West Virginia Forestry Association

Issue:

Trees give us lumber, paper and furniture, but are there more benefits?

Facts:

• There are more than 5,000 wood and paper products that make our lives better.
• Ice cream and salad dressings use a part of the tree called cellulose to make them thick, smooth and creamy.
• Some fabrics, such as rayon, are made from tree fibers.
• Tires, steering wheels, and molded armrests in cars and trucks are all made from trees or wood fiber products.
• The average American uses the equivalents of an 18- inch, 100 - foot tree every year.
• An acre of trees can remove about 26,000 pounds of dust and gases every year from the surrounding environment.

Issue:

Trees give us lumber, paper and furniture, but are there more benefits?

Facts:

• There are more than 5,000 wood and paper products that make our lives better
• Ice cream and salad dressings use a part of the tree called cellulose to make them thick, smooth and creamy.
• Some fabrics, such as rayon, are made from tree fibers.
• Tires, steering wheels, and molded armrests in cars and trucks are all made from trees or wood fiber products
• The average American uses the equivalent of an 18 - inch, 100 foot tree every year.
• An acre of trees can remove about 26,000 pounds of dust and gases every year from the surrounding environment

Issue:

West Virginians have been dependent on our forests for various products since the first settlers arrived.  Is the forest products industry still important to West Virginians?

Facts:

• The forest products industry is the only natural resource industry that extends into every West Virginia county.
• The forest products industry in West Virginia employs 30,000 people.
• Since 1987, the forest products industry has grown from a $950 million to a $302 billion industry.
• The state of West Virginia collect more than $3 million from timber severance taxes on timber in 2000.
• In 2000, the wood products industry was the 5th ranking industry in West Virginia in the number of new jobs (591) created.

Issue:

Wood products are both functional and beautiful, but are they environmentally friendly products?

Facts:

• Our forest products come from a renewable resource that grows and replenishes itself for future generations.
• Wood is durable and recyclable, as well as biodegradable.  Finished wood products can last for many years, but wood - from the tree to the house - can also be returned to the earth as ashes or decaying material when its purpose is fulfilled.
• New technology has eliminated virtually all wood processing waste.  This means that the tree is used from the bark to the branches.
• Tree tops and leaves left in the woods after harvesting provide wildlife habitat and seed for the new forest.  Upon decay the vital nutrients in organic matter are returned to the soil, since most of the nutrients are in the leaves.
• Wood is that state's and nation's preferred building material; and the production of wood products consumes far less energy and clean water than does the production of steel and other building materials.
• Forests as a matter of course, "soak up" carbon which helps lower greenhouse gas buildup.  This process is called "carbon sequestration."

Issue:

News reports paint the picture of a treeless future for West Virginia.  What are the facts?

Facts:

• According to the USDA Forest Service Inventory, West Virginia has over 7 million more acres of forested land that it did in 1910.
• West Virginia's forests had 18 billion board feet of saw timber in 1949.  In 1995, saw timber volume had increased to 76 billion board feet - that's over four times as much.
• The cycle of sustainable forestry depends on a full array of forest stand ages - not all young and not all old.  West Virginia's forests are approaching that desirable balance that assures that for every three harvest or lost to fire, old age or other natural causes, another tree just a little younger is ready to take its place.
• West Virginia ranks third in the nation, behind only Maine and New Hampshire, in the percentage of forested land.
• West Virginia has 11.9 million acres of forestland.
• West Virginia's forests are at least 94% hardwood species (i.e., maple, oak, yellow-poplar, walnut).

Issue:

With thousands of tree being cut every day, how can we be sure that there will be trees for our future?

Facts:

• The harvesting of tree allows new, young, vigorous plants, shrubs and seedlings to flourish in areas where larger, more mature trees had prevented their growth.  This is due to increased sunlight reaching the forest floor.
• Increased sunlight allows West Virginia's hardwood forests to "regenerate" naturally by stimulating growth in "sapling", sprouts and seeds stored in the forest litter.
• More than one million tree seedlings were planted on surface mined land in West Virginia in 2000.
• Forest management makes use of natural biological processes to even out the "up and down" cycle and ensure a long term, continuous supply of wood, water, wildlife, and recreation.

