ALABAMA F o r e s t F a c t sA Publication of the Alabama Forestry Association

Traveling across the state of Alabama,whether flying above or riding in a car, youquickly see that the most predominant featureof our state’s vast and incredibly varied land-scape is the forest that covers our state like athick green blanket.

Forest diversity is more than just a hack-neyed phrase in Alabama. Indeed the stateenjoys a richness of tree types and a diversityof flora and fauna that is the envy of the nation.An abundant water supply and diverse soiltypes help keep Alabama at the forefront of theforest industry in America and the world.

To give form and strength to a then-emerg-ing forest products industry, a group of rough-hewn lumbermen met at a hotel in Montgomeryin 1949 and formed an organization to lookafter their interests. Since then, the AlabamaForestry Association has become “the voice offorestry in Alabama” and is one of the oldestconservation organizations in the state.

Together with the Alabama ForestryFoundation, the AFA promotes the responsibleuse of Alabama’s forest resources by encourag-ing good stewardship, sound environmentalpractices, education and research. The AFAalso has a full-time Governmental Affairs divi-sion to watch out for the interests of the forest

community in the halls of the AlabamaLegislature and before a host of state agencies.

Notwithstanding years of negative attacks onthe industry by environmentalists, forestry pro-fessionals and landowners in Alabama under-stand the importance of growing trees for bothcommercial and aesthetic reasons. They alsounderstand it is the economic value of treesthat guarantees there will always be lots ofthem. No sooner are trees harvested for theproducts they provide than the harvest site isprepped for replanting a new generation ofcarbon-absorbing, oxygen-emitting trees totake their place. Science shows that this cycleis healthy because young trees absorb far morecarbon than mature trees.

Some environmentalists have argued thatforests should be left to grow without humaninput or involvement. But this argument fallsflat when you look out west where millions ofacres of prime forestland burn each year. Thisis at least partly due to a lack of managementthat could mitigate the horrific effects of theannual fire cycle. Most of these lands areowned by the federal government and millionsof acres are off limits to logging. Forests thatlose their economic value lose much of theprotection which that value imparts.

Value of Forests

Little River Canyon Seedling operation Western crown fire

The Forest & the TreesIn Alabama Forestry Facts Speak for Themselves

Contact:Alabama Forestry Commission334-240-9300Forest Inventory Analysiswww.forestry.state.al.us

1 U.S.D.A. Forest Service2 Auburn Forest Products Development Center3 Alabama Forestry Commission

Hardwoods45%

Pines41%

Mixed 14%

Acreage Alabama is blessed with 22.6 million forested acres–71%–of the

state’s total landmass of 32 million acres. Because of the economicincentive, much of that land is managed to produce pulpwood, lumber,and other products. It is also habitat for game animals, song birds andother creatures that people like to hunt, photograph, or just observe.

Forestry is also one of the largest manufacturing industries in the Southeast. In Alabama, forestry produces more than $15 billion worth of products a year.

The forest industry directly employs approximately 70,000 Alabamians with an annual payroll of $2.2 billion. Another 100,000 workers are indirectly employed by forestry. In all, forestry employsabout 12% of Alabama's total work force either directly or indirectly.3

VolumeAlabama currently has 28.3 billion cubic feet of standing timber, the

largest inventory that has ever been recorded in the state.1 There isenough wood in Alabama forests to construct approximately 8.5 millionsingle-family houses.2

Alabama landowners have planted more than 3 billion seedlingssince 19903 which equates to 12 trees for every man, woman and child

in the United States. Some 28% of Alabama’s timberland is plantationswhile 72% is naturally-regenerated.1

Alabama’s timberlands are a diverse mix of timber types with 45%in hardwoods, 41% pine, and 14% mixed pine and hardwoods.1

The area of timberlands in Alabama has increased by almost650,000 acres since 1990, and increased by approximately 1.1 millionacres over the last 30 years.1

Private Non-IndustrialLandowners

78%Forest Industry &Investment Firms

16%National Forests

3% Other Public3%

Acreage/Volume

Mature pine stand

Mixed pine/hardwood stand

Contact:Chris Erwin, Tree Farm/SFI Coordinator334-481-2133cerwin@alaforestry.org

Ownership: The Keepers of the Trees

Who owns the woods in Alabama?Some 94% of Alabama woodlands areprivately owned, with various govern-mental entities owning the remaining6%.1 There are 440,000 timberlandowners in Alabama, according to theAlabama Forestry Commission. Thatgives 10% of the population a stake inforest policy.

