F&W Managers Assess Recent Tree Planting Season

The latest survey of F&W managers on reforestation activity in their areas during the recent 2019/20 tree planting season was mixed but almost all managers said tree planting was above or the same as five years ago.

A common theme voiced by F&W managers was that timber markets were the principal driver of tree planting, with improving markets in some areas bumping up reforestation activity while a lack of markets in other areas caused a decline.

The predominate tree species planted by F&W offices is loblolly pine and more managers reported planting container seedlings.  Managers said they decided to use container seedlings because of higher survival rates, increased early growth, planting flexibility, and difficult terrain that requires sites to be hand-planted.  Most managers report that planting densities are down compared to five years ago, citing improved genetics, better growth, more use of container seedlings, and research supporting a trend towards planting fewer trees per acre.

The survey was based on data and observations from 13 managers in 11 states.  The responses came primarily from managers in the Southern Pine Belt region, where widespread tree planting is a common practice.  The Northeast and hardwood regions of the U.S. rely mostly on natural regeneration so there is little in the way of tree planting.

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