Issue:

Why should I worry about West Virginia's forests?  I only own a few acres.  Talk to the big timber companies, they own thousands of acres.

Facts:

• The majority, 83%, of West Virginia's forests are owned by farmers, individuals and other nonindustrial private landowners.
• The government, at various levels, owns slightly more than 10% of West Virginia's forestland.
• Wood product companies, including sawmills and finished product manufacturing firms, own only 7% of the forestland in West Virginia.
• Therefore, wood product companies rely heavily on nonindustrial private landowners for their wood supply and could not survive without them.
• Currently, more than 80% of the timber harvested in West Virginia comes from nonindustrail private landowners.

Issue:

I really love to hunt and fish, but doesn't timber harvesting destroy our wildlife populations?

Facts:

• Timber harvesting is an important tool for the creation of diverse wildlife habitat.
• Wildlife populations have steadily increased, and according to the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, West Virginia currently has more wildlife than at any time since the mid - 1930's.
• Before the mid - 1930's the deer harvest in West Virginia had not surpassed 1,000 animals.  Hunters now harvest 175,000 to over 2000,000 deer each year in the Mountain State.
• According to the West Virginia Division of Forestry, the majority of West Virginia timber harvests are partial harvests and less than 200 acres in size.  The variety of ages and sizes of trees in the forested areas, along with open areas such as hayfields, pastures, lakes and ponds, creates a diverse landscape that provides habitat for all types of wildlife species.
• West Virginia's forestland are the source of approximately 400 native brook trout streams.  In addition, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources stocks 180 waters (all in forests) with trout each year.
• Timber harvesting creates opening that allow grasses, berries, new tree seedling and other early successional plants to grow, creating a condition that is critical to the habitat of turkey, grouse, rabbit and many other wildlife species.
• Wild turkey is West Virginia now occur in abundance in all 55 counties.  This has permitted a statewide spring gobbler season with expanded fall turkey hunting opportunities in several western counties.
• West Virginia's diverse forestland provides some of the best habitat in the eastern U.S. for neotropical migratory song birds.
• The Wildlife Resources Section of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources conducts fish and wildlife management activities on 400,000 acres of Wildlife Management Areas and State Forests; 1.2 million acres of National Forest land; 21, 000 acres of public impoundments; and 100,000 acres of fishable streams and rivers.

Issue:

It seems that since they started cutting timber near my house that there has been a lot of flooding.  Are the two related?

Facts:

• The USDA Forest Service research clearly establishes that cutting trees does not cause flooding.  The main contributor to 90% of large flood events in excessive amounts of rainfall over a short period of time.
• As rainfall enters the soil, it is subject to either retention storage or temporary storage.  Retention storage refers to water held in the soil and is a characteristic of the soil that does not change
• After the retention storage capacity is satisfied, additional water entering the soil is only temporarily delayed.  The temporary storage capacity is determined by the volume of large pores in the upper soil layers.
• Cutting trees, even clearcutting, does not immediately change the water-handling capacity of a forest floor.
• During the dormant season (fall and winter), stream flow from an uncut forest differs very little from a cut forest.
• During the growing season (spring and summer) water is removed from the soil and released into the atmosphere (transpired) as a result of photosynthesis.  This created additional storage potential in the soil.
• During the period between a heavy timber harvest and the emergence of new growth, less water is transpired from the site and consequently there is less temporary soil storage capacity.  Numerous studies show that the impact is short lived, very small and related to timing of peak storm flows rather than total volume.
• In harvested forests, the regrowth of trees and other vegetation normally occupies the soil long before the stabilizing influences of the previous forest have disappeared.

Issue:

I hear a lot of talk about wildfires, but do they really cause that much damage?