Alabama has been blessed withfamily forest owners who work hard to keep their timber stands ingood health. Programs that promote forest stewardship and encouragegood forestry practices include the Tree Farm Program. As part of theAmerican Tree Farm System, Alabama has a total of 1,400 Tree Farmswith 2,207,524 acres certified under the Tree Farm Program. Most ofthese Tree Farms are owned by Alabama families who, each in theirown way, manage their forests with tender loving care. These familiesinclude Barnett and Edna King, who were named Alabama TreeFarmers of the Year, then advanced to win both regional and nationalawards from the American Tree Farm System.

Forest CertificationWhen you walk into a wholesale lumber

store and pick up a 2×4, while you areinspecting it for knicks and knots, you mightsee a stamp claiming it is certified as sustain-able. This type of proclamation is nothing newin the marketplace. Consider the “Made in theUSA” tag on a t-shirt, guaranteeing it was not made in China, which caninstill in the purchaser a sense of pride in the purchase. Forest certifi-cation stamps are similar to this in that they imply the product was produced in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Programs like the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and the AmericanTree Farm System have developed a set of standards in which forest-lands can be enrolled and certified as sustainable. These standardsaddress issues such as reforestation, soil conservation, water quality,endangered species, biological diversity and aesthetics. Once the ownermeets the required standards and documents an inspection process,the forestland is considered certified.

Approximately 2,500,000 acres of industry and Real EstateInvestment Trust (REIT) forestlands in Alabama are certified to theSustainable Forestry Initiative’s standard. Additionally, over 2,200,000acres, primarily family forest owners, are certified to the American TreeFarm System’s standard. This means that nearly 20% of the forestlandin Alabama is certified as sustainable. This is important to the mills inAlabama that market their products to environmentally conscious cus-tomers and businesses like Home Depot and should be important to allforest landowners who wish to ensure a market for their fiber.

Ownership

1 U.S.D.A. Forest Service

The McCallister Family Tree Farm

Barnett and Edna King

Professional LoggersNothing happens in the wood business without the wood. More than

1,100 loggers in family-owned businesses form the backbone of thewood fiber harvest and delivery system in Alabama.

Logging contractors’ capital investment of $1.6 billion helps gener-ate annual income of $2.8 billion. The 5,000 loads of wood they moveeach day helps ensure there is always a steady supply of wood for the850 forestry companies in Alabama, including more than 100 sawmills,14 pulp and paper mills, 28 veneer and/or panel plants and approxi-mately 700 secondary wood processing operations.1, 2

Of equal importance to production for Alabama loggers is safety andconcern for the environment. Almost 2,000 individuals have beentrained to the Professional Logging Manager (PLM) standard. Logtruck drivers also participate in safety and Department ofTransportation (DOT) compliance workshops to stay cur-rent with those two aspects of transportation.

Alabama loggers are also the mainstay of the Log a Loadfor Kids program. Along with other segments of the forest industry, theyhave helped raise more than $5.5 million for the Children’s Hospitalsin Alabama since adopting the program in 1992.

Alabama loggers are professional, well-trained and give back totheir community. That is a fine record for the men and women on thefrontline of forestry in Alabama.

Contact:Bill Jones, DirectorAlabama Loggers Council334-481-2136bjones@alaforestry.org

Professional Loggers

A Prentice loader doing its thing

1 Auburn Forest Products Development Center2 Alabama Forestry Commission

Another load headed to the mill

Early railroad loggers

Sawmills & LumberThe original founders of the Alabama Forestry Association in 1949

were mostly sawmillers. Today, there are more than 100 sawmills of alltypes and sizes in operation across Alabama, providing jobs and muchneeded income to numerous rural towns and communities.

