Wisconsin Governor Leverages Forestry Expertise as Trade Tool

On a trade mission to Mexico in early March, Governor Jim Doyle used Wisconsin’s sustainable forestry expertise and technology-long recognized as an extensive and progressive model among the states-to bolster the Wisconsin-Mexican trade relationship. Mexico is second only to Canada as Wisconsin’s largest export market. Exports are up 35 percent since 2003 to $1.06 billion. In order to position the state’s forestry products and services as a new export industry, Governor Doyle signed a sustainable forestry agreement with the Mexican Secretary of the Environment and the Governor of the Mexican State of Chiapas to initiate cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). DNR will be able to share its expertise about forest administration and fire protection with Chiapas, which is trying to better protect its vast forest resources.

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