National Forest Products Week, 2011

Proclamation 8738 of October 14, 2011

National Forest Products Week, 2011

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

America's forests have long played an integral role in
shaping and developing our Nation. They help us access
clean water and air, drive discovery as natural
laboratories, and make our communities more beautiful
and vibrant places to live. From renewable energy and
biofuels to green building materials, forests also
provide a wide variety of products that make up an
important part of our economy. During National Forest
Products Week, we celebrate the value of our woodlands
and recommit to careful stewardship and preservation of
these national treasures.

Through the America's Great Outdoors Initiative, my
Administration continues to advance a 21st century
conservation agenda and ensure we use our precious
natural resources sustainably. Meeting the test of
environmental stewardship often means finding the best
ideas at the grassroots level, and this initiative is
guided by the insights of Americans from across our
country. From hunters and fishers to tribal leaders and
young people, we all have a stake in safeguarding the
woodlands we cherish. As we build the foundation for a
smarter, more community-driven environmental strategy,
we embrace the uniquely American idea that each of us
has an equal share in the land around us and an equal
responsibility to protect it.

This year, we also join the global community in
commemorating the International Year of Forests. By
bolstering our commitment to the responsible management
and conservation of forests around the world, we sow
the seeds of a greener future for our children and
grandchildren.

To recognize the importance of products from our
forests, the Congress, by Public Law 86-753 (36 U.S.C.
123), as amended, has designated the week beginning on
the third Sunday in October of each year as ``National
Forest Products Week'' and has authorized and requested
the President to issue a proclamation in observance of
this week.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim October 16
through October 22, 2011, as National Forest Products
Week. I call on the people of the United States to join
me in recognizing the dedicated individuals who are
responsible for the stewardship of our forests and for
the preservation, management, and use of these precious
natural resources for the benefit of the American
people.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
fourteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord two
thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.