These mills help make Alabama a major producer of lumber, woodpanels, and other wood products. Over 2.7 billion board feet of lum-ber was produced in Alabama during the most recent reporting peri-od, 90% of which was Southern Pine. Alabama also produces approxi-mately 2 billion square feet of wood panels a year. This makesAlabama the #7 lumber producing state in the U.S. and #8 in woodpanel production.1

Despite this high production, Alabama’s forests are growing timbermuch faster than it is being harvested. The most recent data shows thattimber growth exceeds removals by 23.8%. Pine growth exceedsremovals by 20.3% and hardwood growth exceeds removals by 31.3%.2

Sawmills & Lumber

Rolling down the production line

1 U.S. Dept. of Commerce and Auburn Forest Products Development Center 2 U.S.D.A. Forest Service

with state and federal regulators to assureclean air and water is part of the industry’scommitment to a better Alabama.

Alabama’s 14 pulp and paper companiesare also major users of wood as an alternative,renewable fuel for plant operations and burnon average 500,000-600,000 tons of biomassto fuel their operations, generating 73% oftheir own electricity. Some companies generateenough electricity to sell the excess powerback to the grid for other users.

Contact:Rick Oates, Director Alabama Pulp & Paper Council334-481-2130roates@alaforestry.org

1 Auburn Forest Products Development Center

Pulp & Paper

Wood-fired boiler

Alabama’s “WorldClass” Pulp & PaperCompanies

Chips ready to be turned into pulp

On the production line

If Alabama were a country, its “world class”pulp and paper industry would rank #8 in theworld in pulp production and #12 in paperproduction. Among the states, Alabama ranks#2 in pulp production and #3 in paper pro-duction.1

In fact, pulp and paper accounts for almosthalf of the total forestry shipments each year,generating revenues of $7.9 billion annually.Alabama’s pulp and paper companies alsowork with state and federal regulators toassure that the state’s air and water are cleanand healthy to breathe and drink. Working

Forest ProductsSecond Only To CoalIn Exports

Forest product exports have averaged 1.2million tons annually the past several years andare the second largest export commodity han-dled by the Port of Mobile, coal being the first.

The two largest wood commodity groupsexported from Mobile are wood pulp and lumber.

Other forest products shipped from Mobileinclude poles, logs, lumber, flooring, posts,timbers, fiberboard, hardboard, wallboard,plywood, paper and paper articles, Kraft LinerBoard and paperboard. Most forest productsexports through Mobile are bound for marketsin Europe, Asia and the Caribbean.

Contact:State Port Authority 251-441-7003www.asdd.com

Forest Products

Hauling to the mill

Wood being loaded for export

At a time when there is much talk about theneed to more fully develop renewable, alterna-tive sources of fuel, Alabama already leads thenation in the use of renewable sources fromindustry. This is mostly wood and woody bio-mass burned to fuel pulp and paper mills,sawmills and other types of forestry manufac-turing operations and includes some non-forestry operations.1 Using this renewable fuelin some cases has been going on since the1960s and ’70s by forestry companies.

More recently, wood pellets have come tothe forefront, with a 500,000 ton a year plantin production at Selma, Ala. and a 600,000 tona year plant being considered for Jackson, Ala.Sister state Florida has a 550,000 ton a yearplant in operation near Marianna, and Georgiahas a 145,000 ton a year plant operating near

Savannah.The quest for cellulosic ethanol is also

ongoing at several locations around thecountry.

