Official Proclamation

by Governor of Wisconsin, Jim Doyle

WHEREAS, the year 2004 marks 100 years since the hiring of E.M. Griffith, Wisconsin's first State Forester, and the beginning of the Wisconsin State Forestry Program; and the 16-million acres of forest covering nearly half of Wisconsin are one of the state's most important natural resources, support and improve the quality of life for all residents, provide innumerable social, ecological and economic benefits for Wisconsin, and offer scenic majesty and myriad recreational opportunities for residents and visitors; and

WHEREAS, the State of Wisconsin is well-prepared to assure the future of its forests in the 21st century and beyond, while honoring the forestry achievements of the past, thanks to the foresight of legislative, conservation and community leaders in the early 1900s who, following the era when substantial portions of Wisconsin's forests were cleared and the wood utilized to build Midwestern cities, established a regulatory framework encouraging reforestation of Wisconsin and ensuring that this renewable resource would be restored and well-managed for future generations; and

WHEREAS, the 20th century witnessed the development of an efficient and effective forest fire prevention, detection and suppression program to tame forest fires that once raged out of control, the replanting of forests on our rural landscapes and in our urban communities, the establishment of a support network for the 262,000+ private forest landowners who own nearly 60 percent of Wisconsin's forestland, growth of a wide range of forest sciences and development of forestry practices that strive to meet the many demands on the forest today while maintaining this vital resource for future generations; and

WHEREAS, the profession of forestry, established in the early 1900s, is a dynamic blend of art and science that has evolved over the past 100 years, and foresters in Wisconsin guided the re-establishment of this great resource and championed the stewardship and sustainable forestry widely practiced today; and

WHEREAS, a number of organizations formed over the past 100 years are dedicated to the careful stewardship of Wisconsin's forest resource; and many of these organizations observe anniversaries in 2004, including the centennial of the state forestry program, 85 years for the Wisconsin Society of American Foresters, 75 years for the Wisconsin County Forest system, 60 years for Trees For Tomorrow, the 60th birthday of Smokey Bear, 60 years for the American Tree Farm Program in Wisconsin, 50 years for the Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers Association, 40 years for the Wisconsin Arborist Association and 25 years for the Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association, and other groups supporting the well-being of Wisconsin forests are joining in the celebration including the Forest History Association of Wisconsin, the USDA Forest Service, the Great Lakes Intertribal Council and many other educational institutions, industry associations and conservation organizations;

NOW THEREFORE, I, Jim Doyle, Governor of the State of Wisconsin, do hereby proclaim 2004 as the

YEAR OF WISCONSIN FORESTRY

I urge all residents of Wisconsin, and our state's businesses, non-profit organizations, local governments, agencies, schools, universities and other institutions to support the Year of Wisconsin Forestry in its mission to promote a broader understanding of the role of forests and the many aspects of sustainable forest management by participating in the celebration, attending special events and educational programs and sharing the forestry messages with others.