half of Kentucky is in forest and the circular economy in Kentucky renew-ably contributes $18.6 billion annually. The $9 billion bourbon industry is thriving from high quality mature white oak trees and a strong cooperage industry located here. There are so many benefits from renewable forest products and healthy forests that everyone can benefit from learning more about.