Alabama

The Alabama Forestry Commission provides forest health protection assistance to state and private land managers throughout the State.  The State and the USDA Forest Service Forest Health Protection unit fund this program cooperatively.

Alabama Forest Facts

Over 66% of Alabama is forested (more than 21.9 million acres).

Almost 95% of forested acreage in Alabama is privately owned. 

The National Forests in Alabama (605,000 acres) provide recreational and wildlife benefits as well as forest products and jobs for thousands of people.

Southern pine beetle (SPB) populations remained high in 1999 with 5,276 spots detected on 5,240,000 acres of host type.  Forty-one counties attained outbreak status (1 or more multiple-tree spots per 1,000 acres of host type) during the year.  A cooperatively funded SPB suppression project helped to reduce impacts.

The Alabama Forestry Commission is utilizing a new technology in the detection and mapping of SPB infestations.  A global positioning system has been placed in an aircraft to record the location of beetle infestations.  Improved mapping accuracy has led to a higher rate of SPB control, thereby minimizing losses.

Dogwood anthracnose is a disease that occurs in the forest environment at higher elevations (greater than 800 feet) and in cool moist areas.  This disease is currently found in eight counties in the northeast corner of the state.  Mortality of native dogwood in those counties averaged 16% in 1992 and has increased to 65% in 1998.  No new infested areas have been discovered.  A summary report of 6 years monitoring is being prepared.

The Alabama Forestry Commission in cooperation with USDA Forest Service Research and Forest Health Protection unit participates in the Forest Health Monitoring Program (FHM).  This program is designed to annually collect, analyze, interpret and report on the condition of the forests in Alabama.  This is accomplished through a system of 208 detection plots. In 2000, the FHM program will merge with the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program, providing a fully integrated program serving many needs at the state and federal levels.

The Alabama Forestry Commission and
USDA Forest Service

In spite of the relatively good health of Alabama’s forests, a variety of insects and diseases (both native and introduced), and human-caused impacts such as air pollution, continue to threaten the State’s resources.  To deal with this constantly changing mix of challenges, the Alabama Forestry Commission and the Forest Health Protection unit of the USDA Forest Service cooperate to prevent, detect, suppress and manage this multitude of threats.  The partnership between the two agencies has worked for three decades to maintain and improve the health of Alabama’s forests. 

Forest Health Protection contributions (dollars) to the Alabama Forestry Commission Cooperative Forest Health Program, cooperative pest suppression projects and National Forests in Alabama pest suppression projects, 1997-2000.

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