Alabama has approximately 884 millionoven-dry tons of woody biomass standing in itsforests.2 This biomass has an energy content ofapproximately 15.0 quads, which is equivalentto 2.6 billion barrels of oil.3

Both Auburn University and the Universityof Alabama have established special researchprograms to work on developing processes forconverting biomass to fuel. In addition,Alabama Power Company is conducting a pilotprogram at its Plant Gadsden facility thatinvolves co-firing wood chips with coal toreduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Woody Biomass: A Reliable and Renewable Alternative Fuel

Biomass

Wood chips being delivered to Alabama PowerPlant Gadsden for co-firing with coal.

1 Alabama Policy Institute Report2 U.S.D.A. Forest Service 3 Auburn Forest Products Development Center

Contact:Alabama Policy InstituteEnvironmental Indicators 2007, page 43205-870-9900www.alabamapolicy.org

Dixie Pellets on the Alabama River near Selma

Alabama’s forests contribute to a quality oflife that is second to none. More and more,individuals and families are buying forestlandbecause they like how it looks and also want aplace to enjoy the abundant game and fish thatmake their home in the woods, ponds andwaterways of the state. This facet of forestry inAlabama has also become an importantincome stream for landowners and some com-panies.

According to the latest survey, total annualspending by outdoor enthusiasts in Alabamaamounts to $1.7 billion a year.1 This money

funds 30,500 jobs, wages and salaries of $785million, and federal and state taxes of $186million and $166 million, respectively. The rip-ple effect of these outdoor activities amounts to$2.7 billion a year.1

Thus, in addition to the clean air and cleanwater which Alabama’s abundant forests pro-vide, the wildlife and aesthetic side of forestryalso provides a huge economic benefit to allAlabamians. This is a clear demonstration thatin Alabama there is a lot more to forestry thanjust the trees.

Contact:Alabama Department of Conservation &Natural Resources 334-242-3151www.outdooralabama.comCongressional Sportsmen’s Foundation202-543-6850www.sportsmenslink.org

Aesthetics of Forestland Ownership

Aesthetics=Quality of Life

1 Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation

Due to excelent H2Oquality, Alabama also hasabundant fish populations

Aesthetics includes managing land for wildlife.

Hunting is a family tradition in Alabama.

Acreage & VolumeAlabama Forestry Commission334-240-9300Forest Inventory Analysiswww.forestry.state.al.usOwnership & ForestCertificationChris Erwin, SFI and Tree FarmCoordinator334-481-2133cerwin@alaforestry.orgLoggersBill Jones, Director Alabama Loggers Council334-481-2136bjones@alaforestry.orgPulp & PaperRick Oates, Director Alabama Pulp & Paper Council334-481-2130roates@alaforestry.orgForest Products ExportsState Port Authority Information251-441-7003www.asdd.comAestheticsAlabama Department ofConservation & Natural Resources 334-242-3151www.outdooralabama.comCongressional Sportsmen’sFoundation202-543-6850www.sportsmenslink.org

Contributors to this publication include:Alabama Department ofConservation and NaturalResources Alabama Forestry CommissionAlabama Seaport MagazineDixie Pellets Grover Allgood, McShan LumberCompanyReid Duvall, photos of Little RiverCanyon and Red-tailed HawkPeggy Jaye, Alabama River PulpTes Jolly, cover photoU.S.D.A. Forest ServiceKen Muehlenfeld, Auburn ForestProducts Development CenterJackie Walburn, Weyerhaeuser

Alabama Forestry AssociationChris Isaacson, Executive VicePresident555 Alabama StreetMontgomery, AL 36104334-265-8733www.alaforestry.org

Since 1949 the Alabama Forestry

Association (AFA) has kept a sharp

eye out for the interests of the

forest community. In addition to

monitoring state agencies whose

decisions affect forestry, the AFA

maintains a full-time Governmental

Affairs office to lobby the state

Legislature. The AFA also provides

affordable Worker’s Compensation

Insurance for members and liability

insurance for hunters, hunting

clubs and landowners—all good rea-

sons why, if you own forestland, it

makes good sense to be on the AFA

team! To learn how to join, log on

to www.alaforestry.org or call

Mardie Pritchett at 334-481-2135.

We’ll keep an eye out for you.

Contacts