WASHINGTON —U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-Michigan) announced last week that he joined the bipartisan Senate Working Forests Caucus, which focuses on promoting the economic, environmental and social benefits of private working forests across the U.S.

In Michigan, more than 20 million acres of forests support the state’s $17.8 billion forest products industry and employ more than 87,000 people.

“Forests play an important role in the lives of Michiganders, both as a critical resource for economic growth and a natural wonder that provides unique recreational opportunities and habitat for diverse wildlife,” Peters said. “I am pleased to join the Working Forests Caucus to ensure that the benefits of forests as renewable natural resources are considered in the policymaking process.”

The Working Forests Caucus works to educate and facilitate discussions to support the sustainability of forests and the benefits they provide, including economic growth in rural communities and environmental benefits such as carbon absorption. Nationally, 70 percent of forests are privately owned and support more than 2.4 million jobs.

Peters recently cosponsored The Timber Innovation Act of 2017, which would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish programs to advance and improve environmentally-friendly wood building construction, support Michigan’s forestry industry and encourage good stewardship of forestry resources.