Forest Facts and History

1. Arkansas Forest FactsArkansas Forest Facts
Teacher Conservation TourTeacher Conservation Tour
20162016
Caroll Guffey
Extension Forester

2. Arkansas Forested LandsArkansas Forested Lands
• The Southwest, Ozark,
and Ouachita regions
contain 88% of the
forestland in the state
• The most heavily
forested county is
Dallas (94%)
• The least forested
county is Mississippi
(5%)
Slide courtesy of
Jeremy Richard AFC

4. Woodland typesWoodland types

5. 43%

6. Total Volume: 21.623 Billion Cubic Feet
41%
17%
40%
2%

7. Total Volume: 25.186 Billion Cu. Ft.
38%
3%
18%
41%

8. Total Volume 27.23 Billion Cu Ft.

9. • Who Owns the Woods?

10. 18.3 Million Acres Total
(57.9% NIPF)

11. 19 Million Acres Total
(69% NIPF)
69%
5%
12%
14%

13. Forest Is Growing
267,727,974 tons of pine growing stock
471,450,911 tons of hardwood and other
softwood growing stock
Total of 739,178,885 tons of growing
stock
Growth to drain ratios:
Growth Removals Ratio
Pine 21,579,720 16,703,283 1.29
Other 16,552,744 8,977,976 1.84
Dr. Matt Pelkki AFRC

15. Sawmills

19. Forest Industry Employment inForest Industry Employment in
Arkansas in 2005Arkansas in 2005Logging
18%
Furniture
18%
Paper
32%
Solid Wood
32%
Forest Industry Employment in Arkansas in 2005
Total Forest Industry Employment 33,431

20. Statewide average compensation, all occupations:
$36,498 annually
In forest industry:
$49,730 annually
Forestry compensation exceeds that of average in
44 of 75 Arkansas Counties
Dr. Matt Pelkki AFRC

25. Forest Stand Origin by Acres (2010)Forest Stand Origin by Acres (2010)
Artificial (planted)Artificial (planted) 3.3 million acres3.3 million acres
NaturalNatural 15.4 million acres15.4 million acres

38. ChallengesChallenges

40. Red Oak BorerRed Oak Borer
• Native insect: always present
• Record breaking numbers
– In the past 8 insects/tree
– Some 600 insects/tree
• Several factors
– Overstocked
– Older low vigor stands
– Shallow, rocky sites
• 1st
noticed in Ozark National Forest

41. DamageDamage
• 2 year life cycle
• Severe damage to
lumber/wood
• Low populations
may not kill tree
• Can weaken trees

42. Emerald Ash BorerEmerald Ash Borer

43. Wildfire

45. Wildfire Causes 10 year Average
Arson 35%
Debris Burning 37%
Misc. 11%
Equipment Use 7%
Lightning 4%

46. Not All fire is bad
Smokey
T and E Species

47. Rare and declining speciesRare and declining species
(TNC)(TNC)
– 46% fire dependent
– 42% fire independent
– 12% fire sensitive