Many timberland companies have learned from the mistakes of the generations before them by moving to more sustainable forestry practices.
1. Forestry is bringing back forests.
In the past, forests were logged and abandoned. Today, an average of 1.7 billion seedlings are planted annually. This is equivalent to six seedlings planted for every tree harvested.
2. Forestry helps water quality.
Foresters carefully manage areas called watersheds. These are areas that we collect drinking water from, and riparian zones, which is the land bordering rivers, streams and lakes. In these areas, maintaining water quality is of the utmost importance to foresters. Through natural events involving the trees, soil and bacteria, forests help clean water, so that it is safe for us to drink. Forest cover protects and nurtures the soils that are the key to water retention, filtering and quality.
3. Forestry offsets air pollution.
One mature tree absorbs around 13 pounds of carbon dioxide each year. This means that every ton of wood that a forest grows is removing 1.47 tons of carbon dioxide.
4. Forestry helps reduce wildfires.
Through education, prevention, and control, the amount of wildfires has been reduced about 90%. By making and removing excess fuels to these fires, such as underbrush and some trees, foresters can modify forests to make them safer and more resilient.
5. Forestry helps wildlife.
Foresters employ a variety of techniques to benefit wildlife. For example, thinning and harvesting creates conditions that stimulate the growth of numerous food sources.
6. Forestry provides great places for recreation.
Foresters manage forests that provide recreational benefits to communities. Through licensing and leasing processes, landowners are able to make their land and lakes available to recreational enthusiast for hunting, fishing, camping and more.
7. Forestry benefits urban environments.
Urban foresters manage forests and trees to help benefit communities. Forests in urban areas can reduce storm water runoffs, improve air quality, and reduce energy consumption.
8. Forestry provides renewable, energy-efficient building products.
Timber is considered a renewable resource because trees can be replanted. Other building materials, such as steel, can be reused and recycled, but not replaced. Recycling and processing wood products also requires less energy.
9. Forestry helps family forests stay intact.
Foresters help family forestland owners understand the benefits of managing their forests in an environmentally friendly manner. Better management of private forests means that those forests will remain healthy and productive.
10. Forestry is good for soils.
Foresters and natural resource managers are dependent on soils for growing and managing forests. Foresters’ success in growing forests and producing forest products is dependent on their ability to understand soil properties and to then match species with soils and to prescribe activities that not only promote forest growth but also enhance and protect soil productivity and prevent soil erosion.
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