The forest resource assessment and accompanying strategic plan and priority maps constitute a coordinated plan for moving North Carolina forests into the future. Driven by the need to efficiently target efforts to address state and national priorities, this document constitutes a broad vision for protecting and enhancing North Carolina forest values and benefits.

While the mandate for the document and critical assessment originated in the 2008 Farm Bill under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act, its origins are deeply seated in a public that is demanding increased impact, accountability and innovation from its agencies. With that challenge as our goal, a committed group of staff, partners and sister agency personnel met over the past 18 months to make this publication a reality.