Abstract

Shifting timber harvest levels, locations, management treatments and log qualities influence both the level and location of employment for forestry industry companies which, in turn, precipitate fluctuations in downstream economic activity. Adjustments to industrial infrastructure bring implications, important to local and regional policy makers; for rural as well as urban economies. Economic models constructed to estimate such impacts for Washington State are known to be dated and may not accurately capture important job, revenue, and tax ramifications associated with changing forest management treatments, mill locations, workforce availability, harvest volume fluctuations, and other factors. This project creates updated multiplier estimators with which to calculate direct and indirect economic impacts from changes in forest industry activity in Washington State. Surveys and interviews of logging contractors, sawmills, log truckers, paper companies, and state agencies were undertaken and the resulting information was combined with North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) employment data from the United States Census Bureau to create a forest sector transaction matrix of purchases and employment based upon the Washington Input/Output Model. Management alternatives, such as expanded use of thinning, and processing changes, have been examined and described so that parties interested in specific regional impacts can customize the results for local application. The unique contributions to employment and state revenues that result from Washington Department of Natural Resources timber sale programs are highlighted.

Please open the PDF below for the complete text