The forestry inventory data survey covers 23 counties. The Forest Service’s Southern Research Station in Asheville conducted the survey, and it marks the seventh time since 1938 that a forest inventory has been conducted in North Carolina. The previous survey was published in 1990.
State and Federal field
crews are continuing to collect forest resource data in the remaining regions of
North Carolina. The Southern Coastal
Plain was completed in July of 2001 and the surveys for the Mountains and
Piedmont regions will be released this year.
At the conclusion of these surveys, North Carolina will have its first
complete forestry inventory since 1990.
THE
NCFA’s PERSPECTIVE ON THE REPORT
“The results of the forest inventory survey of the Northern Coastal Plain
clearly shows the impacts of six hurricanes since 1990 and the major changes in
land use occurring in the area. While
there is no question that our forests remain generally healthy and productive,
we are concerned about the major increase in the loss of forestland to
non-forest use in this region and in the state.
This impacts the full range of forest uses and benefits.
However, forests continue to be the dominant land use in the region and
hardwood forests are the dominant forest type.
The survey shows we are reforesting more acres than are being harvested
each year and are harvesting more timber off fewer acres than ever before due to
improved forest management. This
points to a positive future for the forests of the northern coastal plain
region.”
KEY FINDINGS CONTAINED IN THE
REPORT
-- Approximately 377,000 acres of forestland was converted to non-forest use. While some of this was off-set by 66,000 acres added to the timber base from regeneration or planting on non-forestland, the net loss of 270,000 acres was 6.5 times greater than the loss reported in the last survey.
-- The area of timberland classified as softwood forest type declined by 211,000 acres – loblolly pine type declined by 115,000 acres. Oak-hickory forest type increased by 110,000 acres. Overall, the acreage in hardwood forest types declined by 8,700. Hardwood forests still dominate the region – 2.1 million acres to 1.3 million acres in softwoods.
-- Due to the tremendous loss of forestland and the significant increases in mortality, we see a deficit in net annual forest growth compared to annual timber removals. We expect this to be a temporary situation that will reverse itself in subsequent surveys.
NCFA STAFF ANALYSIS
By
Bob Slocum, NCFA Executive Vice President and Registered Forester
This report highlights extensive changes occurring in the forest resource
base of the Northern Coastal Plain. Perhaps
the most significant change is the dramatic increase in the loss of forestland
to non-forest uses – 337,000 acres. The
1990 report, which was the last FIA data, showed that only 41,000 acres was lost
to non-forest use between 1984 and 1990. The
bulk of this current loss (277,000 acres) was to urban and related non-forest
uses. Only 94,000 acres was lost due
to conversion to agricultural land.
The region also saw major increases in timber mortality. The annual mortality of softwood timber increased 93% to 36.7 million cubic feet annually. Loblolly pine accounted for 82% of this mortality. Hardwood mortality increased by 25% to 40.6 million cubic feet annually. This is not unexpected given that the region has been hit by six hurricanes since 1990. Weather related damage occurred on 20,000 acres annually. Fire damage occurred on another 8,000 acres annually.
Ownership patterns in the region continue to change. Non-industrial private ownership accounts for 68% of the timberland in the region. Individual ownership decreased by 11% to 1.9 million acres while other corporate ownership increased by 13% to 511,000 acres. Forest industry ownership decreased 27% to 641,000 acres.
The data should debunk the continuing myth of pine plantations replacing hardwood stands. The total area classified as softwood timber declined by 211,000 acres to 1.3 million acres. Planted pine acreage accounted for 22% of the total softwood acreage. Lobolly pine acreage declined by 115,000 acres. Area classified as oak-hickory forest increased by 110,000 acres to 715,000 acres. Total hardwood forest area declined slightly to 2.1 million acres.
The total area receiving final harvest averaged 72,000 acres annually – a decrease of 13,000 acres annually from the last survey period. This doesn’t include harvested acres converted to another use. This reduction in annual harvested acres likely reflects both improved volumes per acre and the continued reductions in timber demand. 38% of the final harvests were natural pine; 14% were planted pine; and 30% were hardwood stands. Partial harvests occurred on an additional 36,000 acres/year.
Reforestation occurred on 77,000 acres/year – 5,000 acres/year more than are harvested and retained in timberland while 61% was natural regeneration with the remainder planting or seeding.
About 50% of the timberland in the region is stocked with seedling/sapling sized trees (less than 5” dbh). This is consistent with what we saw in the Southern Coastal Plain and is attributed to improved reforestation by landowners and damage from hurricanes.
Despite the dramatic increase in softwood mortality, net annual growth for all softwood increased by 10% to 196.4 million cubic feet per year. Hardwood net annual growth declined by 11% to 109 million cubic feet per year – due largely to the increased mortality from hurricanes.
Due to both increased mortality and the tremendous loss of forestland to non-forest use, there is a deficit between annual growth and annual timber removals. However, about half of the forestland in the region is in timber too small to currently measure for growth. We expect to see this growth/drain deficit turn around in subsequent surveys due to expected gains in productivity and growth of these new stands.
SUMMARY
OF FOREST INVENTORY DATA
--337,000 acres went into other uses
· 94,000 cleared for agriculture
· 233,000 acres cleared for urban/other uses
--66,000 acres were added to the timberland base through reforestation/natural regeneration on non-forest land.
Other corporate ownership (non-industry) increased 13% to 511,000 acres. Some of this increase was the result of a broadening of the corporate ownership category.
Stand Treatment
--38% on natural pine stands
--14% on planted pine stands
--30% on hardwoods stands
--Damage
to hardwood stands accounted for 71% of the affected area
--Fired damaged another 8,000 acres annually.
--All softwood species declined. Volume of loblolly pine, which is still the predominant softwood species in the region, decreased 4% (2.3 bcf).
--Growth on forest industry land increased 4% to 86.0 million cubic feet/year
--Growth on NIPF lands increased 21% to 103.2 million cubic feet/year
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