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Results Of Florida’s First Statewide Forest Inventory Released
September 8, 2013
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced Wednesday the results of the first statewide inventory of 17 million acres of forest land. The study, required by the Legislature and led by the Florida Forest Service, evaluated the distribution, availability and sustainability of Florida’s timber resources.
“This study is the most comprehensive forest inventory in the United States. It provides us with a snapshot of the sustainability of Florida’s forests and identifies areas where we can make improvements,” Putnam said. “The study indicates that most counties in Florida have highly sustainable forests that meet or exceed the demands of our forest products industry.”
The study focused on mapping forestland cover, identifying forestland ownership and analyzing the growth and demand for timber resources by Florida’s primary wood-using mills.
Findings include:
- 17 million acres of forestland covers 49 percent of the land in Florida.
- Of 8 million pine acres, 7 million are in North Florida. Pine accounts for about 1/3 of all forest land.
- 63 percent of forest land is privately owned, mostly in non-corporate ownership.
- 37 percent of forest land is owned by federal, state, county and municipal governments.
- 65 wood-using mills in the state are made up mostly of sawmills, mulch, chip-and-saw and pulp mills.
- Softwood pulpwood – mostly pine – is in the highest demand among all timber products.
- 49 counties in Florida exhibit sustainable forests where growth meets or exceeds timber demand.
- There is relatively little pressure for both hardwood pulpwood and sawtimber, with hardwood forests sustainable throughout the state.
- South Florida’s 5 million acres of forests are predominantly in water – almost 4 million acres are mangrove, cypress or other forested wetlands.
- Two-thirds of the state’s forests are more than 40 years old, predominantly older hardwood forests.
To view the Comprehensive Statewide Forest Inventory Analysis Study, visit www.FreshFromFlorida.com/Forest_Inventory.
Pictured: A Florida Stewardship Forest located near Molino. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
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