Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/973524
What is the mission of your organization? USDA: to provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development and nutrition based on sound public policy, best available science and effective management. USDA Forest Service: to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. Where do you see the intersection between the wood packaging industry and your mission? Three of USDA Strategic Goals are: 1) Provide all Americans access to a safe, nutritious and secure food supply. 2) Facilitate rural prosperity and economic development. 3) Foster productive and sustainable use of our National Forest System lands. Can you provide an example of where the wood packaging industry helped advance your mission? Yes, in a couple of ways: 1) Wood pallets and containers help move the world and more specifically…. feed America and help maintain healthy forests. 2) The wood pallet and container sector is hugely important for forest health and healthy communities in a couple of key ways. a. This sector is a significant user of hardwood lumber in the U.S. Without that use, a large portion of lumber mills would close (40% to 45% of all hardwood sawmill production). b. The Forest Service cares about mills, and the Forest Service cares about forest health. It is the wood packaging industry's use of material that makes it possible for forest land owners and managers to practice active and sustainable forest management and address the health of the forests. "Without pallets and containers, we would see vastly fewer mills which means far less management…or conversion of private lands to other uses, which means fewer healthy forests." – Vicki Christiansen, interim chief of the U.S. Forest Service palletcentral.com PalletCentral • March-April 2018 35 iStockphoto.com/zlikovec