State, Private, and Community Forestry

 

Introduction

The Southern Region encompasses 13 states, stretching from Kentucky and Virginia down to Florida and west to Texas.  It has some of the most dynamic, diverse, complex, and productive ecosystems in the Nation.  The vast majority (90 percent) of the Region’s 212 million acres of forestland is in private ownership.  These forests provide a significant measure of the Nation’s demand for goods and services – clean air and water, wildlife, wood fiber, and many other benefits afforded by healthy forests.

State and Private Forestry programs are focused on working with state forestry agencies and other partners to provide resource protection and management assistance to state and private land managers, tribes, local communities and other organizations, groups and citizens of urban and rural areas.  The programs are organized in Cooperative Forestry, Fire and Aviation Management, and Forest Health Protection.  State Foresters are primary partners in the delivery of on-the-ground services.  Forest Supervisors also utilize some of the State and Private Forestry programs in the management of National Forests. 

Key goals:

  • Sustain private forestland through collaborative stewardship and application of sound, sustainable forestry practices, providing a continuous supply of commodity and amenity values for this and future generations.
  • Contribute to the sustainability of cities, towns, and developing communities through planning and managing natural resources in a manner which promotes a sensible balance of ecological, economic and social benefits.
  • Strengthen and diversify the economic base through planning and utilization of natural resources.  Build community capacity and facilitate strategic planning and implementation.
  • Protect forest and range land resources from the harmful effects of wildfire by fostering a fire prevention ethic and using the safest and most efficient techniques in fire suppression and prescribed fire.
  • Protect, improve and restore the forested ecosystems from the effects of insects, diseases, non-native invasive weeds and air pollution.