Re-Growing Florida's Forests
Forests cover 47% of Florida constituting 16.2 million acres of Florida's 34.6 million acre land base. Ninety one percent of forestland in the state is considered commercially productive or timberland. Forests enhance the quality of water reaching Florida's aquifers, rivers, lakes, and estuaries.
How much land is Forest? (in thousands of acres)
Total Land Area = 34,564
Forests = 16,254
Forests as percent of Total = 47%
Who owns the Forest? (in thousands of acres)
Federal Lands = 2,889
National Forest System = 1,153
Private/Industry Owned = 12,212
Florida's total softwood and hardwood inventory has increased 73% since 1953 despite increasing production of wood and paper products.
Federal = 7,651
State, County, Municipal = 4,308
Forest Industry = 109,516
Farmer and Other Private = 67,422
Total = 188,897 acres
Sources: Florida's Renewable Forests Resources, University of Florida, 2002; AF&PA, statistics revised 2001
