--- title: Paper and America's Forests - NORPAC description: You wouldn't hear this from the paperless crowd, but the paper industry helps to steward and grow North America's forests. Forests have grown in net size over the last several decades. image: https://www.norpacpaper.com/hubfs/Paper%20And%20Americas%20Growing%20Forests-1.png --- [Skip to content](https://www.norpacpaper.com/blog/paper-and-americas-growing-forests#main-content) [![North Pacific Paper Company](https://www.norpacpaper.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/NORPAC/images/Logo_header.svg "North Pacific Paper Company")](https://norpacpaper.com) - Products - [Graphic Papers](https://www.norpacpaper.com/products/graphic-papers) - [Business & Office Papers](https://www.norpacpaper.com/products/business-and-office-papers) - [Natural Choice Paper](https://www.norpacpaper.com/products/graphic-papers/business-office/natural-choice/) - [Orca Copy Paper](https://www.norpacpaper.com/products/graphic-papers/business-office/orca-copy-paper) - [Book Papers](https://www.norpacpaper.com/products/graphic-papers/book-papers) - [Super Brights & High Brights](https://www.norpacpaper.com/products/graphic-papers/super-brights-high-bright) - [Uncoated Freesheet](https://www.norpacpaper.com/products/graphic-papers/uncoated-freesheet) - [Offset Papers](https://www.norpacpaper.com/products/request-offset-paper-samples) - [Packaging](https://www.norpacpaper.com/products/packaging) - [Containerboard](https://www.norpacpaper.com/products/packaging/containerboard) - [Bag Grades / Kraft Specialties](https://www.norpacpaper.com/products/packaging/bag-grades-kraft-specialties) - [Sustainability](https://www.norpacpaper.com/sustainability-and-environmental-responsibility) - [NORPAC Recycles ](https://norpacrecycles.com/) - [Blog](https://www.norpacpaper.com/blog) - [Resources](https://www.norpacpaper.com/resources) - [Visiting the Mill](https://www.norpacpaper.com/resources/visiting-the-mill) - [Safety at NORPAC](https://www.norpacpaper.com/resources/safety-at-norpac) - [Contractor Safety](https://www.norpacpaper.com/resources/contractor-safety) - Terms & Conditions - [Customer Terms & Conditions](https://www.norpacpaper.com/resources/terms-and-conditions/customer-terms-conditions) - [Supplier Terms & Conditions](https://www.norpacpaper.com/resources/terms-and-conditions/supplier-terms-and-condition) - [Logistics](https://www.norpacpaper.com/logistics) - [Service & Office Hours](https://www.norpacpaper.com/resources/service-office-hours) - [Careers](https://www.norpacpaper.com/careers) [ Contact Us ](https://www.norpacpaper.com/contact-us-norpac) [ Request Sample ](https://www.norpacpaper.com/request-sample-norpac) # Paper and America's Growing Forests ![](https://www.norpacpaper.com/hubfs/Paper%20And%20Americas%20Growing%20Forests-1.png) [ NORPAC team ](https://www.norpacpaper.com/blog/author/norpac-team) - Sep 29, 2020 3:31:00 AM One of the most common refrains we hear for going paperless is that it saves trees. This makes some intuitive sense. Paper after all, does come from trees. But the truth is that paper manufacturing and paper products consumption helps to drive the regeneration and growth of forests in North America. Forests are an incredible hub of biodiversity and an [important bedrock of many ecosystems](https://wwf.panda.org/our_work/our_focus/forests_practice/importance_forests/#:~:text=The%20importance%20of%20forests%20cannot,erosion%20and%20mitigate%20climate%20change.). They provide homes and habitats for plant and animal life and contribute to the oxygen cycle that grants us the air to breathe. Our forests also prevent soil loss and erosion and provide protection for watersheds and wetlands. Because of their many benefits, forests are one of the most carefully managed natural resources in our country. You won’t hear this from paperless advocates, but paper manufacturers are some of our forests most careful stewards. Because paper manufacturers are deeply invested in the long-term health of their trees, they work to ensure that their forests are cared for and protected. This means watching for pests, disease and wildfires. Because paper production provides a dependable market for forest products, it encourages landowners to responsibly manage their forestland rather than sell it off for development or other non-forest uses. Consequently, the production of paper actually helps ensure the long-term preservation of North America’s forests. In North America, this guarded stewardship has helped contribute to a remarkable regrowth of American forests. In North America, [forests have increased in total net size by 2% in the last 13 years](https://twosidesna.org/paper-production-supports-sustainable-forest-management/). For forests of growing paper stock, growth is even more substantial at 5%. That’s the equivalent of [growing 22,000 tennis courts of new forests each day](https://twosidesna.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2018/05/TwoSides_PaperFacts_Tennis_Magazines_Page.pdf). When tree cutting and removal is performed, it is also done in a sustainable manner. In the US, [tree cutting is done on less than 2% of forest land, less than the roughly 3% that is damaged each year](https://twosidesna.org/paper-production-supports-sustainable-forest-management/) by insects, disease and fire. Strict forest certifications and regulations also demand mandatory regeneration to ensure that forests remain productive and healthy over the long-term. North America’s great forests are one of its most precious and valuable resources. Through careful stewardship and management, [North America’s nearly 11 million private forest owners](https://twosidesna.org/paper-production-supports-sustainable-forest-management/) help contribute to their forest’s continuing health and growth.  Wood and paper products are some of the most environmentally sustainable products available today. We invite you to learn how their industries help contribute to a more environmentally healthy future. [![](https://www.norpacpaper.com/hubfs/shutterstock_1986640214.jpg) ](https://www.norpacpaper.com/blog/the-paper-industry-preserving-forests-and-slowing-climate-change) #### [The Paper Industry: Preserving Forests and Slowing Climate Change](https://www.norpacpaper.com/blog/the-paper-industry-preserving-forests-and-slowing-climate-change) Over the last 100 years, the world has lost over one-third of its forests. Recent trends are... [![](https://www.norpacpaper.com/hubfs/How%20The%20Paper%20Forestry%20Industry%20Creates%20Jobs%20And%20Fuels%20Growth.jpg) ](https://www.norpacpaper.com/blog/how-the-paper-forestry-industry-creates-jobs-and-fuels-growth) #### [How the Paper Forestry Industry Creates Jobs and Fuels Growth](https://www.norpacpaper.com/blog/how-the-paper-forestry-industry-creates-jobs-and-fuels-growth) Comprised of many different natural resource workers and professionals, the American paper forest... [![](https://www.norpacpaper.com/hubfs/Environmental%20Sustainability%20And%20Preventing%20The%20Next%20Generation%20Of%20Wildfires.png) ](https://www.norpacpaper.com/blog/environmental-sustainability-and-preventing-the-next-generation-of-wildfires) #### [Environmental Sustainability and Preventing the Next Generation of Wildfires](https://www.norpacpaper.com/blog/environmental-sustainability-and-preventing-the-next-generation-of-wildfires) For millions of Americans in the Western United States, the ecological health of their state has... 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