Heart Of The Nation's Woodbasket
It is clear why over a dozen paper and packaging companies, such as Suzano, Georgia Pacific, Domtar, Elopak and Rockline, have made Arkansas home. At almost 19 million acres, over half of the state’s land area is productive timberland, ranking Arkansas fifth in the nation for softwood lumber production. The state’s timber stock includes oak-hickory (39%), pine (33%), bottomland hardwoods (16%), oak-pine (10%), and cedar (2%).
Arkansas Wood Basket By the Numbers
- 19 million total acres of forestland covering 56.6% of the state
- 73% of forestland is privately owned
- Forestry contributes 4.1 percent of the state's economy
- Arkansas is the second most timber-dependent economy in the nation with a cash farm receipts value of $409M.
- Forest companies own 14% of the 73% of private timberland ownership.
timber-ready workforce
- 11.8% of the state's workforce is employed in manufacturing
- 4th highest percentage of manufacturing employment in the south and 9th highest in the nation (BLS, 2023)
- Arkansas ranked 10th lowest in union membership in the US (BLS, 2023)
- 26,000+ skilled workers employed in timber and related industries
History of Growth & Sustainability
- #2 in the South for the number of seedlings grown
- #1 in the South for the number of hardwood seedlings grown
- Abundant and sustainable water resources
- Average growth rate of 2.6 hardwood trees grown for each tree harvested
- Average growth rate of 1.6 pine trees grown for each tree harvested
- Average annual loss to wildfires in 2023 was 5,659 acres, or roughly 0.02% of the state’s total forestland acreage
EDUCATION
- The University of Arkansas at Monticello's College of Forestry, Agricultural, and Natural Resources owns 1,650 acres of land used for instruction
- The UAM Forestry Research Center is an interdisciplinary collaboration of the UA Division of Agriculture and the Monticello campus. Recent projects were related to biomass, habitat restoration, and bird migration.
- Universities in Arkansas offer agribusiness and science degrees
Grow in Arkansas
Arkansas is the 2nd most timber-dependent economy in the nation. Located right in the heart of the nation's wood basket, see why Arkansas is the place to plant roots and grow your business.
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From the Newsroom
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Watch More"Agriculture is Arkansas’s leading industry with timber making up a third of the overall income. The state has a strong stewardship program in place to protect timber as a renewable resource."
Hardy Wentzel
CEO, Structurlam
"The acquisition of the U.S. sawmills is the right move, at the right time; it will give us immediate scale in an attractive region, with quality assets in a rich fiber basket, close to growing end-markets."
Yves Laflamme
CEO, Resolute Forest Products
“In Arkansas, we are growing more timber than we have markets for, and we have a saying: ‘A working forest is a healthy forest.’”
Ray Dillon
Former CEO, Deltic Timber
At AEDC, we know economic advancement doesn’t happen by accident. We work strategically with businesses and communities to create strong economic opportunities, making Arkansas the natural choice for success. Here are some examples of businesses that are thriving!
Arkansas offers a range of competitive incentives for businesses looking to open, expand or relocate.
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