MONTANA’S FORESTS
A Resource Shared by All Montanans
Montana is home to approximately 22.5 million acres of forestland, covering nearly one-quarter of the state. Across this diverse landscape, forests provide wildlife habitat, clean water, recreation, timber and other resources important to Montana communities. Forest conditions vary significantly across the state, from the cooler, wetter forests west of the Continental Divide to the drier forests of central and eastern Montana.
22.5 MILLION
Acres of Forestland
1 IN 4 ACRES
of Montana is Forested
ONE RENEWABLE RESOURCE
Supporting Many Uses
FROM FOREST TO COMMUNITY
One Resource. An Interconnected Industry.
For more than five decades, MWPA has been the trusted voice of Montana's forest products industry, bringing together businesses, policymakers, educators, and communities to strengthen healthy forests and support a thriving forest economy.
Forest Management
Creates timber and forest-management opportunities.
Logging
Provides specialized workforce and equipment.
Trucking
Connects forests with processing facilities.
Mills
Turn logs into lumber and primary wood products.
Secondary Manufacturing
Adds value and expands product uses.
Construction & Consumers
Wood becomes products used in homes and businesses.
THE ECONOMIC IMPACT
Rooted in Montana. Building Our Future.
Montana's forest products industry supports thousands of jobs, generates hundreds of millions of dollars in income, and strengthens communities across the state.
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From forest management and logging to manufacturing and construction, the industry creates opportunities for Montana families while making valuable use of a renewable natural resource.
7,649
PRIVATE-SECTOR WORKERS
$456 MILLION
PRIVATE-SECTOR INCOME
$59,573
EARNINGS PER WORKER
263 MMBF
ESTIMATED TIMBER HARVEST
How Timber Is Measured
Timber harvest and lumber production are commonly measured in board feet. One million board feet (MMBF) represents a standard unit used to report wood volume, helping explain the scale of Montana's forest products industry.
263 MMBF
ESTIMATED TIMBER HARVEST
Timber harvested in Montana, measured using Scribner log scale.
300 MMBF
ESTIMATED LUMBER PRODUCTION
Finished lumber produced by Montana sawmills, measured by lumber tally.
NEARLY 20%
ESTIMATED LUMBER PRODUCTION
Private forests provide timber, support local jobs, and contribute to
sustainable forest management.
ONE TREE. MANY USES.
Making the Most of a Renewable Resource
Montana's timber is used for a variety of products that support our economy, reduce waste and maximize the value of each tree.
LUMBER
Used in homes, construction and a wide range of building products.
PULP & FIBER
Used for paper, packaging and other fiber products.
ENERGY & OTHER USES
Used for wood pellets, bioenergy and other products.
PLYWOOD & PANELS
Used in structural and decorative building products.
RESIDUALS
Chips, sawdust and bark are used for a variety of products, including animal bedding.
