F&W Survey: Tree Planting Stable In Southern Pine Belt; Increase Likely In Coming Years As ‘Clear-cuts’ Increase

A survey by F&W managers indicates that reforestation across the southern pine region was little changed in the 2012-13 winter planting season but is expected to increase in the next few years as landowners holding on to mature stands in hopes of higher prices increasingly are selling.

The survey indicated that tree-planting in the past season was probably in the range of 800,000-900,000 acres.   That’s about where it was in 2007/2008 when the last “official” survey was conducted by the Southern Group of State Foresters. No state or federal agency is now known to be tracking region-wide reforestation in the South.  Southern tree planting has been below one million acres a year since 2007.

The survey of F&W managers of 10 states in the southern pine belt consistently reported increased final harvest sales by landowners of mature pine stands that in most cases will be followed by replanting the cut-over stands.

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