Facts:

• In 2000, there were 1,178 wildfires that burned more than 53,600 acres of West Virginia woodland, and caused $16 million in damage to the timber resource.
• In the last 10 years (1991 - 2000), there has been an average of 1,080 wildfires per year in West Virginia.  These fires burned an average of 65,435 acres in each of the 10 years.
• The total economic loss to the State from wildfires that occurred from 1991 - 2000, was $196,700,200.  This includes not only damage to forests, but damage to non-forested land, homes and other structures.
• Wildfire not only kills trees, but it destroys and damages all facets of the forest ecosystem.  Burned and damaged trees become more susceptible to disease and homes for wildlife are destroyed.  These wildfires cause severe soil erosion resulting in pollution and sedimentation of streams.  The smoke and ash from these wildfires also cause varying degrees of air pollution.
• The majority of wildfires in West Virginia occur in 10 southwestern counties in the states, a pattern that has not changed in the last 70 years.
• In the last 10 years (1991 - 2000), 35% of the wildfires in West Virginia were set by arsonists.  The second leading cause was debris burning at 32%, followed by equipment (12%), miscellaneous (7%), children (6%), smokers (4%), campfires (2%), railroad (1%), and lightening (1%).
• Underground mine fires, which are listed under "miscellaneous" causes, are a low percentage of the total number of fires but a very large amount of the acreage burned.
• Trees that have been burned in the past appear to be healthy and green, but damage has occurred, and it may be 20 years before the trees begin to die.  During this time, these trees are decaying inside.  These trees can never be harvested for quality timber.

Issue:

Aren't Nation Parks and National Forests basically the same thing?

Facts:

• National Parks and National Forests are two totally different entities.
• National Parks were established to preserve natural features and areas of exceptional beauty or historical interest.  Examples of National Parks include the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone.
• National Forests were established "...to furnish a continuous supply of timber for the use and necessities of citizens of the United States..."  and to improve and protect the forest, securing favorable conditions of waterflows.
• The U.S. Forest Service provides for sharing a portion of revenue from commodity receipts (timber sales, grazing, minerals, and recreation use) to counties in proportion to the number of acres of National Forest land within each county.
• These funds are primarily designated to use for schools and roads.
• Prior to 2001, this was a straight 25% of the gross receipts.  New legislation is altering the formula to provide counties with a stable source of payments.
• In 1999 alone, West Virginia counties received $1,823,553.95 from Forest Service receipts of timber sales, grazing leases recreational use fees and other land uses.
• West Virginia contains one entire National Forest, the Monongahela, and portions of two others, the George Washington and the Jefferson.  Together, these comprise over one million acres of forested land.
• National Forests are administered by the U.S. Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
• Hunting and trapping are prohibited in National Parks, but encourage in National Forests.
• National and State Parks do not pay annual fees or taxes.  These lands are effectively removed from the tax base.

Issue:

Are State Forests and State Parks similar to National Forests and National Parks?

Facts:

• State Forests and State Parks have similarities to your National Forests and Parks, but there are differences.
• State Forests are established to serve as demonstration areas using proper forest management practices to achieve multiple uses and benefits of the forest resources.
• Forest management and hunting are allowed on most areas within our State Forests.
• Monies derived from the sale of forest products from the State Forests go into a Special Account, primarily for Division of Forestry fire prevention and suppression expenses.  At least 25% of this revenue can be returned to that State Forest for the enhancement of the overall forest resources.
• The West Virginia Division of Forestry manages more than 70,000 acres of State Forest lands, utilizing principles of forestry, to achieve and provide multiple uses including recreation opportunities and wildlife habitat development.
• State Parks are established by law to promote conservation through the preservation of areas of natural, historical, aesthetic or archeological significance and to provide affordable, outdoor recreation for West Virginians and their visitors. 
• The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation Section administers State Parks and the improved recreation areas adjoining State Forests and Wildlife Management Areas.

Issue:

I have noticed there are a lot of log trucks on the highways.  Are there laws that regulate the timber industry?

Facts:

• West Virginia passed the Logging Sediment Control Act (LSCA) in 1992.
• The LSCA requires logging companies to follow strict procedures when conducing a timber harvest.  These include obtaining a logging license, completing a training program, and filing a timbering operation notification.
• The West Virginia Division of Forestry (WVDOF) is the agency given enforcement responsibilities of this Act.
• The WVDOF inspects logging sites to assure compliance with the LSCA.  A violation of this Act can lead to suspension of the job, to license suspension, to incurring substantial fines.
• In addition regulation at both the sate and federal level.
• At the federal level, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Logging Standard sets forth specific requirements that logging employers must comply with to ensure employee safety.

