F&W Managers See Rise In Reforestation Activity

A survey of F&W managers across the Southern Pine Belt finds reforestation activity was on the rise in most regions during the recent 2018-19 planting season and more landowners are using genetically-improved seedlings and planting fewer seedlings per acre.

As timber markets become steadier and slightly stronger, landowners are beginning to sell timber, resulting in more reforestation activity.

“Landowners have become content with the current timber market and they are willing to final harvest stands at current prices,” reports Brent Williamson, manager of the El Dorado, Ark., office.  “There was a time period following the recession when landowners seemed to be in a ‘hold and wait’ pattern; this does not seem to be the case now.”

The trend of increased reforestation activity is in-line with the most recent U.S. Forest Service report on reforestation activity.  Tree Planters’ Notes, which looks at data collected during the 2016-17 planting season, estimates that more than 2.46 million acres of trees were planted, an increase of 2 percent over the 2015-16 season.

The F&W survey was based on data and observations of F&W managers in 10 states.

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