More than 400 associations, businesses, and landowners representing the U.S. forest products sector have signed a letter urging President Donald J. Trump to take immediate action to address a growing crisis threatening the nation’s timber supply, rural economies, and energy security. The effort is led by the Forest Landowners Association, the American Biomass Energy Association, the American Loggers Council, the Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association, the National Alliance of Forest Owners, the Forest Resources Association, the U.S. Industrial Pellet Association, the American Wood Council, and the Composite Panel Association, according to the Forest Landowners Association.
The letter proposes four federal actions: endorsing the Disaster Reforestation Act to help landowners replant forests after catastrophic events; expanding the definition of woody biomass in the Renewable Fuel Standard to create new markets for low-value wood; promoting biomass electricity to support rural jobs and reduce wildfire risks; and backing the Loggers Economic Assistance Act to stabilize the logging workforce through direct financial relief.
The call to action follows President Trump’s March 1 Executive Order instructing federal agencies to increase domestic timber and wood product output. Signatories warn that without swift implementation of these recommendations, the nation could lose vital forestland, critical markets, and millions of jobs.
Scott Jones, CEO of the Forest Landowners Association, described America’s private forests as a “strategic national asset” and said these measures would bolster manufacturing, renewable energy, and rural economies. Carrie Annand, Executive Director of the American Biomass Energy Association, emphasized the role of biomass power in turning forest waste into 24/7 renewable energy, with benefits for jobs, wildfire prevention, and grid reliability.
Scott Dane, Executive Director of the American Loggers Council, noted that while the Trump Administration has taken early steps through executive orders, the additional actions recommended in the letter are needed to support full recovery of the timber and forest products sector.
The coalition highlights that 3.9 million U.S. jobs depend on working forests, alongside contributions to housing, infrastructure, energy independence, and national security.