Issue:

I've heard people talking about SFI, what is it?

Facts:

• SFI stands for the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.
• The SFI is a national program which the American Forest & Paper Association provides as a service to tits member.  Any company that is a member of the AF&PA must comply with the principles and guidelines set forth by the SFI in order to retain its membership.
• The purpose of the SFI is to promote sustainable forestry practices to produce healthy, productive forests for the future.
• The SFI principles, among other things, encourage landowner education, logger training and public awareness of sustainable forestry principles.
• Although the SFI is a national program, it's coordinated at the state level by the West Virginia Forestry Association and implemented through state-specific activities and programs.

Issue:

I've heard about Tree Farms.  They're like pine plantations or Christmas tree farms, right?

Facts:

• The American Tree Farm Program is a national program that recognizes forest landowners, who own 10 acres or more, for the stewardship and sustainable forest management practices they perform on their land.
• Funded by wood-using companies nationwide, the national Tree Farm Program is administered through the American Forest Foundation.  Tree Farm certification is available at no cost to the forest landowner.
• The Tree Farm Program is the oldest certifier of forest land in the world, having been in existence since 1941.
• West Virginia has approximately 700 certified Tree Farms which encompass nearly 1.7 million acres.
• In 1998, West Virginia celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Tree Farm Program in the state.
• 2002 marks the 60th Anniversary of the national Tree Farm Program.
• Certified Tree Farms are inspected by professional foresters every five years to determine if forest practices on the property warrant continued certification.  These foresters volunteer their time to the Tree Farm Project.
• The Tree Farm Program's purpose is to encourage forest landowners to manage and protect their lands while enjoying the added benefits of improved food and habitat for wildlife, watershed protection, and recreation.
• Although Christmas tree farms are often certified as Tree Farms, most Tree Farms in West Virginia are hardwood stands comprised of oak, maple, hickory, yellow-poplar and other hardwood trees.
• The West Virginia Forestry Association is the state sponsor of the Tree Farm Program

Issue:

With more and more children being raised in cities and towns with little understanding and appreciation for nature, is there a program that can assist teachers in helping children understand the dynamics of forests?

Facts:

• Project Leaning Tree (PLT) is an award winning, environmental education program designed for teachers and other educators working with students in grades K-12.
• PLT uses the forest as a "window" into the natural world, helping young people gain awareness and knowledge of the world around them, as well as their place within it.
• PLT began in West Virginia in January 1976.
• PLT provides more than 175 interdisciplinary, instructional activities.
• PLT provides workshops and in service programs for teachers, foresters, youth group leaders, resource managers and others.
• In West Virginia, nearly 300 people have been certified as workshop leaders and more than 5,000 teachers and youth group leaders have attended the local workshop training.
• Nationally, PLT is sponsored by the American Forestry Foundation (AFF) and the Western Regional Environmental Education Council (WREEC).
• In West Virginia PLT is sponsored by the West Virginia Forestry Association and the West Virginia Division of Forestry, with support coming from the West Virginia Conservation Education Council and U.S. Forest Service - sate and Private Forestry.

References

• Economic Impact of the Wood Products Industry:  West Virginia 1995
  Bureau of Business and Economic Research, College of Business and Economics, West Virginia University, David Greenstreet and Raymond Cardwell, Jr., June 1997
• Forest Inventory Survey, USDA Forest Service, 1988
• Organic Act of June 4, 1897
• Project Learning Tree, 2000
• USDA Forest Service, 2000
• West Virginia Blue Book, 1998
• West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, 2000
• West Virginia Division of Forestry, 2000
• West Virginia Tree Farming, 2000
• American Forest & Paper Association, 2000
• West Virginia Coal Association, Inc., 2001
• Report of the President's Advisory Panel on Timber and the Environment, 1973
• West Virginia Tree Farm Committee, 2000
• Canadian Wood Council, 1994.  Technical Bulletin No. 2:  Environmental Effects of Building Materials.
• The American Forest Foundation
• Tree Farmer Magazine, March/April 2000, "Harvesting the Benefits of Carbon Sinks."
• West Virginia Development Office, as documented in The Charleston Daily Mail, January 25, 2001, Section 9A.