The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has committed $200 million to expand timber production under its National Active Forest Management Strategy, targeting a 25% increase in harvest levels and setting an annual goal of 4 billion board feet by fiscal year 2028. This investment aims to improve forest productivity, reduce wildfire risk, and stabilize the supply of domestically sourced wood. It also supports President Trump’s Executive Order on timber expansion, according to the USDA.
The Forest Service plans to accelerate timber project approvals by reducing regulatory delays and using emergency authorities. Long-term contracts will be scaled up to ensure a stable wood supply, offering predictability for industry stakeholders and investors. These measures are expected to boost rural employment and provide economic support for forest-dependent communities.
Key operational tools include the Good Neighbor Authority, which allows federal agencies to collaborate with states, tribes, and counties to manage forests across jurisdictions. This coordination enables more active forest management across larger landscapes and increases the acreage eligible for treatment and harvest. According to the USDA, these projects will also support the agency’s wildfire mitigation goals by improving forest density and health.
The investment emphasizes the growth of innovative wood products such as cross-laminated timber, a material that rivals steel in structural strength and is increasingly used in multi-story commercial construction. This sector is poised to benefit from the USDA's strategy, which promotes domestic timber as a sustainable and cost-effective building material.
In addition to sawlog, the strategy accounts for lower-value byproducts generated during thinning and harvest operations. These materials, traditionally underutilized, will be redirected into energy markets, including wood pellets and biomass fuel. This approach reduces waste and opens new markets for materials that lack strong conventional demand.
The USDA states that this investment will support jobs in logging, sawmilling, engineered wood production, and biomass energy, reinforcing the forest sector’s role in American industry. The strategy aims to enhance supply chain reliability, reduce reliance on imported lumber, and support long-term economic resilience in rural areas.
