In a presidential proclamation Friday, Barack Obama deemed Oct. 16-22 National Forest Products Week.
Obama lauded U.S. forests for providing renewable energy, biofuels, green building materials and the "wide variety of products that make up an important part of our economy."
"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," the president said.
National Forest Products Week was established in 1960 and begins every year on the third Sunday of October; it is always preceded by a presidential proclamation. It is one of 44 patriotic and national observances in the U.S., which range from Constitution Week, to Leif Erickson Day, to Pan American Aviation Day.
