Report on the Jobs in the Woods Act and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A bipartisan legislative proposal, the Jobs in the Woods Act, has been introduced by Representatives Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and David Rouzer. The act aims to establish a grant-based program to foster workforce training and career development within the forestry sector. This initiative directly aligns with multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by promoting economic growth, quality education, reduced inequality, and sustainable environmental management. The legislation seeks to create pathways for young people into careers with the U.S. Forest Service and the private timber industry, thereby strengthening rural economies and promoting the long-term health of forest ecosystems.

Legislative Objectives and Core SDG Contributions

The primary goal of the Jobs in the Woods Act is to develop a skilled workforce for the sustainable management of forest resources. This objective is intrinsically linked to the following SDGs:

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: By creating training programs and career opportunities in the forestry sector, the act aims to provide decent, family-wage jobs, particularly within rural communities that form the backbone of the timber industry.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: The proposed grant program will fund nonprofit organizations, state governments, and colleges to deliver specialized vocational training, enhancing access to quality education and skills development for a new generation of forestry professionals.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The legislation specifically targets rural and low-income areas for investment, providing residents with valuable skills and employment opportunities that allow them to remain in and contribute to their home communities, thus addressing regional economic disparities.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: A skilled workforce is essential for implementing sustainable forest management practices, which are critical for restoring forest health, reducing wildfire risks, and ensuring the long-term viability of terrestrial ecosystems.

Key Provisions and Impact on Sustainable Development

The Jobs in the Woods Act outlines several key provisions designed to achieve its objectives:

1. Establishment of Grant-Funded Education Programs: The act will authorize grants ranging from $500,000 to $2,000,000 for states, nonprofits, and colleges. This provision directly supports SDG 4 by creating robust educational infrastructure for specialized training.
2. Targeted Economic Development: By directing these programs to rural and low-income areas, the act serves as a tool for targeted economic stimulus, contributing to SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by fostering economic self-sufficiency.
3. Development of a Skilled Labor Pool: The initiative will create a pipeline of qualified applicants for forestry-related industries. This strengthens the national forest products sector, a key component of the U.S. manufacturing economy, aligning with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).
4. Promotion of Community-Engaged Partnerships: The act prioritizes collaboration with existing programs that have a proven record of success and community engagement, such as the Forest Youth Success program, embodying the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Stakeholder Support and Partnership for the Goals (SDG 17)

The legislation has garnered widespread support from a diverse coalition of stakeholders, highlighting a strong public-private partnership model essential for achieving the SDGs. Endorsements from organizations such as the American Forest Resource Council, the Forest Landowners Association, and the North Carolina Forestry Association underscore the industry’s consensus on the need for a skilled workforce to ensure both economic vitality and environmental stewardship. This broad-based support exemplifies the collaborative approach advocated by SDG 17, uniting governmental bodies and industry leaders toward a common goal.

Broader Context and Commitment to Sustainable Management

The Jobs in the Woods Act is part of a larger set of legislative actions aimed at promoting sustainable forestry. Related initiatives include:

• Expanding the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) to include Tribes and counties, a measure that enhances inclusive and cross-boundary forest restoration efforts in line with SDG 15 and SDG 10.
• Introducing the Community Wood Facilities Assistance Act to improve markets for forest products, thereby supporting sustainable industry and infrastructure as per SDG 9.
• Advocating for federal policies that support domestic timber production with a focus on small and independent operators, promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth under SDG 8.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

The following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are connected to the issues highlighted in the article:

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  The article focuses on the “Jobs in the Woods Act,” which aims to create workforce training and education programs. It explicitly mentions connecting “young people with rewarding careers and training in forestry” and providing opportunities to “learn skills,” directly aligning with the goal of inclusive and equitable quality education.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The primary goal of the bill is to create “Jobs in the Woods” and prepare a “pool of talented, trained, and qualified applicants to fill job openings.” It emphasizes spurring “economic development” in rural communities and supporting the timber industry, which contributes significantly to the economy (“$295 billion annually”), thus promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth and productive employment.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

  The article highlights the importance of the forest products industry as one of the “U.S. economy’s largest manufacturing sectors.” By ensuring a skilled workforce, the bill supports the sustainability and competitiveness of this industry, which is a key component of building resilient infrastructure and promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  A major theme is the focus on rural areas. The bill is designed to bring “investments into rural communities” and give individuals the opportunity to “stay and work in the rural communities they call home.” This directly supports the goal of making human settlements, particularly rural ones, inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The context of the entire article is forestry. The bill supports careers essential to “restoring forest health,” “reducing wildfire risks,” and “managing and sustaining our working forests.” These actions are central to protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and sustainably managing forests.

Identified SDG Targets

Based on the article’s content, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

• Under SDG 4: Quality Education
  • Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.

    The article directly supports this target by proposing a grant program for “workforce training in forestry-related fields” to prepare students and create a “pool of talented, trained, and qualified applicants.”

• Under SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people…

    The bill’s focus is on connecting “young people with rewarding careers” and creating “family-wage jobs” in the forestry sector.

  • Target 8.6: By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training.

    Although the target date has passed, the bill’s spirit aligns perfectly by aiming to “inspire the next generation of forestry workers” and provide them with training and career pathways to prevent them from being unemployed or needing to leave their communities for work.

• Under SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • Target 11.a: Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning.

    The “Jobs in the Woods Act” is a piece of national legislation designed to “spur economic development” specifically in “rural and low-income areas,” thereby strengthening these communities and their economies.

• Under SDG 15: Life on Land
  • Target 15.2: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests…

    The article states that a skilled workforce is “critical to meeting the nation’s needs for healthier forests through active forest management” and “equipping a new generation with the skills needed to manage and sustain our working forests.”

Mentioned or Implied Indicators

The article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• For SDG 4 (Quality Education) & SDG 8 (Decent Work)
  • Implied Indicator: Number of young people and adults participating in and graduating from the forestry training programs established by the grants. The article’s goal is to “create a pool of talented, trained, and qualified applicants.”
  • Implied Indicator: Reduction in the proportion of youth not in employment, education, or training in targeted rural communities. This is implied by the statement that the bill will help kids who “feel like they need to move away from home to do something of value.”
• For SDG 8 (Decent Work) & SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation)
  • Mentioned Indicator: Annual economic contribution of the forest products industry. The article provides a baseline figure of “$295 billion annually.”
  • Mentioned Indicator: Number of families supported by the industry. The article provides a baseline of “over 930,000 families.”
• For SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)
  • Mentioned Indicator: Amount of financial investment in rural communities. The article states the bill will bring “thousands of dollars of investments into rural communities.”
• For SDG 15 (Life on Land)
  • Implied Indicator: Progress towards sustainable forest management. This can be measured by the implementation of policies like the “Jobs in the Woods Act” and actions such as “restoring forest health” and “reducing wildfire risks,” which the trained workforce would carry out.

Summary Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: gluesenkampperez.house.gov